How to Culture Copepods
Copepod cultivation is a useful basic procedure for aquaculturists, as they provide an important source of nutrition for fish fry. Copepods are small crustaceans, one of the most diverse and numerous aquatic life forms, and can be found in both fresh and salt water environments at all stratifications. Copepods are fairly hardy, though this varies depending on the species. They can withstand temperatures from about 50 to 82 degrees and can survive for a time without food, however they live and reproduce best at 68 to 77 degrees.
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Things You'll Need
- 10 gallon tank
- Air pump
- 2 gang air valve
- 18-inch long 1/4 inch rigid tubing
- 3 pieces of 1/4 inch plastic airline tubing, 12-, 24- and 36-inches long
- Acrylic lid with holes at each end for tubing
- Phytoplankton copepod food
- Copepod starter culture
Instructions
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1
Place the rigid tubes through the holes at either end of the acrylic lid.
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2
Connect the 36-inch airline tubing to the rigid tube farthest from the air pump, and the 24-inch airline tubing to the other rigid tube.
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3
Connect each of these two tubes to the 2 gang air valve.
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4
Connect the 2 gang air valve to the air pump with the 12-inch length of airline tubing.
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5
Fill the tank less than half full with water and add the phytoplankton.
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6
Stabilize the tank temperature to approximately 70 to 75 degrees.
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7
Match the salinity of the culture tank to the fish tank to which you will be feeding the copepods.
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8
Adjust the airflow so that it is bubbling gently on each end of the tank, enough to provide air circulation throughout the tank.
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9
Add the copepod starter culture when the tank has stabilized to the right conditions to match the fish tank.
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10
Add more plankton when the water starts to clear to keep the copepods well fed.
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