copepods and fry?

[tiddlywinks]

so i know i shouldnt post this here but i only try and breed hybrid/flowerhorns atm.
the fry eat copepods untill they get about 1 cm? is this healthy? i know marine copepods
are used as food. but these are freshwater. i would asume there safe? theymostlikly
came from lakemead from the sunfish ive had in the past or lfs.

 

[RD.]

That would depend on the species of copepods, as well as their size.

https://kb.osu.edu/dspace/bitstream/handle/1811/4609/V59N02_101.pdf?sequence=1

http://www.skepticalaquarist.com/invertebrates-copepods

In the larvae stage fish require a high fat content food for normal metabolic function and growth. Some copepods will supply a high protein & fairly high fat diet, others may not.
As you can see by the links above not all copepods are safe, some will attack small larvae, and some can transmit disease (intestinal worms) such as Camallanus.

 

[tiddlywinks]

well when i use the they look like micro horseshoe crabs and snaillooking things there so small tho

 

[RD.]

All copepods are miniscule in size to the human eye.
There's really not much more anyone can provide without at least verifying the species.

 

[tiddlywinks]

i pulled out a magnifying glass