ReefPodsTM are the only truly tropical live copepod culture available on the market today. ReefPods? Tangerine, ?the big ones? ? are packed with nutritious lipid reserves and pigments that will enhance health and color of small to medium reef fish and seahorses. Large calanoid copepod Adult Length 2.5 mm ReefPods? Tangerine is a live culture of a large unidentified calanoid copepod, most likely in the Family Temoridae. Tangerine adult copepods live in the water column and will eat small suspended detritus particles and microalgae in the aquarium. They produce a large nauplii which is an excellent food for aquarium filter feeders and fish larvae. The adults are eaten by numerous water-column feeding fish such as clowns, dwarf angels, anthias and seahorses, to name just a few. ReefPods? Tangerine may be used as a starter culture to establish populations in marine aquarium refugiums or the main tank when PhycoPure? CopePod Blend is added as directed. Although not as easily established as Tisbe, once established they will reproduce quickly, growing from nauplii to reproductive adults in about 15 days. They are sub-tropical and will thrive in normal aquarium temperatures and a wide range of salinities. It is suggested they be added to the aquarium at night or to the refugium to avoid immediate fish predation. ReefPods? Tangerine may be cultured separately in a small tank by feeding PhycoPure? CopePod Blend?. The nauplii are 100-200 micrometers wide, making them suitable for many fish larvae. Adults may be harvested for feeding juvenile seahorses and other small fish. Reef Pods? are the only truly tropical live copepod cultures available on the market today. It opens an exciting new area of feeding possibilities for the experimental marine aquarist. Look for many new species of copepod cultures to be available from the culture professionals at AlgaGen. Tangerine Pods Biology ReefPod? Tangerine * Large calanoid copepod (species unidentified) * Nauplii, copepodids, and adults live in the water column * Life span up to 40 days * Adult size 2 to 2.5 mm long * Nauplii size 100-200 microns wide * Nauplii to reproductive age 12-20 days * Reproduction: carries eggs in sacs * Stocking densities 0.1-0.5/ml * Culture preferences o Temperature 22-25C o Salinity 15-30ppt o Light to medium aeration o Feed PhycoPure? CopePod Blend? Aquarium Applications The Tangerine Pod is an excellent species for directly feeding to hungry fish and seahorses to observe a feeding frenzy. The nauplii of Tangerines are excellent food for filter feeding invertebrates and for juvenile seahorses and for larger sized or staged fish larvae and invertebrate nauplii. Juvenile and adult Tangerines are an excellent replacement for less nutritious brine shrimp. Culture tips The Tangerine Pod is an omnivore and will consume microalgae and zooplankton alike. It is recommended that adult densities be maintained at less than 0.25/mL. Tangerines can be cultured in containers as small as one gallon; however, 5 gallons is a recommended minimum. When feeding microalgae, such as Phycopure? CopePod Blend? it is recommended to maintain a good background of food continuously. Amounts can be adjusted daily based on the apparent amount remaining in the culture. Clarity of the water is a useful indication of food consumption. Ideal conditions are 22-25C, 15-25ppt and light to medium aeration. Acclimation upon receipt Tangerine copepods tolerate a wide range of temperatures and salinities but it is recommended that water-parameter acclimation at a rate of 6ppt salinity per day or 5C per day be performed if aquarium salinities or temperatures differ by 10ppt or 10C. It is important to feed Tangerines during the acclimation period. Healthy Tangerines can be added directly to the main aquarium or the fish or invertebrate culture tank if the intent is only to feed the Tangerines as a one-time food.