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Copepods, Freeliving: Copepods are tiny aquatic crustaceans, usually measuring around 1-2 mm in length. Most species are found in marine habitats, however some species have successfully colonized freshwater systems, as well. Copepods of the orders Calanoida, Cyclopoida, and Harpacticoida are a few freshwater types. Calanoid copepods (illustrated to the far left) have been noted to reach speeds up to 90 meters per hour, which is relatively quick for such a tiny organism. Although many species have been described, all copepod species share a common feature: a single, simple eye in the middle of the head.

i got this from this


but it turns out thats what i have in my fish tank! not daphinia, can fry still eat them? the babys r almost not there they r so small! so i know they can eat them,,,but im unsure if they r safe for them to eat, i got the gravel from a clean river, and i washed it 3 times, and even dried it out for a few days before using, but apparently some still managed to hang on..i was going to put new born betta fry in there to eat them.

Fishy,

I don't know if they are dangerous, but I would like to know more about them.

Your link is not working...

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

I know in marine aquariums that they are a desired animal for live food. From what I've learned mandarin gobies need a bunch of these in their diets as they will not normally eat prepared foods. In all likelyhood these will be safe for your fish to eat.

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

hmm, i dont know about the link..it worked when i checked.. but thats good they can be live food

Whether they're safe depends on the species. Many copepod species are tiny crustaceans that scavenge about and help clean up microparticles your fish may have left behind. However, some copepod species are parasitic and can pose a great threat to your fish species, if I'm not mistaken. Unfortunately, I haven't looked into those types of species much so I'm not entirely sure.

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The aquarist is one who must learn the ways of the biologist, the chemist, and the veterinarian.

Freshwater copepods per se are not directly hazardous to fish. And some fish species prefer them to Daphnia as food. Glassfishes will devour them with gusto if you pop them in a brackish aquarium, for example.

However, one caveat has to be issued with respect to Cyclops and related copepods. They are a known secondary host for Camallanus nematodes. Camallanus nematodes of various species are potentially lethal fish parasites that attack the gut. Their life cycle includes Cyclops, which is a pretty clever way of ensuring that they are passed on to future fish generations - have as a secondary host organisms that are food for your primary host. Effortless transmission of the next generation of Camallanus to the gut of your prized fishes. Therefore, if you have had a recent Camallanus infection (that has been treated with an antihelmintic) in an aquarium, it is best to avoid adding Cyclops to that aquarium for a good few months after the last of the Camallanus nematodes have been wiped out. Camallanus has the ability to persist for some time minus its secondary host, but this only lasts for a limited number of generations: after about 3 generations without a Cyclops secondary host, Camallanus cannot sustain further reproduction. If an aquarium is being treated for a Camallanus nematode infection, then do NOT introduce Cyclops as this will prolong the required treatment period considerably.

In an uninfected aquarium, Cyclops make good food. However, it is wise to check the provenance of your source. If the source is a watercourse inhabited by fishes with a known Camallanus parasite loading, do NOT introduce Cyclops from such a source into your aquarium!


Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

You're not mistaken; there are quite a few parasitic freshwater copepods.