Apocyclops panamensis Copepods – “Apo Pods”

The Apocyclops panamensis, known to reef hobbyists as “Apo Pods”, is one of the most versatile copepods you can add to a saltwater aquarium. Apo Pods combine the best traits of our Tisbe biminiensis (“Tisbe Pods”) and Tigriopus californicus (“Big Red Copepods” or “Tig Pods”), giving your reef tank a diverse feeding solution that supports both fish and corals.

Dual Feeding Behavior

• Like Tisbe Pods: Hide in rockwork and substrate, perfect for active hunting fish like mandarins and scooter blennies.
• Like Big Red Copepods: Swim into the water column, making them accessible to a wider variety of fish and corals.

This combination of benthic hiding and free-swimming behavior makes the Apo Pod an excellent all-around “utility” copepod for boosting biodiversity and providing continuous live nutrition in your reef tank.

Package Details

• Reproduction Rate: Fast
• Size: 8 oz
• Order: Cyclopoida
• Genus: Apocyclops
• Life Stages Included: Nauplii to adults
• Cultured: 100% aquacultured in sterile conditions

Nutritional Advantages

• Rich in highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA) and beneficial n-3 fatty acids
• Consume uneaten food and algae, recycling nutrients into a natural food source
• Contribute to healthy fish coloration, immune function, and growth

Reef Tank Benefits

• High fertility and short gestation period for rapid population growth
• Resilient to parameter swings
• Consume detritus and help maintain water quality

Perfect For

• Mandarins, scooter blennies, and other active hunters
• Corals that capture plankton from the water column
• Seeding refugiums or new reef tanks
• Increasing biodiversity for long-term reef stability

Why Apo Pods Stand Out

Apo Pods are medium-sized copepods—easier to spot than our smaller Tisbe Pods but not as large as our Big Red Tig Copepods. This balance in size means they can reproduce quickly while still being readily consumed by a wide range of tank inhabitants. By thriving both in rock crevices and free-swimming in open water, they offer unmatched feeding opportunities for your reef.

Boost your reef’s biodiversity and feeding variety—add live Apocyclops panamensis “Apo Pods” to your aquarium today.