Marine Copepods (Dioithona Rigida)

Dioithona Rigida copepods are a species of marine planktonic copepods that belong to the family Pontellidae. They are found in oceans around the world, primarily in warm and temperate waters. These copepods are important members of marine ecosystems, playing a critical role in the food web as primary consumers of phytoplankton and secondary consumers of other zooplankton.

Identification:

Dioithona Rigida copepods are small, typically measuring between 0.5 and 1.5 mm in length. They have a slender body shape, with a long tail and two pairs of antennae on their head. Their body is transparent and somewhat elongated, with a distinct segmentation pattern. They have a single large eye on each side of their head.

Habitat:

Dioithona Rigida copepods are found in open ocean waters, typically in warm and temperate regions. They are planktonic, meaning they are carried along by ocean currents and do not actively swim. They are often found in large groups or aggregations, particularly in areas where food is abundant.

Behavior:

Dioithona Rigida copepods are filter feeders, using their antennae to capture and eat phytoplankton and other small organisms in the water. They are an important food source for many marine animals, including fish, whales, and seabirds. Dioithona Rigida copepods are also able to swim away from predators by rapidly beating their tail.

Reproduction:

Dioithona Rigida copepods have a complex reproductive cycle, with females producing multiple broods of eggs over their lifetime. After mating, the female will carry the fertilized eggs in a sac attached to her body until they hatch into small nauplii larvae. These larvae will molt and develop through several stages before reaching adulthood.

Requirements for Culturing: 

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• Minimum 20L bucket or container
• Air stone, airline and airpump
• Dechlorinated salt water –1.019-1.025ppt salinity
• Microalgae (AQUABYTES PhytoPaste, AQUABYTES InstantAlgae or Live phytoplankton)

 

Step by Step Guide:

1. A 20L bucket will suffice for the home culture
2. Fill the empty bucket or container with freshly mixed clean seawater with a specific gravity of 1.019-1.025ppt salinity
3. Add the airline to the bucket with the airstone attached to anchor down the line
4. Attach the open end of the airline to the airpump and ensure that the water flow is gentle but enough to circulate the entire bucket with ease
5. Make sure you use a drip loop and check to keep water from getting into your pump and electrical outlet. You can use a one-way check valve as added insurance against this risk.
6. Add your copepod seed culture
7. Add a small amount of the aforementioned microalgae feeds until the water in tinted light green.
8. Over the next few days, check to see the water clarity. If the water has cleared it means you need to repeat feeding and get that same light green colour tint consistency in the water.
9. Ensure you harvest regularly to ensure the culture does not suddenly crash from too much ammonia build up. If you are not harvesting at least once a week then ensure you do 50% water changes every 2 weeks.

 

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Tips

The natural biological filtration offered by live rock, a sand bed containing nitrifying bacteria, and/or microalgae is excellent for maintaining water quality. You can also incorporate macroalgae, such as chaetomorpha to absorb excess nutrients from the water