Copepods or something else?

[loops123]

Hi all,

I'm trying to establish copepod culture, but I've been struggling.. The bottled pod I've been buying has a bunch of obvious pods (with jerky movement), however, there are only a few. The rest is much smaller, I'm not sure if it's maybe small tisbe? The mix is sold as tisbe & tigger.

Here's the best pics I could get under my cheap microscope :D

Would be great if someone could help ID these..

 

[EnterName]

I would say Rotifer

Check out post #146 (page 8) in my microscopy thread.

The sphere shaped things behind those specimen are probably eggs.

 

[loops123]

Thank you.. is it usual for copepods to be bottled with a huge amounts of rotifers or other organisms?

 

[EnterName]

Thank you.. is it usual for copepods to be bottled with a huge amounts of rotifers or other organisms?

Yes they are often bottled together. In my experience copepods survive long-term in tanks while rotifers seem to either die or they find places to hide where I never get to see them again when I'm taking microscopy samples
Either way: Good guys, beneficial, no need to worry.