pods

[jayotte2002]

I see a lot of people here talk about pods. Does anyone have a picture of a pod? I mean a visible looking pod in the tank, not a microscopic picture.

[nanoman123]

i dont have a pic but pods look like lil white bugs with lil tails and they have a head and a abdomen, kilda like a small white ant but without the middle body part

[reeferdude]

You can do a search on copepods and should find a picture.

[phistio]

here's an isopod...

http://www.reeflounge.com/forum/download.php?id=1545

[steve1s]

Sorry to interject in but I think that is an amphipod (http://www.museum.vic.gov.au/crust/amphigal.html) not an isopod (http://www.museum.vic.gov.au/crust/isopogal.html)

Cheers
Steve

[jayotte2002]

that is what the little buggers look like. They are growing in a U shape burrow near the glass. I have been siphoning then up and then feeding it to the tang, he/she seems to like it. These buggers aren't harmful to my tank are they? They seem to be multiplying fast.

This is off the topic of the copepod, but can anyone tell the difference between a male or female cleaner shrimp? My shrimp just molted and has a sack of eggs, so I am assuming it is female. I would like to get a male for the female, but how can I tell when I go to the LFS?

[jayotte2002]

Sorry to interject in but I think that is an amphipod (http://www.museum.vic.gov.au/crust/amphigal.html) not an isopod (http://www.museum.vic.gov.au/crust/isopogal.html)

Cheers
Steve

steve, thanks for the links to that website. After looking at the pictures, it seems that I have a Maera mastersi. I caught three of them, feed two to the tang, and one to the polyp. They both gobbled it down. If they are good for the reef, then I guess I won't bother them. Heh. Thanks for the replies all.

[steve1s]

This is off the topic of the copepod, but can anyone tell the difference between a male or female cleaner shrimp? My shrimp just molted and has a sack of eggs, so I am assuming it is female. I would like to get a male for the female, but how can I tell when I go to the LFS?
No need to worry about the sexes of shrimp, they are hermaphrodidic. The best way to increase the chances of the eggs being fertalized is with 3 or more shrimp. It can still happen with 2 but the more cleaners the more chances.

>>Here (http://www.breeders-registry.gen.ca.us/Reprints/FAMA/v17_aug94/scarlet.htm)<< is a good read on the subject.

Cheers
Steve

[rjburr14]

My tank is now 7 weeks and I still have not seen any pods? Is this normal?

Tank: 150g glass aquarium 60x24x24 w/overflow
Lighting: Icecap 660 4x bulb retro kit
Filter: Euro-reef skimmer with pump
Main pump: Iwaki pump 40rlxt
Grounding probe
Heater: 300 Watt visi-therm
Powerheads: 4 Maxi-jet 1200ph
Chiller- Custom Sealife 1/3HP drop in power cooler
Auto Water top off system
125lbs Live Rock
Live sand
Crushed coral sand

2 serpent starfish
Turbo snails
Hermit crabs
2 emerald crabs
2 cleaner shrimp
3 green chromis
1 Percula clown fish
Orange Spotted sleeper Goby
Leather Coral

[steve1s]

Depending on when the tank actually finished cycling, there is a good possibility the tank just needs more time. Pods will eventually strengthen in number but an easier way to find them is at night after the tank lights have been off a bit.

Cheers
Steve

[Irisservice]

A place to purchase pods
http://www.reefaholics.com/Dwayne/Roti-pods/use.htm