Amphipod vs Copepod

[Makaiveli]

I just learned the difference between copepods and amphipods.

Copepods are smaller, and amphipods are larger.

The copepods look more beetle-ish, the amphipods look more grasshopper-ish.

Anyways, I once had MANY amphipods in my aquarium. I would turn the lights on and MANY would scamper away. Now I never see any.

Anyone know much about keeping amphipods thriving?

 

[mogurnda]

Lots of places to hide and breed seem to help. Rubble on the bottom, cracks in the live rock are the places they like like to hang out.

If you can set up a refugium, with spaghetti algae (or even filter pads) for them to hide in, they will multiply.

I would guess that your decline has to do with predation by fish. They are tasty little snacks, so the population will not be huge without some sort of protection.

 

[Dale W.]

Hey, you forgot to mention Isopods

As much as I am going to hate saying this, they do really well in a tank with crushed coral for a substrate. They love detritus and lower light.

 

[Makaiveli]

Pictures say a billion words

AMPHIPODS

what amphipods I've had looked similar to this, without the red eye.

COPEPODS

what copepods I have look like this.

ISOPODS

CEPHALOPOD

DECAPODS

 

[mogurnda]

ipod

 

[becky_e]

Wow, those pic are going to be a great help... er, minus the iPod. I hope I never find one of those in my tank ... :huh:

 

[OrionGirl]

Pea Pod?

Patch Pod (on the left, no clue why we call him this).

 

[Makaiveli]

Attack of the pod people

 

[wastememphis]

I'd order alot more live rock, if there was any hope of an ipod hitch hiking along somewhere.