Can Bottled Copepods be Parasitic?

[Kasey Grohowski]

I'm looking at getting some copepods/amphipods for my tank, I've heard that some can be parasitic, has anyone ever had a problem from bottled copepods? Thanks.

 

[Kasey Grohowski]

Also will pod populations get out of control if I don't have fish that eat them?

 

[ReeferBean]

I'm looking at getting some copepods/amphipods for my tank, I've heard that some can be parasitic, has anyone ever had a problem from bottled copepods? Thanks.

Usually the particular species are mentioned on the bottle. It wouldn't make sense for them to breed and bottle parasitic pod varieties.

 

[saltyhog]

I wouldn't worry about any negative impact from cultured pods. I have never heard of having too many pods!

 

[Kasey Grohowski]

Usually the particular species are mentioned on the bottle. It wouldn't make sense for them to breed and bottle parasitic pod varieties.

Well of course it wouldn't make sense. I'd assume it would be an accident, I've read that other people's fish have gotten parasitic diseases due to bottled copepods.

 

[lapin]

I'm looking at getting some copepods/amphipods for my tank, I've heard that some can be parasitic, has anyone ever had a problem from bottled copepods? Thanks.

Never a problem other than they get eaten too fast.
Professional growers do not sell you ones that are paraisitic

 

[lapin]

Also will pod populations get out of control if I don't have fish that eat them?

They sure can. Once they eat every bit of slime in your tank, they will climb out of the tank and eat all your sushi.

 

[Kasey Grohowski]

They sure can. Once they eat every bit of slime in your tank, they will climb out of the tank and eat all your sushi.

How do you acclimate them? I'd assume you have to add the bottled water to your tank, can you get around doing that somehow?

 

[saltyhog]

How do you acclimate them? I'd assume you have to add the bottled water to your tank, can you get around doing that somehow?

No need to acclimate them that I know of. Only way to avoid adding the water would be to strain them some how. I don't worry about doing that though.

 

[ludnix]

You certainly can separate the pods from the water using a coffee filter but I wouldn't worry about the 6oz of copepod water across a whole reef tank. They are not usually bred in systems that would have hitchhikers we would worry about and the amount of waste in the bottle isn't significant.

 

[lapin]

Like any other critter that we breed conditions needs to be just right for a successful out come. They are bred in pretty sterile enviroment. If not, the colony would crash due to contamination and the breeder would be out of business. They are fed phytoplankton and that in itself needs to be raised in sterile containers. Just put the bottle in your sump or tank for 30 min to equalize the temp, then dump them in, water and all. You could get real fancy and drip acclimate the bottle but I never have.