'Pods
Introduction
What is generally referred to as Pods by many hobbyists are in fact the beneficial copepods and amphipods. These can be detrivores or herbivores and are therefore beneficial to your marine aquarium. They provide a food source for fish and other invertebrates in your aquarium, such as mandarin fish / dragonets(hard to get feeding off other prepared foods) (which live off copepods, and coral such as Fungia. .
The different groups of crustaceans that are grouped together, collectively known as 'pods; are:
- Amphipod - commonly known as a 'water flea', they appear like a 'shrimp-like' invertebrate, 2-10mm in length, dorsally flattened and often seen in an arched shape. People often refer to Amphipods as 'pods.
- Copepod - Much smaller than Amphipods, copepods are between 1-3mm in length, and quite difficult to see with the naked eye. They do not have an arched back, and lie flat on surfaces such as glass. Commonly resemble a house-hold silverfish.
- Isopod - 'slater-like'. Isopods can be predatory or parasitic, and can be considered dangerous. Commonly carnivores, such as the cirolanid isopods
- Ostracod - Not as common as other invertebrate forms. Resemble a pea-shape.
A deep sand bed or live rock rubble provides a safe habitat free of predation as a breeding ground for "pods", but a refugium (by nature lacking in predators) is the best place for raising such critters. "Pods" traditionally come in to your tank through live rock/coral, live sand 'seeds' and even NSW changes. Recently, some species have become commercially relevant for aquaculture, and are mass cultured.
Gallery
Resources
- Those Little White Bugs in Your Tank - About.com
