Live Zooplankton: Tigriopus californicus, Copepod Culture with Phytoplankton

With its high nutrient content and enticing “eat me” dance, Tigriopus californicus, aka Tig pods, make the perfect supplement to your reef’s planktonic feed menu, especially for the picky members of your community tank. Why T. californicus? High in essential fatty acids (HUFA; 20:5n-3 and 22:6n-3) which cannot be synthesized by fishes and need to be ingested through live prey. HUFAs are needed for growth, reproduction, and development for fishes and shrimp Huge source of nitrogen and phosphorus which help build calcium carbonate exoskeletons if used consistently (important for coral) Faster reproductive rate, flexible diet, and tolerance to different salinities and temperatures vs other copepod species Large body size High in carotenoids (astaxanthin) which help maintain predators’ vibrant colors Hide in the sediment and in aquatic plants so are available to your tank’s feeders 24/7 Feed on detritus & algae, so they keep your tank clean while feeding your critters Critters th