Free Tigger Pods -Monterey CA

[TheLostReefs]

Hi all,

I currently have a bunch of T. Cali copepods in my two back yard cultures. I have no current tank or fish to feed them to. I'd be happy to net some for anyone interested in local pick-up. I probably currently have enough for 4-5 people.

For anyone interested in culturing them it is REALLY easy. They are sort of the cockroach of the copepod world. You literally need a bucket outside with a chunk of rock in the bucket -with saltwater around 35-45 ppt. I drop in a 1"x1" chunk of banana peel to create green water. You simply ignore them and let bugs and the occasional leaf fall in the bucket... That's it. They also do well with the addition of live phyto (helps but it totally optional -current cultures are booming and there has never been a drop of phyto added to the cultures). Culturing them indoors is disappointingly hard.

....Zero pressure to culture though you can just feed them to your fish. They do not colonize aquariums well. Their motion through the water is simply too appetizing to fish. They will colonize refugiums for a short period of time, but as they attempt to swim through the water column they generally get swept into the main tank. For a "benthic" copepod they spend a LOT of time swimming.

 

[tribbitt]

That’s pretty cool. Didn’t know it was that easy lol

 

[CaseyP]

How are they with temperature fluctuations outside especially with summer around the corner? Ironically when I just dumped a bottle of them in tupperware and ignored them, they multiplied like crazy for weeks. Then the last 2 attempts where I tried to actually raise them, my culture crashed. I might have to try this outdoor method. I wonder what makes indoor environments detrimental to them.

 

[MichaelB]

@ReyDeFarts this is closer to you i believe so tagging you

 

[Srt4eric]

@ReyDeFarts grab me some please.

 

[MichaelB]

@ReyDeFarts grab me some please.

Same here if you do, of course no pressure if this isn't feasible for you.

 

[Baykes]

Any issues with mosquitos taking over the cultures?

 

[psidriven]

Any issues with mosquitos taking over the cultures?

Don’t think mosquitos live in salt water.


@ReyDeFarts bring some to CFM this sat. I’d like some if you do.

 

[BAYMAC]

How are they with temperature fluctuations outside especially with summer around the corner? Ironically when I just dumped a bottle of them in tupperware and ignored them, they multiplied like crazy for weeks. Then the last 2 attempts where I tried to actually raise them, my culture crashed. I might have to try this outdoor method. I wonder what makes indoor environments detrimental to them.

They're from our coast ranging from Alaska to Baja. They can be in a 90 degree pool then hit with 50 degree wave.

Indoor just takes a process. Reed does it indoors.

 

[RandyC]

Don’t think mosquitos live in salt water.


@ReyDeFarts bring some to CFM this sat. I’d like some if you do.

There are species that bred in saltwater, but they obviously breed/live near the coast. Not sure if they make it inland or not once they're flying.

Seasonal Mosquitoes

Adults emerge in March and remain active through June. Breeds in coastal salt marshes but may fly up to 20 miles. Bites aggressively during the day…

www.smcmvcd.org

 

[BAYMAC]

Don’t think mosquitos live in salt water.


@ReyDeFarts bring some to CFM this sat. I’d like some if you do.

correct

otherwise they'd be ion your reef tanks

 

[BAYMAC]

There are species that bred in saltwater, but they obviously breed/live near the coast. Not sure if they make it inland or not once they're flying.

Seasonal Mosquitoes

Adults emerge in March and remain active through June. Breeds in coastal salt marshes but may fly up to 20 miles. Bites aggressively during the day…

www.smcmvcd.org

interesting. I've been in salt marshes from Canada to Baja and never been bite, or seen one.

 

[psidriven]

There are species that bred in saltwater, but they obviously breed/live near the coast. Not sure if they make it inland or not once they're flying.

Seasonal Mosquitoes

Adults emerge in March and remain active through June. Breeds in coastal salt marshes but may fly up to 20 miles. Bites aggressively during the day…

www.smcmvcd.org

Good to know, but Damn, thought being on the beach was mosquito safe. Luckily they like marshes, not nude beaches.

 

[TheLostReefs]

I had NO clue they would have been this popular/have this much interest I would have put them on here long ago lol. I have never had a mosquito in a single outdoor salt culture yet. If you are ever on the coast and looking to see where they live naturally look in the high dirty tide pools with no life. I'm talking the tide pools that you would lecture your kids for touching or your dog from licking for concern they are going to catch some gnarly infection -That's where T Cali live. The pools a usually pretty shallow so they have pretty serious temp swings in nature. They also are great with dealing with major salt swing. I typically correct their salinity a couple of times a month (I have a garden hose with Boogie Blue Plus for chlorine/chloramine).

How are they with temperature fluctuations outside especially with summer around the corner? Ironically when I just dumped a bottle of them in tupperware and ignored them, they multiplied like crazy for weeks. Then the last 2 attempts where I tried to actually raise them, my culture crashed. I might have to try this outdoor method. I wonder what makes indoor environments detrimental to them.

Nearly zero issues with temp fluctuations that we see in the Bay Area. Here in Monterey it is perfect as you can find them by the thousands in our tide pools. I've been raising them since 2012-ish. I have even raised them in Western CO in the summer when I was living there. Above 105F and they don't do well -but seem to survive in the shade. In the winter when it hits freezing temps I def drop a heater set to the lowest setting. I have a bunch of old heaters -as after 2 years of service I simply pull them from my tanks.

 

[TheLostReefs]

So far if @ReyDeFarts could transport I have: I think I am maxed out on the number of cultures that I can send... but if I can send more I will simply send them up if @RayDeFarts can in fact transport!
1) Woeday
2)MichaelB
3)Srt4eric
4)psidriven

....and if he can transport a major hookup for @ReyDeFarts .... Plus I would love to meet another reefer in the community. I work in Salinas at Salinas Valley Memorial. I could get these to you either Thursday or VERY early Friday morning (like before 0630) or very early Saturday morning (like before 0630). Or alternatively I can have them at the house here in Monterey and my wife can pass them off to ya.

 

[MichaelB]

So far if @ReyDeFarts could transport I have: I think I am maxed out on the number of cultures that I can send... but if I can send more I will simply send them up if @RayDeFarts can in fact transport!
1) Woeday
2)MichaelB
3)Srt4eric
4)psidriven

....and if he can transport a major hookup for @ReyDeFarts .... Plus I would love to meet another reefer in the community. I work in Salinas at Salinas Valley Memorial. I could get these to you either Thursday or VERY early Friday morning (like before 0630) or very early Saturday morning (like before 0630). Or alternatively I can have them at the house here in Monterey and my wife can pass them off to ya.

I didn't mean to imply he could or will only that he stays closer to you i think than anyone else. So it would soely be up to him, if he feels like it and is able too. Lol definitely not volunteering him to do it by any means.

 

[ReyDeFarts]

Let's make this happen @TheLostReefs ! Thank you for the generosity. I'm on call this week so my schedule is difficult to tie down. I'll text you and we'll get it figured out.