Food Culture journal: Tigriopus californicus

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THEJRC
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Food Culture journal: Tigriopus californicus - Tuesday, May 4, 2010 9:08 AM
Culturing Journal DataSheet
This first post should be updated regularly to include new information as events take place or changes are made to your system
General
Species:  Tigriopus californicus
Species description:  Intertidal Harpacticoid Copepod Tigriopus californicus is one of the most common in the hobby with average size between 200 and 1500 micron
Culture source (link if possible):  www.reefnutrition.com  marketed as "Tigger pods"
If algae, CCMP # (ref http://ccmp.bigelow.edu/ ): 

Culturing Vessel Details
Salinity:  1.022
Temperature:  Ambient 78*F
Vessel description:  4 quart Sterilite snapware containers
Lighting description:  3 dual tube normal output flourescent fixtures mounted vertically using 3500K bulbs
Lighting cycle:  14 on 10 off
Aeration description:  rigid airline with no airstone suspended just off the bottom of the vessel, aeration rate of approx 20 bubbles per second

Methodologies
Split methodology: Split based on water clearing rate, harvest is performed at split.  two thirds of culture is harvested with one third being replaced with various algae cultures and one third replaced with ASW mixed to 1.022

Culture medium description: 
ASW and algae direct from other cultures, typical algae mixture consists of Nannochloropsis, Tetraselmis, Thallasiosira, and Gymnodinium

Cell count:
 (if known) varies, on average counts are 2-4 specimens per ml sampled

Reference links:   http://www.copepodgeek.com/Copepod%20culture%20handbook/Copepod%20Culturing.html
http://www.luciopesce.net/copepods/
http://invertebrates.si.edu/copepod/
http://oceanpods.com/

Additional Information
Notes:  possibly the most common species in the hobby, while a staple with feeding for adult fish it is assumed that even the nauplii of this particular species is too large and lacks the proper activity (rests on surfaces and does not spend much time in water column) to be effectively used for early rearing and first food stages.  A good starter species for anyone looking to learn food culturing.  While argument is abound regarding whether or not the species is temperate or tropical in nature populations continue to be robust and very tolerant of changing conditions.



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<message edited by cmpenney on Tuesday, May 4, 2010 9:24 AM>
Pelagically yours,
~J      

THEJRC
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Re:Food Culture journal: Tigriopus californicus - Tuesday, August 3, 2010 8:20 AM
alrighty, so given the failed tank setup for the bahia I decided I should illustrate some simple copepod culture with the setup, it makes a perfect candidate tank as it's already grungy and filled with all manner of organics (lol).  I'll be journalling this one a little differently, with a focus on methods available to most average hobbyists (avoiding the strange algaes and such I like to play with).
 
So for starters, heres the pods!  I picked up a bottle of the Reef Nutrition brand "Tigger Pods" which are Tigriopus californicus species.  Very hearty harpacticoid not to mention easily available and good for starters.  (For you new folks, bear in mind that this species being harpacticoid as well as rather large is not a real good choice for larval feeds, however may have use as replacement for baby brine, etc.).
 

 
With me so far?  pretty simple... cute little buggers
 

 
The tank temp was dropped to 75* (more on this later when I have time) and fed fresh cultures of Nannochloropsis, Tetraselmis, and Isochrysis algaes.  for you beginners out there the reef nutrition algae feast is a blend of these, good profile for the T. cali.  Though I do prefer live algaes.  I also added two of my favorite over the counter algaes that I always keep on hand.  Phycopure, and Reed Mariculture's Thallasiosira. (dont tell Randy Reed I'm using his stuff lol).  The Thallasiosira was diluted to 50% with RO water (hence the 50% label on the bottle I'm using).  Small amounts of both right now as the live cultures are in there.  20ml phycopure and 6ml Thallasiosira
 

 
Water was tinted light green, and off to the races I went.....
 
I'll plop up some more shots when I get another free moment!
Pelagically yours,
~J