{"product_id":"dinkins-aquatic-gardens-copepods-reef-snacklebox","title":"Dinkins Aquatic Gardens Copepods - Reef Snacklebox","description":"\u003cdiv style=\"background:#E0F7FA;border-left:4px solid #006064;padding:10px 14px;margin:0 0 14px;font-size:0.95em;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIn-store pickup only.\u003c\/strong\u003e These are live copepods that we keep cool and hand to you fresh at pickup, so they reach your tank alive and ready to establish.\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Dinkins Aquatic Gardens Reef Snacklebox is a live, three-species copepod blend built to feed even the pickiest fish, nourish your corals, and supercharge your cleanup crew. Each bottle mixes Tisbe, Apocyclops, and Tigriopus copepods, giving you a range of sizes and behaviors that seed real biodiversity across the rock, sand, and water column.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePair it with \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/dinkins-aquatic-gardens-live-phytoplankton-six-species-blend\"\u003elive phytoplankton\u003c\/a\u003e to keep your pods fed and reproducing. It is also the perfect first food for a new \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/green-mandarin-goby-synchiropus-splendidus-saltwater\"\u003emandarin goby\u003c\/a\u003e or \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/ocellated-scooter-dragonet-synchiropus-ocellatus-saltwater\"\u003edragonet\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #006064;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eThree Copepod Species\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul style=\"margin:4px 0 8px 18px;padding:0;line-height:1.5;\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eTisbe\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/strong\u003e Small benthic pods that hide and breed in rock and sand, an ideal steady food source for mandarins and dragonets.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eApocyclops\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/strong\u003e Hardy, warm-water pods that are highly nutritious and great for corals and smaller mouths.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eTigriopus\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/strong\u003e Larger, bright orange pods rich in natural carotenoids, so they double as a color-enhancing food that fish love to chase.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #006064;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eWhat Copepods Do\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul style=\"margin:4px 0 8px 18px;padding:0;line-height:1.5;\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFeed finicky fish.\u003c\/strong\u003e Mandarins, dragonets, wrasses, and pipefish often only eat live pods, especially when first settling in.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNourish corals.\u003c\/strong\u003e Corals actively capture copepods for a rich, natural food source.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eClean your tank.\u003c\/strong\u003e As detritivores, pods eat leftover food and waste and reach into crevices in the rock that your cleanup crew cannot.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBuild biodiversity.\u003c\/strong\u003e A living pod population makes the whole system more stable and self-sustaining.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #006064;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eHow to Add Them\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor best results, add the pods after lights out with the return pump and powerheads briefly off. Pour them near the rockwork, sump, or refugium so they can settle and hide before hungry fish find them. Seeding a \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/adaptive-reef-copepod-habitat-sump-refugium-shelter\"\u003erefugium habitat\u003c\/a\u003e and feeding phytoplankton lets the population grow and keep producing food on its own.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #006064;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ctable style=\"border-collapse:collapse;width:100%;margin:8px 0;font-size:0.95em;\"\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #B2EBF2;padding:6px 10px;background:#E0F7FA;font-weight:600;width:38%;\"\u003eType\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #B2EBF2;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eLive marine copepod blend\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #B2EBF2;padding:6px 10px;background:#E0F7FA;font-weight:600;\"\u003eSpecies\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #B2EBF2;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eTisbe\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eApocyclops\u003c\/em\u003e, and \u003cem\u003eTigriopus\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #B2EBF2;padding:6px 10px;background:#E0F7FA;font-weight:600;\"\u003eBest for\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #B2EBF2;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eMandarins, dragonets, wrasses, pipefish, corals, and reef cleanup crews\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #B2EBF2;padding:6px 10px;background:#E0F7FA;font-weight:600;\"\u003eWater type\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #B2EBF2;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eSaltwater and reef\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #B2EBF2;padding:6px 10px;background:#E0F7FA;font-weight:600;\"\u003eAvailable sizes\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #B2EBF2;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e8 oz and 16 oz\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #B2EBF2;padding:6px 10px;background:#E0F7FA;font-weight:600;\"\u003eStorage\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #B2EBF2;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eKeep cool and out of direct light, add to the tank soon after purchase\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #B2EBF2;padding:6px 10px;background:#E0F7FA;font-weight:600;\"\u003eBrand\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #B2EBF2;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eDinkins Aquatic Gardens\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\u003c\/table\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #006064;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eRecommended Pairings\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul style=\"margin:4px 0 8px 18px;padding:0;line-height:1.5;\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/dinkins-aquatic-gardens-live-phytoplankton-six-species-blend\"\u003eDinkins Live Phytoplankton\u003c\/a\u003e: feeds your pods so they reproduce and last longer.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/green-mandarin-goby-synchiropus-splendidus-saltwater\"\u003eGreen Mandarin Goby\u003c\/a\u003e: a classic pod eater that thrives when a pod population is established.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/adaptive-reef-copepod-habitat-sump-refugium-shelter\"\u003eAdaptive Reef Copepod Habitat\u003c\/a\u003e: a sump or refugium shelter that lets pods breed safely.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBrowse all \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/collections\/corals\"\u003ecorals\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/collections\/salt-water\"\u003esaltwater products\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #006064;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin:6px 0;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy live copepods?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMany reef fish, especially mandarins and dragonets, prefer or require live pods, particularly when settling into a new tank. A living population also keeps feeding your fish and corals between your regular feedings.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin:6px 0;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow do I keep them going in my tank?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSeed a refugium or sump, go easy on adding pod-hungry fish at first, and feed phytoplankton so the pods reproduce faster than they are eaten.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin:6px 0;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhich size should I get?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe 8 oz is great for a nano tank or seeding a single mandarin setup. The 16 oz suits larger systems or a fresh refugium start.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin:6px 0;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy is it pickup only?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThese are live animals that need to stay cool. We keep them refrigerated and hand them to you at the store so they arrive alive and ready to go.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Dinkins Aquatic Gardens","offers":[{"title":"8 oz","offer_id":48917406154971,"sku":null,"price":25.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"16 oz","offer_id":48917406187739,"sku":null,"price":49.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0767\/5209\/3403\/files\/image_9a79850b-3856-4488-bc83-f5ad339fdb34.png?v=1782745269","url":"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/dinkins-aquatic-gardens-copepods-reef-snacklebox","provider":"Squeaky's Aquatics","version":"1.0","type":"link"}