{"product_id":"copepod-mix","title":"Copepod Mix","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eo \u003c\/span\u003eWe believe in our 3-pod mix that consists of Apocyclops, Tigriopus, and Tisbe pod species. Each species has its own role and reason for being included in the mix and why they help keep your aquarium in balance. By including a variety of sizes of copepods in our dense mixture, it benefits as live food for fish and a clean up crew that settles into and onto surfaces of your aquarium.\u003cbr\u003eo Apocyclops has a very rapid reproduction rate (fastest of the 3). Crawls on rocks, and glass, but most importantly the adults will swim through the water column feeding on detritus, phytoplankton, algae, bacteria, and ciliates. By doing this they help improve your water clarity by cleaning the water column. Great food source for finicky eaters that prefer live foods such as seahorses, pipe dragons, anthias, wrasse and mandarins. Eggs released from females are a great food source for corals and filter feeders.\u003cbr\u003eo Tigs are great for fish food and cleaning up the water column as they are mostly pelagic (free swimming). These are the biggest pods in the mix. They are a great source of a potent antioxidant called astaxanthin, the red-orange pigment seen in copepods, which protects against UV radiation, oxidative stress (heavy metals), and lipid peroxidation. This powerful antioxidant also promotes fish pigmentation (vibrant color) and immune health. Great food source for finicky eaters that prefer live foods such as seahorses, pipe dragons, anthias, wrasse and mandarins. Eggs released from females are a great food source for corals and filter feeders. These are the slowest reproducing of the bunch.\u003cbr\u003eo Tisbe are great for helping clean up surface film algae as they are mainly benthic (cling to surfaces). These are second fastest reproducing of the 3 species! Tisbe belongs to the harpacticoid copepod family and are very small so they can get into virtually any tight space to eat microalgae, fish waste, phytoplankton, diatoms, bacteria (like biofilms), fungi, uneaten food and detritus. They are also very adaptable and can handle large swings in reef parameters. Great food source for finicky eaters that prefer live foods such as seahorses, pipe dragons, anthias, wrasse and mandarins. Eggs released from females are a great food source for corals and filter feeders.\u003cbr\u003eo Both Apocyclops and Tigs are great source of highly unsaturated fats, omega 3 – fatty acids as well as amino acids and a xanthophyll carotenoid, astaxanthin, the red-orange pigment found in copepods which protects against UV radiation, oxidative stress (heavy metals), and lipid peroxidation. This powerful antioxidant also promotes fish pigmentation (vibrant color) and immune health. Tisbe’s are rich in lipids such as fatty acids, and from studies done they are creating their own polyunsaturated fats ARA, DHA, and EPA. Great source of protein for fish, as their mass is 40-50% protein!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e• With all zooplankton bottles it’s common to get some mulm in the bottles. Mulm can be beneficial as it provides a food source for various decomposers and detritivores in the tank, including smaller copepods, which helps maintain a balanced ecosystem. Mulm is organic material, detritus, excrement, molts, and dead pods (dead pods are minimal but some are to be expected). This is harmless to tanks and contains some beneficial bacteria. Tisbes’ molt as well and will settle to the bottom of the bottle. Zooplankton will aggregate towards light or a white surface.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eo \u003c\/span\u003eAt Bulldawg Reef we offer arrive alive guarantee on all products. Even if UPS messes up we have you covered! We will reship any DOA order to you at no cost!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Bulldawg Reef LLC","offers":[{"title":"8oz","offer_id":54714114703633,"sku":"sku-45950947360934","price":19.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"16oz.","offer_id":54714114736401,"sku":"sku-44822695182502","price":29.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"32oz.","offer_id":54714114769169,"sku":"sku-44822695215270","price":49.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Half Gallon (64oz)","offer_id":54714114801937,"sku":"sku-44827066728614","price":79.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Gallon (128oz)","offer_id":54714114834705,"sku":"sku-44827066761382","price":139.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0982\/4416\/5905\/files\/E13D6A0F-0FEA-4744-B457-9FDC94475B78.jpg?v=1790038886","url":"https:\/\/pawslogic.com\/products\/copepod-mix","provider":"Paws Logic","version":"1.0","type":"link"}