All About Tisbe Copepods
Tisbe copepods are among the most useful and widely cultured types of zooplankton in saltwater aquariums. These small, benthic micro-crustaceans are part of the harpacticoid copepod family, and they play a vital role in reef tank ecosystems by helping maintain water quality and serving as a natural live food source for a wide variety of reef inhabitants.
In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about Tisbe copepods, including their appearance, feeding habits, reproductive cycle, nutritional value, and their benefits in both display tanks and refugiums.
What Are Tisbe Copepods?
Tisbe copepods, most commonly Tisbe biminiensis, are tiny marine crustaceans that live primarily on surfaces rather than swimming freely. As benthic zooplankton, they spend most of their time crawling across substrate, rockwork, glass, and macroalgae. Their small size — typically around 0.05mm to 1.0 mm — makes them ideal live prey for small fish, wrasses, gobies, pipefish, mandarins, and filter feeders like corals and sponges.
Because they’re naturally found in reef systems, adding Tisbe copepods to your saltwater tank increases biodiversity, strengthens the food web, and contributes to long-term ecosystem stability.
Tisbe Copepod Morphology and Behavior
Tisbe copepods have a segmented body with a rounded head, thorax, and narrow abdomen. They have long antennae and short swimming legs but are not strong swimmers — they are much more efficient at clinging to surfaces and navigating crevices and detritus-rich areas.
Their movement is fast and jerky, often seen under macroalgae like chaetomorpha or along the bottom glass of refugiums. Because they stay low in the water column, they’re less likely to be skimmed or filtered out than free-swimming species.
What Do Tisbe Copepods Eat?
Tisbe copepods are omnivorous detritivores, meaning they eat a wide range of organic materials in the tank, including:
Live phytoplankton (Nannochloropsis, Isochrysis, Tetraselmis, etc.)
Detritus and uneaten food particles
Bacterial films and biofilm on rocks and glass
Algae particles and decaying plant matter
In a well-fed system, Tisbe copepods convert low-value organic waste into high-quality biomass, improving water quality while providing live nutrition.
Nutritional Value of Tisbe Copepods
Tisbe copepods are a nutrient-dense live food source, especially when cultured on quality live phytoplankton. They are rich in:
EPA (Eicosapentaenoic acid)
DHA (Docosahexaenoic acid)
Arachidonic acid (ARA)
Protein
Carotenoids (which help enhance fish coloration)
Their soft bodies and small size make them easy to digest — ideal for juvenile marine fish and coral polyps.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Female Tisbe copepods carry two visible egg sacs, one on each side of the body near the abdomen. Each sac contains between 20 to 60 eggs, depending on environmental conditions like temperature, salinity, and food availability.
After hatching, the nauplii (larvae) go through multiple stages before becoming adults — usually within 9 to 12 days at 25°C. Adult Tisbe copepods live for approximately 2 to 4 weeks, reproducing continuously when well-fed and undisturbed.
Benefits of Tisbe Copepods in Reef Aquariums
Tisbe copepods serve multiple essential roles in marine tanks:
✅ Natural Detritus Control
They help clean the tank by consuming detritus, decaying matter, and microfilms.
✅ Live Food Source
Their constant reproduction and small size make them ideal for fish that hunt continuously or corals that require suspended particles.
✅ Refugium Population
Tisbe thrive in refugiums and sump chambers, often hiding in macroalgae like chaeto. Over time, they create self-sustaining populations.
✅ Biodiversity and Stability
Adding copepods helps mimic natural reef conditions, improves biological filtration, and supports a more balanced ecosystem.
How to Add and Maintain Tisbe Copepods
If you’re seeding your tank for the first time:
Turn off mechanical filtration briefly
Dose directly into the refugium or rockwork
Feed live phytoplankton daily or as needed
Avoid overstocking predators early on
Keep water parameters stable
With proper care, Tisbe copepods will reproduce and maintain themselves with minimal intervention.
Final Thoughts
Tisbe biminiensis is one of the most versatile and reef-safe copepods available for marine aquariums. They’re easy to establish, beneficial for water quality, and provide ongoing live food for corals and fish.
Whether you’re running a nano tank or a full reef system, adding Tisbe copepods helps support long-term stability, biodiversity, and natural feeding behavior — making them one of the smartest live additions you can make.
