Guide to Culturing Copepods

 

How to Culture Copepods: A Complete Step-by-Step Guide

Copepods are tiny crustaceans that serve as excellent live food for marine fish and coral. This guide will walk you through the process of establishing and maintaining a thriving copepod culture at home.

Equipment Needed

- Culture Container
- Air pump with airline
- Saltwater (specific gravity 1.025)
- Phytoplankton (live or concentrated)
- LED light or indirect sunlight
- Fine mesh (53-150 micron) for harvesting
- Starter culture of copepods

Step 1: Setting Up Your Culture Vessel

1. Clean and sterilise your culture vessel thoroughly
2. Fill with prepared saltwater at room temperature (19-26°C)
3. Install gentle aeration using some airline (do not use an airstone)
4. Position the container in an area with stable temperature and indirect light

Step 2: Starting Your Culture

1. Add phytoplankton to the water until it has a light green tint
2. Introduce your starter culture of copepods
3. Keep light levels moderate - too much light can promote unwanted algae growth
4. Maintain gentle aeration - strong bubbling can harm copepods (1-2 bubbles per second)

Step 3: Feeding and Maintenance

1. Feed daily with phytoplankton id required
2. Monitor water color - maintain a light green tint at all times
   - Clear water indicates insufficient food
   - Dark green indicates overfeeding
3. Test salinity every 2-3 days
4. Top up evaporation with fresh RO/DI water
5. Perform 10-20% water changes weekly

Step 4: Harvesting and Population Management

1. After 3-4 weeks, population should be established
2. Harvest using fine mesh net or sieve
3. Never harvest more than 1/3 of the population at once
4. Allow 1-2 weeks between major harvests
5. Save some adults for maintaining the culture

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Poor Population Growth
- Check temperature (ideal range: 19-26°C)
- Verify salinity (1.025)
- Ensure adequate but not excessive feeding
- Reduce aeration if too vigorous

Crash Prevention

- Maintain multiple cultures as backup
- Don't overharvest
- Keep records of feeding and maintenance
- Watch for signs of deteriorating water quality

Tips for Success

- Start small and scale up gradually
- Keep cultures away from direct sunlight
- Clean vessel walls periodically to prevent algae buildup
- Consider starting a phytoplankton culture for sustainable feed

Long-term Maintenance

1. Replace culture water completely every 2-3 months
2. Clean and restart cultures periodically
3. Maintain separate cultures to prevent total crashes

Remember that successful copepod cultivation requires patience and consistency. Regular monitoring and maintenance are key to long-term success.