Culturing copapods without buying any?

[xxkenny90xx]

Just wondering if this is feasible. I have lots of copapods in my fuge but I want to try culturing some in a separate container. Will I be better off buying a bottle of pods or can I just put some chaeto or LR rubble in my container?

Also I read that I should use live phyto but I only have dead, will that be okay?

 

[BeltedCoyote]

It’s definitely possible. I personally have never done it but everything I’ve read makes it seem pretty reasonable provide you know the steps and have the proper equipment. They do need live phyto, but even that is pretty reasonable to culture at home. Do some searches on here, I know there are threads about it. There’s also good info on YouTube. It’s completely doable, you just need to be reasonably prepared

 

[pcon]

You can try to culture the pods that you have in your tank just by transferring some chaeto or rubble, and with only dead phyto, probably will grow something, and the cost is low so could be worth a shot. If you are culturing pods for a specific purpose there are reasons why specific pod monocultures are maintained by pod breeders.

There are certainly some copepod species which can feed off dead phyto, but if you have specific goals in mind like fish breeding then the species for that generally need live phyto.

 

[xxkenny90xx]

Thanks for the tips guys. I'll try the dead phyto for now and switch to live if/when I fail. This is mostly for fun but I also thought it wouldn't hurt to supplement my 2 dragonettes and 3 wrasses diets.

I've got a gallon jug, small air pump, and phyto. Am I missing anything?