{"product_id":"reefalicious-live-copepods","title":"Reefalicious Live Copepods","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLive copepods that breed in the tank, not just feed it once.\u003c\/strong\u003e Reefalicious Live Copepods is a bottled culture of live marine copepods for reef and marine aquariums, sold in 250 mL and 500 mL bottles. Tip the contents into your sump or display and the population keeps reproducing, rather than disappearing after one feed.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eKey features\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLive, not frozen\u003c\/strong\u003e — copepods arrive alive and go straight into your system, with no thawing or rehydrating.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSelf-sustaining\u003c\/strong\u003e — a healthy sump or refugium lets the population reproduce, building an ongoing food source rather than a one-off feed.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTargets fussy eaters\u003c\/strong\u003e — copepods are what draws out mandarin dragonets, scooter blennies and other species that ignore flake and pellet food.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHigh in protein and essential fatty acids\u003c\/strong\u003e, per Reefalicious, making them a nutrient-dense addition alongside prepared foods.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDoubles as clean-up crew\u003c\/strong\u003e — copepods graze on diatoms and detritus in the sand bed and rockwork.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eSpec\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDetail\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\u003c\/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eContents\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLive marine copepods in aquarium water\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eSpecies\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot published by Reefalicious — treat as a mixed pod culture rather than a single named species\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eBottle sizes\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e250 mL (SKU BA8281) and 500 mL (SKU AA1329)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eWater type\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMarine \/ reef\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eStorage\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRefrigerate; use promptly after arrival\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWhich Reefalicious live food do I need?\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eProduct\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eWhat it is\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eBest for\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\u003c\/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLive Phytoplankton\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLive marine microalgae\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFeeding filter feeders directly, and fuelling your own copepod or rotifer cultures\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLive Copepods\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLive marine copepods\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMandarins, dragonets, wrasses and other pod-eaters; reef biodiversity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLive Rotifers\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLive marine rotifers\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFirst food for fish larvae and fry; supplementary filter-feeder food\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLive Zooplankton\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMixed live marine microfauna\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGeneral biodiversity top-ups for a new or established reef system\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\u003cp\u003eAll four are sold in 250 mL and 500 mL bottles and are stored and shipped the same way — refrigerated, and used promptly after arrival.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eDirections\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eShake or swirl the bottle gently, then tip the entire contents into your sump, refugium or display tank — ideally at lights-out, when fish are less likely to strip out the whole dose before it disperses. Dose regularly (weekly is a common starting point) to build and maintain a self-sustaining population rather than treating it as a single one-off feed.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eSuitable for, and not suitable for\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSuitable for:\u003c\/strong\u003e established marine and reef systems with a refugium or sump where a copepod population can build up; mandarin dragonets, scooter blennies, pipefish and other pod-dependent species.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNot suitable for:\u003c\/strong\u003e freshwater systems, or as the sole diet for fish that need more food than pods can provide in a small tank without a refugium.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eStorage and handling\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eKeep refrigerated and add to your tank as soon as practical after it arrives — copepods are live animals in a sealed bottle, and water quality inside the bottle declines over time. Check any use-by information printed on the bottle.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eGoes well with\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReefalicious Live Phytoplankton\u003c\/strong\u003e — feeds the copepod population you're trying to build.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReefalicious Live Rotifers\u003c\/strong\u003e — a smaller-bodied live food that suits fry and larvae pods are too big for.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReefalicious F2 Starter\u003c\/strong\u003e — lets you grow your own phytoplankton to feed the pods long-term.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWarranty and delivery\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eAs a live product, arrival condition is covered separately from standard warranty terms — get in touch straight away if a bottle arrives in poor condition. Otherwise the usual consumer guarantees under Australian Consumer Law apply.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eCommon questions\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003ch4\u003eWill copepods actually breed in my tank?\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn a system with a refugium or areas of undisturbed rock and sand, yes — that's the main advantage over a one-off frozen feed. In a bare, high-flow display with no refuge, predation will likely outpace reproduction.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch4\u003eWhat's the difference between the 250 mL and 500 mL bottle?\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003cp\u003eOnly the volume of live culture — both contain the same mixed pod population. The 500 mL bottle suits larger systems or seeding a bigger refugium in one go; the 250 mL bottle suits smaller tanks or a top-up dose.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch4\u003eDo copepods need feeding themselves?\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003cp\u003eYes — an established pod population feeds on phytoplankton, detritus and biofilm. Dosing Reefalicious Live Phytoplankton alongside your copepods gives the population something to eat and breed on.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch4\u003eIs this safe with a mandarin dragonet already in my tank?\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003cp\u003eYes — that's the main use case. A single mandarin can outpace what a small tank's natural pod population produces, so regular top-ups help sustain both the fish and the population.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Reefalicious","offers":[{"title":"250 mL","offer_id":55242257531171,"sku":"BA8281","price":25.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"500 mL","offer_id":55335328350499,"sku":"AA1329","price":40.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/reefalicious-live-copepods-43508194279715.webp?v=1790234084","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/reefalicious-live-copepods","provider":"Nicks AOT","version":"1.0","type":"link"}