Copepodsforsale.com, scam?

toygrr

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Three days ago placed an order with expedited shipping and still haven't heard back from them, my order says "processing". When I revisited the site, I read through the "reviews" which all look to be botted or fabricated, as the dates are sequential - as if customers reviewed their order one day after the next.

Has anyone else used them before? It's pretty hard to find any hard fast answers online, or any topics with a clear answer.

I guess I was blinded by their incredible prices, and swayed by the very real looking photos in some Facebook threads of people who received their orders.

Screenshot_20260409-155648.png
 
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toygrr

toygrr

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The reviews definitely look scammy. Hopefully it all works out
I know, I'm feeling pretty silly right now lol. I'll give it some time, just figured I'd ask here...

Maybe they're just a small outfit and I'm too used to the prime 2-day shipping world ha
 

BigDangler

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Three days ago placed an order with expedited shipping and still haven't heard back from them, my order says "processing". When I revisited the site, I read through the "reviews" which all look to be botted or fabricated, as the dates are sequential - as if customers reviewed their order one day after the next.

The website is very basic, something I'm confident I could have made in my programming classes, maybe I'm being too harsh. Has anyone else used them before? It's pretty hard to find any hard fast answers online, or any topics with a clear answer.

I guess I was blinded by their incredible prices, and swayed by the very real looking photos in some Facebook threads of people who received their orders.

Screenshot_20260409-155648.png
NameCOPEPODSFORSALE.COMRegistry Domain ID2798408581_DOMAIN_COM-VRSNRegistered On2023-07-14T23:57:07ZExpires On2027-07-14T23:57:07ZUpdated On2025-07-15T17:03:16Z
Mailing AddressDomainsByProxy.com 100 S. Mill Ave, Suite 1600, Tempe, Arizona, 85281

They Shipping out of Arizona? I got duped into a website that was too good to be true.. Stole my debit card info and they were trying to send themselves money.. Had to get a new card..
 
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toygrr

toygrr

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Three days ago placed an order with expedited shipping and still haven't heard back from them, my order says "processing". When I revisited the site, I read through the "reviews" which all look to be botted or fabricated, as the dates are sequential - as if customers reviewed their order one day after the next.

The website is very basic, something I'm confident I could have made in my programming classes, maybe I'm being too harsh. Has anyone else used them before? It's pretty hard to find any hard fast answers online, or any topics with a clear answer.

I guess I was blinded by their incredible prices, and swayed by the very real looking photos in some Facebook threads of people who received their orders.

Screenshot_20260409-155648.png
NameCOPEPODSFORSALE.COMRegistry Domain ID2798408581_DOMAIN_COM-VRSNRegistered On2023-07-14T23:57:07ZExpires On2027-07-14T23:57:07ZUpdated On2025-07-15T17:03:16Z
Mailing AddressDomainsByProxy.com 100 S. Mill Ave, Suite 1600, Tempe, Arizona, 85281

They Shipping out of Arizona? I got duped into a website that was too good to be true.. Stole my debit card info and they were trying to send themselves money.. Had to get a new card..
Yeah I'm expecting this might happen. Was having trouble getting info on them, thanks for that...

Luckily my CC company is pretty solid about stuff like this.
 

NeedAReef

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I have bought from Dinkins here and from algaebarn, neither was a bad experience. now i buy local because we finally have a local source
 
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toygrr

toygrr

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My monthly sub from @Dinkins Aquatic Gardens just arrived - highly recommend :)
I have bought from Dinkins here and from algaebarn, neither was a bad experience. now i buy local because we finally have a local source

If it hits the fan I'll check them out, have had good experience with algae barn, thought I'd try something cheaper so here we are lol. I'll post an update soon.
 

kitti-fish

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Looked this company up and it looks like it’s operated by a college student (or was I have no idea). They made post on another forum but haven’t updated since 2024. Here is another thread about them on this site


There is also a thread on Facebook on a public site and looks like people have subscribed to their monthly copepod restock(?) I have no idea they might be legitimate just not well run that’s honestly my guess
 
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toygrr

toygrr

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Looked this company up and it looks like it’s operated by a college student (or was I have no idea). They made post on another forum but haven’t updated since 2024. Here is another thread about them on this site


There is also a thread on Facebook on a public site and looks like people have subscribed to their monthly copepod restock(?)
I'll read through that, thanks. Yeah I kinda had a feeling they might just be a small company, I don't mean to spread misinformation or slander them. Maybe in some time I'll get some pods in the mail 😂

Edit: yes I did find this thread, as well as the freshwater reddit post and one Facebook thread lol. I can't see the discussion if there is one, only the first post.
 

logibear

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Heard anything yet?
 
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toygrr

toygrr

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Heard anything yet?
Yeah they contacted me and my order is in fact in the mail. I wasn't going to bump this again until I had support remove part of my first post as it was a little harsh. I'll send another update once I receive the order and post pictures, ect.
 

CopepodsForSale

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Hey everyone, Ricky here, owner of Copepods For Sale. Really glad I saw this thread.

@toygrr I am sorry about the delayed communication on your order. We use Shippo for automated tracking emails so they should go out as soon as a label is created, but something slipped through on yours and that is completely on me.

To give a little background, I am a college studentout of Ohio. Every single culture is hand bottled by me, packed in insulated mailers with heat or cool packs matched to the forecast, and shipped Monday through Wednesday via UPS, FedEx, or USPS Priority depending on the destination. It is not a big fancy company but I put my hands on every bottle before it goes out the door.

If anything ever arrives dead, missing, or wrong I make it right immediately, no questions asked. That is a promise I take seriously with every single order.

@syon_r thank you so much for sharing your experience, that means more than you know. And toygrr I really appreciate you being fair and giving us a chance. Every customer who takes a shot on a small business like mine means the world to me and I do not take any of it for granted.

My inbox is always open if anyone has questions. Thank you all.

Ricky
Copepods For Sale
 
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toygrr

toygrr

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Hey everyone, Ricky here, owner of Copepods For Sale. Really glad I saw this thread.

@toygrr I am sorry about the delayed communication on your order. We use Shippo for automated tracking emails so they should go out as soon as a label is created, but something slipped through on yours and that is completely on me.

To give a little background, I am a college student running this as a one person operation out of Vermilion, Ohio. Every single culture is hand bottled by me, packed in insulated mailers with heat or cool packs matched to the forecast, and shipped Monday through Wednesday via UPS, FedEx, or USPS Priority depending on the destination. It is not a big fancy company but I put my hands on every bottle before it goes out the door.

If anything ever arrives dead, missing, or wrong I make it right immediately, no questions asked. That is a promise I take seriously with every single order.

@syon_r thank you so much for sharing your experience, that means more than you know. And toygrr I really appreciate you being fair and giving us a chance. Every customer who takes a shot on a small business like mine means the world to me and I do not take any of it for granted.

My inbox is always open if anyone has questions. Thank you all.

Ricky
Copepods For Sale

Thanks for reaching out Ricky!

Ricky contacted me in regards to my order. He did help me out with the expedited shipping and adjusted the price. Overall Ricky was very helpful and I did receive my order. I will be giving them business in the future.

Copopodsforsale.com is legit! Finding a definitive topic about them was difficult, so I hope others find this thread and give them a shot as the prices are quite competitive against other copopod distributors.

(I forgot to take photos, but I did get 3 bottles of separated pods and a bottle of phyto as the product page described)
 

exnisstech

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To give a little background, I am a college student running this as a one person operation out of Vermilion, Ohio


Do you have a store front or allow pickup? Salty Critter there in vermilion is my go to LFS so I get up that way every few weeks.
 

CopepodsForSale

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Do you have a store front or allow pickup? Salty Critter there in vermilion is my go to LFS so I get up that way every few weeks.
That is awesome to hear, I love that store and grew up going there can always meet up and hook you up with anything you need! Please dm and ill be more than happy to share my contact info.
 

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