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Get Fresh Live Copepods & Tank-Raised Clownfish in Austin Area
Live Copepods & Clownfish Breeding Services in Pflugerville, Texas
Home-based marine aquaculture operation in Pflugerville serving Greater Austin since 2020. Mixed-species copepod cultures (Tisbe, Apocyclops, Oithona) maintained in 1-gallon glass jar systems, tank-raised clownfish from established breeding pairs, and consultation based on 4+ years navigating Central Texas water challenges – pH 7.4-9.0 swings, high mineral content, summer heat management. Learn more about our transition from 200+ bee colonies to marine breeding systems.
⚡ Current Availability
Live copepods ready for Thursday delivery. Clownfish waitlist open. Consultation appointments available this week.
Live Copepods – $15/portion
Mixed-species cultures maintained in sterile 1-gallon glass jar systems with gentle aeration and weekly phytoplankton feeding schedules. Tisbe (surface-dwelling, 14-21 day reproduction), Apocyclops (water column swimmers, temperature-tolerant), and Oithona (smaller specialists). Harvested using 53-micron filtration, adapted to Central Texas pH 7.4-9.0 and mineral content.
What you get: Dense population of mixed copepods, feeding instructions, and care tips for maintaining cultures. Cultures are adapted to Austin-area water parameters for better survival rates.
Delivery: Thursday routes throughout Greater Austin. $5-15 delivery fee based on distance. Free delivery on orders over $50.
Tank-Raised Clownfish – Waitlist Only
Home-bred from established pairs that spawn every 2-3 weeks in 40-gallon breeding systems. Fry survival depends on rotifer culture stability, water parameter consistency, and feeding protocol execution – typical survival rates 10-30% through metamorphosis. Fish reach placement size at 8-12 weeks, eating prepared foods, acclimated to Central Texas water mineral content and pH variations.
Why breeding isn’t on-demand: Clownfish spawning cycles don’t follow schedules, and fry survival depends on multiple factors. We maintain a waitlist to ensure every fish is healthy, properly sized, and eating well before going to new homes.
Pricing: $20-40 per fish depending on species and size. 2-3 weeks advance notice when batch is ready.
Live Phytoplankton – $10/bottle
Fresh live phytoplankton blend cultured weekly in our Pflugerville facility. Essential for feeding copepods and filter-feeding corals like clams, feather dusters, and non-photosynthetic corals. Each bottle contains billions of active algae cells.
Fresh is best: Unlike frozen or dried alternatives, our live cultures maintain maximum nutritional value and natural feeding responses in marine organisms.
Volume: 16oz bottles, refrigerated shelf life of 2-3 weeks. Perfect for maintaining copepod cultures.
Austin Area Reef Tank Consultation Services
Real solutions for real problems – no perfect tank syndrome, just practical help for your reef keeping challenges in Central Texas.
Local Austin Consultation – $50/hour
Local visits for system evaluation, equipment selection, breeding setup planning, and troubleshooting. Experience includes managing pH swings 7.4-9.0, summer cooling solutions, RO/DI maintenance for high-mineral water, copepod culture establishment, and breeding system design. Parameter testing, timeline planning, and hands-on problem-solving.
What’s included: System evaluation, parameter testing, equipment recommendations, timeline planning, and follow-up support via text/email for two weeks after visit.
Service area: Austin, Round Rock, Cedar Park, Pflugerville, Leander, Georgetown. $25 travel fee for areas beyond 20 miles from Pflugerville.
Remote Consultation – $30/hour
Video consultation sessions using photos/videos of your setup for equipment planning, breeding project guidance, and system troubleshooting. Covers culture establishment protocols, breeding failure analysis, equipment selection based on actual performance testing, and realistic timeline planning for marine aquaculture projects.
Best for: Equipment planning, troubleshooting strange behavior, breeding prep, or when you need a second opinion on major decisions.
Scheduling: Usually available evenings and weekends. 1-hour minimum, can extend as needed. Payment via Venmo or Zelle after session.
Frequently Asked Questions
Real answers to common questions about our Central Texas aquaculture services.
How long do copepods last in my tank?
In a refugium or established tank, copepods can reproduce and maintain populations for months. In fish-only tanks, they’ll provide immediate feeding for 1-2 weeks. Our Central Texas-adapted cultures have better survival rates in local water conditions.
Why is your clownfish waitlist necessary?
Fish breeding isn’t like ordering from Amazon. Clownfish spawn on their own schedule, and fry survival depends on water conditions, feeding success, and pure luck. Our waitlist ensures every fish is healthy, properly sized, and eating well before going to new homes.
Do you deliver to my area?
Thursday delivery runs cover Greater Austin including Round Rock, Cedar Park, Leander, and Austin proper. We also serve surrounding areas like Georgetown, Hutto, and Manor. Order by Wednesday noon. Contact us for specific delivery availability to your location.
What makes your consultation different?
I share real experience – rotifer culture crashes, pH swing management, equipment that failed during summer heat, and copepod harvesting techniques that actually work. Guidance from someone managing Central Texas municipal water (pH 9.6+ treated, with operational swings to 7.4-9.0), ERCOT power grid challenges, and sourcing marine supplies locally. Read our detailed copepod culturing guide and clownfish breeding field notes.
How are your cultures different from online sellers?
Our copepods are adapted to Central Texas water parameters – they’re already used to our mineral content, pH, and temperature ranges. Plus, same-day local delivery means they arrive less stressed than cultures shipped across the country.
Can you help with tank crashes or emergencies?
Yes, but I’m not a miracle worker. For true emergencies, I can often do same-day consultation calls to help troubleshoot immediate issues. The best approach is preventive consultation before problems start – it’s much cheaper than emergency livestock replacement.
Central Texas Marine Aquaculture Expertise
Local knowledge matters. Our cultures and consultation services are specifically adapted for the unique challenges of reef keeping in Central Texas.
Austin Area Water Parameters
Central Texas municipal water varies by location and season. Austin’s treated water runs pH 9.6-9.7 with raw source water at pH 8.1-8.3 (Austin Water 2023 reports), but our Pflugerville operational experience shows broader swings pH 7.4-9.0 during seasonal changes and water management. TDS typically 210-240 treated, with beneficial calcium/magnesium levels that support marine systems post-RO/DI processing.
Local considerations: High calcium and magnesium levels in our water actually benefit marine systems, but the elevated pH requires careful RO/DI system maintenance and alkalinity management.
Climate & Humidity Challenges
Central Texas humidity regularly exceeds 85% during summer months, making evaporation-based cooling ineffective. Our facility has dealt with garage temperatures reaching 105°F+ and 40°F winter swings within 24 hours. Breeding systems require redundant heating/cooling and insulation strategies specific to our climate extremes.
Tested solutions: Specific chiller brands that handle high ambient temps, insulation techniques for Texas summers, backup heating for freeze events, and humidity management that actually works in our climate.
Local Supply Chain Knowledge
Finding quality marine supplies in Austin can be challenging. I know which local shops carry fresh saltwater, where to get emergency equipment, and which online suppliers have reliable delivery to Central Texas. This knowledge saves time and livestock during critical situations.
Power Grid Considerations
Texas power grid reliability affects reef tank planning. I provide practical backup power solutions and emergency protocols specific to our area’s infrastructure challenges. Winter freeze events and summer peak demand require different preparation strategies.
Live Copepod Delivery & Pickup in Greater Austin
Currently contact-based ordering with plans for online ordering platform coming soon.
Current Ordering
Contact us directly for current availability and ordering. Building a WooCommerce platform for easier online ordering with USPS Priority shipping for copepods.
Local Delivery
Thursday delivery runs throughout Greater Austin area including Round Rock, Cedar Park, Leander, and Austin proper. Order by Wednesday noon. Contactless delivery available.
Pflugerville Pickup
Pickup available at our Pflugerville location. Specific address provided with confirmed orders. Great way to see the operation and chat about reef keeping.
DOA Policy
Replacement or refund for livestock that arrives deceased. Photo documentation required within 8 hours of delivery for DOA claims.
What Local Reef Keepers Say
Real feedback from Austin area hobbyists who’ve used our services and cultures.
“Great locally grown pods and phyto at excellent prices!!”
Matthew H.
Austin Hobbyist
“Product was shipped to SA and came very well packaged and product was really nice. Got three different kinds of pods and all were swimming all over once warmed up. Looking forward to future business.”
Kenneth R.
San Antonio Hobbyist