DIY Copepods

The larvae of coral reef fish require copepods as their initial food. Copepods are microscopic zooplankton that feed on phytoplankton in the sea, which comprises various algae species. A phytoplankton substitute can be made using vegetable juice and additives. This food source should be added to the container of copepods, rather than putting the copepads into the container of food. Copepods are not difficult to culture, provided you have appropriate food for them.

Things You'll Need

  • 10-gallon plastic bucket
  • 10 gallons of seawater
  • Copepod breeding stock
  • 50-micron piece of netting, 6 inches-by-6 inches
  • Plastic lid with 6-inch diameter
  • Sharp knife
  • Non-toxic100-percent silicone sealer
  • Vegetable juice (11.5 oz. can)
  • 500-micron stainless steel sieve
  • Baker's yeast
  • Fish oil extract
  • 1-quart glass bottle, with lid
  • 1-quart plastic jug
  • Access to the ocean
  • Access to an aquarist club that has copepods (optional)
  • Vibrator air pump
  • Air stone
  • Air tubing, 1.5 feet
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Instructions

    • 1

      Cut a circular piece with a 3-inch diameter out of the middle section of a large plastic lid.

    • 2

      Trim the piece of 50-micron netting to easily cover the hole in the plastic lid. The 50- micron netting can be obtained from a scientific supply company or from a specialized aquarium supply store.

    • 3

      Smear a teaspoon of non-toxic 100-percent silicone sealant around the edge of the hole in the plastic lid. Place the netting onto the lid and allow the silicone to cure for 24 hours.

    • 4

      Strain one 11.5 oz. can of vegetable juice into a 1-quart bottle, through a clean 500-micron sieve. The vegetable juice is strained in order to separate out bigger particles that are too large for the copepods to eat. A 500-micron stainless steel sieve is commonly available at most supermarkets.

    • 5

      Fill the rest of the bottle with tap water. Replace the cap and gently shake the mixture of strained vegetable juice and water.

    • 6

      Remove the cap and add a teaspoon of baker's yeast to the mixture. Replace the cap and gently shake the mixture again.

    • 7

      Remove the cap and add several drops of fish oil supplement. Replace the cap and shake again.

    • 8

      Keep the copepod food mixture refrigerated until use.

    • 9

      Collect 10 gallons of seawater in the 10-gallon bucket during high tide.

    • 10

      Fill the 1-quart plastic jug with seawater during high tide, and very gently pour a quarter of the water through the 50-micron net back into the sea. The copepods that you are harvesting will remain in the net.

    • 11

      Rinse the 50-micron net in the 10-gallon bucket to remove the copepods that you have just collected.

    • 12

      Repeat the process 10 to 15 times.

    • 13

      Place the 10-gallon bucket on a work surface in a cool room.

    • 14

      Attach an air stone to a 1.5-foot long piece of air tubing, and push the other end of the air tubing onto the exhaust nozzle of a vibrator air pump.

    • 15

      Plug the pump into the wall power supply and turn the pump on. Place the air stone into the bucket.

    • 16

      Add 1 pint of vegetable mixture to the 10-gallon copepod bucket each day. The vegetable mixture will replace the water removed from the bucket along with the copepods used to feed your marine fish larvae. The 10-gallon copepod bucket will contain both mature and young copepods. Your marine fish larvae will feed on copepods of various sizes.