Amphipods are reef-tank micro-livestock - simultaneously a clean-up crew and food source. Common species: Gammarus, Hyalella, Melita. They reach 1-15mm and reproduce rapidly in refugiums with chaeto. Population: a healthy refugium with chaeto + light produces thousands per month. Predators: mandarin dragonets, scooter blennies, leopard wrasses, target mandarins, seahorses, and pipefish all eat pods. A 60+ gallon mature reef can sustain a mandarin only if the refugium produces enough pods. Seeding: AlgaeBarn 5280 Pods, Indo-Pacific Sea Farms, Reef Nutrition. Visible activity: nighttime - flashlight at the glass + rocks reveals dozens skittering.
Reviewed by the Fast Aquatics husbandry team · Updated May 2026
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