What do Gammaridae eat?

(subphylum Crustacea, order Amphipoda, family Gammaridae) Feeding: Collectors/gatherers/shredders/predators – scuds are omnivores and eat just about any organic material they come upon.

What does a Gammarus do?

Gammarus spp. consist of more than 100 freshwater, brackish, and marine species in the Northern hemisphere. They represent important keystone species in aquatic ecosystems and are often present in high abundance. As shredders and detritus feeders, they contribute to the detritus cycle and the microbial loop.

How do you identify Scuds?

Scuds range from 5-20mm long. They are most easy to recognize by their comma-like body shape, which is strongly flattened from side to side. Scuds have 2 pairs of antennae and 7 pairs of legs.

Do scuds need light?

No scuds don’t need light. They eat alot decaying plants (leaf litter will work), or live plants if the population exceeds what the decaying plants can sustain.

Are Scuds good for aquariums?

In the aquarium, Scuds are a superb food source for micropredators, especially small fish. They will reproduce at a very prolific rate, and one starter culture is often enough to produce a virtually endless supply of live food, especially if cultivated in a separate tank where they are not outnumbered by predators.

Are scuds edible?

Adult livebearers eagerly eat scuds of all sizes, while fry and juveniles eat the smaller ones.

Is Gammarus harmful to fish?

These small invertebrates can be a great food source for aquarium fish as well. In fact, they are a readily consumed by many difference species of aquarium fish. Not only do they provide a great source of protein and roughage to aid in digestion, they are one of the best natural color enhancing food for fish.

What is a freshwater scud?

Scuds (Gammarus sp.), also known as Freshwater Amphipods, are small, shrimp-like invertebrates that are native to many waterways throughout the world. Many members of the genus are also native to brackish and marine habiats. Scuds are detritivores that primarily feed on decaying plant matter and scavenge.