Culturing Scuds

[Pyramid_Party]

Hi,


So I am gonna try culturing some Scuds. Right now I have a 12 gallon tote I plan to use as their home. I hear all I need to do is add some leaves, plant clippings, etc and that's really it? I am gonna put this 12 gallon tote outside in partial sun/shade. Any other tips you could share?

Thx

 

[Noto]

That sounds like a fine setup. What I would do:

1) add either a sponge filter or some plants to help with water quality.

2) put some window screen or something over the tote. Otherwise you'll attract mosquitoes like nobody's business. This isn't a problem if you harvest the wrigglers every few days, but much longer and you'll have them metamorphosing. You may also get treefrogs laying in the tub.

3)add daphnia too to get a second harvest; they will eat the microalgae and bacteria that tend to grow in this kind of situation and keep the water clearer.

4)set up at least one back-up colony in case of a crash. This can be smaller (a shoebox-size sterilite bin will work fine), kept inside and fed sparingly, just enough to maintain a small population.

Other foods that scuds will eat: fish food, bread, paper towels, vegetable and fruit scraps, filter gunk, etc. Just be sure not to overfeed or the water quality will crash.

 

[Pyramid_Party]

Yeah I have a smaller bin indoors to keep some in case of a crash. I'll probably pick up some daphnia too. I thought about the mosquitoes, but the tote has a top to it. It has 2 sides that come down on each other. When closed it does a pretty good job of sealing it off, but I worry the scuds would not get any oxygen. There is some tiny spots that are open but too small for a mosquito to fit IMO.

Hooking up a filter is out of the question, but I could add some plants. But don't they eat plants? Or is that when food items are scarce?

 

[Pyramid_Party]

Just bought 700 daphnia off aquabid. Put some anacharis and water hyacinth into the tote, and lots of plant clippings. The person who sold me the daphnia is including a bag of green water too.


How many scuds do you think this tote can hold?

 

[Noto]

Scuds do not typically eat live plants in my experience. I don't know what the carrying capacity of the tote is- I would guess a few thousand. It helps if you have lots of structure, just like with crickets or roaches. The live plants will provide some structure. A string mop or fake plants can help too.

You will definitely want more ventilation. I suggest you cut some holes in the top and tape screen over them.

 

[Pyramid_Party]

I bought some metal screening. I also may move the bin to another location or maybe indoors. I am not sure if it will be too hot for them. I touched the water during the day and it was warm. I am gonna test the temp tomorrow. The person selling me the scuds told me it's gonna be a challenge raising the daphnia with the scuds cause they daphnia or more fragile and need their water cleaner and are particular about their food.

What kind of things could I use for adding more surface area? Thx

 

[Moontanman]

If you aerate the water mosquitoes will not lay their eggs in the water, that is the easiest way to keep mosquitoes away but the mosquito larvae make great fish food too don't forget!