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Product Detail
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| Item#: |
ALN111 |
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| Type Use: |
Saltwater |
| Units/Case: |
1 |
| Wt Each: |
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| Other Important Information About This Product |
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Use This Product With: |
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| Product Name: |
ReefPods Moina Salina 8oz (Special Order)
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| Category: |
Reef Nutrition, Live |
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| Manufacturer: |
AlgaGen |
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What are copepods?
There are more than 75,000 species of copepods, which are morphologically diverse and occupy all aquatic habitats. There are copepod species in the deepest trenches and at the highest altitudes, some that are symbiotic and others that reside in sediments and in caves. The world’s oceans are numerically dominated by copepods. The copepodids of Calanoids and Harpacticoids are considered superior foods for fish larvae that will normally feed on large rotifers and artemia. Both Calanoids and Harpacticoids are also very nutritious live foods that can add a highly nutritious supplement or substitute to commercially available flake and pellet diets and frozen foods. Harpacticoids are very useful for scavenging uneaten food and feces from your aquarium inhabitants.
ReefPods™ Moina salina is a live culture of Moina salina. Moina salina live and feed in the water column and will eat a wide assortment of foods, including microalgae. Adults and juveniles are an excellent transitional food for seahorses and other fish that require live feeds for protracted periods. All sizes of Moina salina entice aquarium fish to feed.
ReefPods™ Moina salina may be used as a starter culture to add to marine aquarium refugiums or the main tank. Although not as easily established as Tisbe, once established they will reproduce quickly, growing to adults in several days. They are sub-tropical and will thrive in normal aquarium temperatures and a wide range of salinities. It is suggested they are added to the refugium; however, they can be added to the aquarium at night to avoid immediate fish predation.
ReefPods™ Moina salina may be cultured separately in a small tank by feeding PhycoPure™ CopePod Blend™. The juveniles are smaller than 500 microns, making them suitable for larger fish larvae and small juvenile fish. Adults may be harvested for feeding juvenile seahorses and small fish.
Reef Pods™ Moina salina is the only truly tropical live saltwater cladoceran culture available on the market today. It opens an exciting new area of feeding possibilities for the experimental marine aquarist. Look for many new species of copepod cultures to be available from the culture professionals at AlgaGen.
Aquarium Applications
Moina salina is an excellent species for direct feeding to plankton-eating fish and seahorses and can cause a feeding frenzy triggered by their hopping swimming motion. The juvenile Moina are the perfect size for feeding young seahorses. Moina are an excellent replacement for brine shrimp or as a transitional live feed before introducing flakes or frozen foods. Moina can be enriched and gut loaded with microalgae or formulated enrichments prior to feeding. The swimming motion of Moina triggers feeding responses from almost any predator. It will entice even the most finicky eaters and is a good choice to encourage species that refuse to eat at first.
Culture tips
Moina is an omnivore and will consume bacteria, detritus, microalgae, and zooplankton. An excellent characteristic of Moina is that the population reproduces asexually when under suitable environmental conditions with adequate nutrition allowing it to grow exponentially. Moina can be cultured in containers as small as one gallon; however, 5 gallons is a recommended minimum. When feeding microalgae, such as Phycopure™ Copepod Blend™ it is recommended to maintain a good background of food continuously. Amounts can be adjusted daily based on the apparent amount remaining in the culture. Clarity of the water is a useful indication of food consumption. Ideal conditions are 22-25C, 15-25ppt and light to medium aeration.
Acclimation upon receipt
Moina salina tolerates a wide range of temperatures and salinities but it is recommended that water-parameter acclimation at a rate of 6ppt salinity per day or 5C per day be performed if aquarium salinities or temperatures differ by 10ppt or 10C. It is important to feed Moina during the acclimation period. Healthy Moina can be added directly to the main aquarium or the fish or invertebrate culture tank if the intent is only to use the Moina as a one-time food. |
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