a Copepod question

[Fish Friend]

The copepods are outsmarting me, and I don't know what is going on.

I've added a 90ml bag of copepods to my aqua, and they are thoroughly fooled and happy. They seem around 1mm in size, biggest around 1.5mm after 4 days from being added. I've read that they can grow to about 5mm, so I've presumed that they are still juveniles now (copedites?).

Sometimes one grab another, the "target" struggle wildly, but swim away seemingly unharmed after a while. I'd like to be certain if they are mating or cannibalistic. I thought they would mold into adults before reproducing and now I'm rather unsure of what is going on.

Can someone please clarify if the copepods are making love or war in there?

 

[tzylak]

I am also curious of the answers to your questions.
All I can say to you is enjoy the spectacle since you have no real influence on their behavior.

 

[ssobel80]

I am curious as well. I have noticed the same behavior with mine and have had the same questions


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[Fish Friend]

They should do as I tell them, they are practically slaves! Besides, I watch them way too much already and they need to grow up.

Ok, I looked closely at webpages and found the following:
Copepods comes in two main groups
1-Calanoid Copepods
2-Harpacticoid Copepods

Most are between 1 & 2 mm.

Calanoids are elongated with antenna generally longer than their bodies. They generally remain in the water column at all times, but can get damaged by pumps.

Harpacticoids are torpedo-shaped, smaller and with short antenna. They do swim in the water column, but stick more towards the bottom, resting on glass, grassing etc.

They also do NOT tend to get damaged by the pump systems.

Mine seem to be of the Harpactoid kind, so they might be more mature than I presumed earlier.

 

[Fish Friend]

Just to be clear; I presume all my Copepods are of the same type only because I bought them, but I have no clue.
And thank you, I'm enjoying it very much