How do I know my copepods are alive?

[Europa]

I put a bottle of tigerbites on June 13 in my main tank. I also added Tisbepods and Apocyclops two weeks later. I have been feeding them with plankton. But haven't seen them since. How do I know if my copepods are alive?

 

[Reef.]

Look in the tank at night, use a red torch to see, hopefully you will see them moving about.

 

[ca1ore]

I'm not familiar with those particular varieties. No way to know that they remain unless you see them. Pods that live on the substrate are generally more likely to survive than free swimmers.

 

[Europa]

I still don't see anything. Maybe they didn't survive...

 

[R.Weller]

How big is the tank & how much phyto are you feeding? Did you add them near the top of the display or did you direct them toward your aquascape? Only the adults will reproduce, but those are also the most likely to be hunted by the inhabitants in the display.

 

[Reef.]

I still don't see anything. Maybe they didn't survive...

I believe the tigger ones are the biggest, the other 2 can be really small and hard to see.

Depending how you added them, at night, with lights on, did you acclimatise them and how many pod eating fish you have in the tank.

 

[Europa]

I was finally able to see the copepods at night with a flashlight. They are all over. Thank you!

 

[Reef.]

I was finally able to see the copepods at night with a flashlight. They are all over. Thank you!

I guess I’ll recommend a flashlight instead of a torch next time