Description

Tigriopus copepods are hardy, nutrient-rich marine micro-crustaceans commonly cultured and used as live food in reef aquariums. Known for their bright red coloration and jerky swimming motion, these pods are packed with natural carotenoids and essential fatty acids, making them an excellent food source for finicky or delicate fish.

They thrive in a wide range of salinities and temperatures and reproduce quickly, making them popular for refugiums and live-food cultures. Tigriopus copepods tend to stay near surfaces, rocks, and algae rather than swimming constantly in the water column.

Why reef keepers love them:

• High in Omega-3 fatty acids and carotenoids

• Great food for mandarins, wrasses, seahorses, and larval fish

• Very hardy and easy to culture

• Help add natural biodiversity to reef systems

Because of their relatively larger size compared to other pods, they’re especially useful for feeding larger pod-eating fish and enriching the natural food web in a reef aquarium.