For best results, we always suggest dosing your copepods the same day you receive them. But things happen, and there may be times when you need to wait a day or two before adding your bottles to the tank. If you find yourself unable to add your pods to the tank right away, we suggest leaving the bottle on the counter (do not refrigerate - most home refrigerators get too cold). Open the lid so that the pods can "breathe" and add a few drops of phytoplankton. Each day, recap the bottle and gently shake it to reoxygenate the water, then remove the cap and feed more phyto. When handled this way, the pods will last 1-2 weeks. If you need them to live longer, your best bet is to remove the from the bottle and put them in a bucket or bowl with fresh saltwater, phytoplankton (until the water is barely tinted green), and gentle aeration.