{"product_id":"dinkins-tigriopus-copepods-live-reef-pods","title":"Dinkins Tigriopus Copepods (Tigriopus californicus)","description":"\u003cdiv style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif;color:#1a1a1a;max-width:860px;line-height:1.7;\"\u003e\n\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\u003cp\u003eDinkins Aquatic Gardens \u003cstrong\u003eLive Tigriopus Copepods\u003c\/strong\u003e (\u003cem\u003eTigriopus californicus\u003c\/em\u003e) are the big, bright, tank-bred workhorse pod every reef keeper wants. These large harpacticoid copepods are packed with natural astaxanthin, so they double as a color-boosting live food and a self-sustaining cleanup crew that grazes detritus and algae film. Their bright movement in the water column is exactly what triggers a feeding response in picky fish. Pour some into the display for an instant feast, or seed a refugium and let them multiply. Explore the rest of our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/collections\/salt-water\"\u003esaltwater livestock and reef supplies\u003c\/a\u003e to round out the tank.\u003c\/p\u003e\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;\"\u003eWhy Tigriopus Pods\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBuilt for finicky eaters:\u003c\/strong\u003e the top live food for getting \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/ocellated-scooter-dragonet-synchiropus-ocellatus-saltwater\"\u003emandarins and scooter dragonets\u003c\/a\u003e, wrasses, seahorses, and anthias eating and thriving.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLarge and hardy:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003eTigriopus\u003c\/em\u003e are one of the biggest, toughest pod species, easy to see and slow to crash, so more of them survive to reproduce in your system.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eColor boost:\u003c\/strong\u003e naturally rich in astaxanthin, the pigment that deepens reds and oranges in reef fish and corals.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRefugium powerhouse:\u003c\/strong\u003e establishes a breeding population in a sump or refugium that feeds your tank around the clock.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCoral and cleanup:\u003c\/strong\u003e nauplii and adults feed corals and filter feeders while the population grazes nuisance film across rock and glass.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\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 Use\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAcclimate briefly,\u003c\/strong\u003e then turn off pumps and skimmer for 30 to 60 minutes so the pods can settle instead of being blown around or skimmed out.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTo feed fish,\u003c\/strong\u003e pour a portion directly into the display near the rockwork after lights out or during a low-flow period.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTo seed a population,\u003c\/strong\u003e add the bottle to a refugium or sump with chaeto or an \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/adaptive-reef-copepod-habitat-sump-refugium-shelter\"\u003eAdaptive Reef pod habitat\u003c\/a\u003e where they can breed undisturbed.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFeed the pods\u003c\/strong\u003e with \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/dinkins-aquatic-gardens-live-phytoplankton-six-species-blend\"\u003elive phytoplankton\u003c\/a\u003e to keep the colony growing between orders.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\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;\"\u003eAvailable Sizes\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ctable style=\"width:100%;border-collapse:collapse;\"\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:6px;border:1px solid #B2EBF2;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e8 oz\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:6px;border:1px solid #B2EBF2;\"\u003eStarter feeding or a small nano seed\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:6px;border:1px solid #B2EBF2;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e16 oz\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:6px;border:1px solid #B2EBF2;\"\u003eStandard reef feeding and refugium seeding\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:6px;border:1px solid #B2EBF2;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e1\/2 Gallon\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:6px;border:1px solid #B2EBF2;\"\u003eHeavy seed for a fishroom, large system, or dedicated pod culture\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\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=\"width:100%;border-collapse:collapse;\"\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:6px;border:1px solid #B2EBF2;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecies\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:6px;border:1px solid #B2EBF2;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eTigriopus californicus\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:6px;border:1px solid #B2EBF2;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eType\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:6px;border:1px solid #B2EBF2;\"\u003eLive harpacticoid copepods\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:6px;border:1px solid #B2EBF2;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater Type\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:6px;border:1px solid #B2EBF2;\"\u003eSaltwater \/ Reef\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:6px;border:1px solid #B2EBF2;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBest For\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:6px;border:1px solid #B2EBF2;\"\u003eMandarins, dragonets, wrasses, seahorses, anthias, corals\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:6px;border:1px solid #B2EBF2;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUses\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:6px;border:1px solid #B2EBF2;\"\u003eDirect feeding and refugium seeding\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:6px;border:1px solid #B2EBF2;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProducer\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:6px;border:1px solid #B2EBF2;\"\u003eDinkins Aquatic Gardens\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\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\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, the food that keeps your pod population booming\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/dinkins-aquatic-gardens-copepods-reef-snacklebox\"\u003eDinkins Reef Snacklebox\u003c\/a\u003e, a three-species pod blend for even more biodiversity\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 protected in-sump breeding shelter\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/ocellated-scooter-dragonet-synchiropus-ocellatus-saltwater\"\u003eScooter and mandarin dragonets\u003c\/a\u003e, the fish these pods were made to feed\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\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;\"\u003eFAQ\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy copepods instead of just frozen food?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nLive pods trigger a natural hunting response, which is often the only way to get a mandarin or dragonet to eat. They also reproduce in your tank, giving your fish a food source between feedings.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill they survive at reef temperature?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nYes. \u003cem\u003eTigriopus\u003c\/em\u003e are famously tolerant and thrive across the temperature and salinity range found in a normal reef tank, which is a big part of why they establish so well.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow do I keep the population going?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nSeed a refugium or protected sump area, dose live phytoplankton to feed them, and avoid dumping the whole bottle straight into high flow where pumps and skimmers remove them.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDo I need to refrigerate them?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nKeep the bottle cool and out of direct sun and use them within a few days. We hold them cool for you right up until pickup.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Dinkins Aquatic Gardens","offers":[{"title":"8 oz","offer_id":48961858339035,"sku":null,"price":25.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"16 oz","offer_id":48961858371803,"sku":null,"price":35.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"1\/2 Gallon","offer_id":48961858404571,"sku":null,"price":95.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0767\/5209\/3403\/files\/image_da826d73-e328-487a-9435-c658fefb2b79.png?v=1783613757","url":"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/dinkins-tigriopus-copepods-live-reef-pods","provider":"Squeaky's Aquatics","version":"1.0","type":"link"}