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Thread: THE LOWLY SCUD

  1. #1
    Moderator JCO's Avatar
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    THE LOWLY SCUD

    FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE STARTING A NEW SYSTEM THIS SPRING AND SOME OF YOU WHO ALREADY HAVE A SYSTEM UP AND RUNNING, YOU NEED THESE LITTLE FELLOWS ON BOARD.
    THEY ARE GREAT SCAVENGERS AND FOOD FOR YOUR FISH.


    The Scud is a freshwater shrimp and it is one of the most popular natural food sources for many fish, large and small.

    The Scud can reproduce several times a year and the female is able to carry about fifty fertilized eggs in her egg pouch. The eggs are orange in color and can be clearly seen beneath her transparent shell.

    Young scuds hatch within the pouch and emerge fully formed, yet almost microscopic in size. A school of young Scuds on the surface of the water are orange in color and small enough to use as food for young fry.

    They are much more preferable than Brine Shrimp because Brine Shrimp have to be hatched in a heavy solution of Salt and die off quickly when place in fresh water to feed the fry and generally the fry won’t eat them once they die which can cause water pollution that can kill the fry.

    The young Scud will form a hard shell (exoskeleton) quickly and this is shed frequently as the scud grows larger.

    They are quite vulnerable during this process and have to hide to avoid being eaten by other Scuds. Scuds will range in size to about 1/8th to 1/4th of an inch in length at maturity.

    The scud has no natural defense other than simple cover or camouflage so they are mostly found in underwater aquatic plants and they are active in the early morning or evening hours but are mostly active at night.

    In an Aquaponic System, the scud is a scavenger eating organic plant materials, algae and left over food particles etc. This should show you what an asset Scuds are to an Aquaponic System, scavengers and food all rolled into one tiny package that reproduces like rabbits. Such a deal!

    An odd not about Scuds in the wild, they are the single most source of food for trout making up one-third to one-half of a trout’s complete diet so you can see why they can be important to an Aquaponic System.
    CLICK HERE TO ORDER VIA A TAX DEDUCTIBLE DONATION THROUGH W.O.A.A.T.



    CLICK HERE TO ORDER VIA A TAX DEDUCTIBLE DONATION THROUGH W.O.A.A.T.
    JCO
    Irish eyes are always smiling but
    • "In the eyes of the world, you are only as good as your last success"
    so never forget
    • "MAN IS ONLY LIMITED BY HIS IMAGINATION"

  2. #2
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    Re: THE LOWLY SCUD

    I'm interested but am concerned about the lack of "natural" habitat in my tank since mine is bare. Can you discuss what would be the minimum (for habitat) that we would need to add to our systems to give them some protection?
    Scott
    Jesup (S.E.), Georgia, USA

  3. #3
    Moderator jackalope's Avatar
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    Re: THE LOWLY SCUD

    Do they eat 'live' plants, or dead/rotting plants?

    Also, since I was raising crays/shrimp in Montana, IF you live in Montana, don't advertise the fact that you have anything like crays, lobsters, shrimp - they are supposedly illegal - that said, the Fish and Game has no control over what is raised, kept inside a home or building according to the law, only what you might be raising outside in pools, cricks, lakes, etc.
    I use the Linux Operating System ...... Free as in beer!
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    Aquaponics - food'n'fish at your doorstep

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  4. #4
    Moderator JCO's Avatar
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    Re: THE LOWLY SCUD

    bbikebbs:- what media do you have in your grow bed? That's the place they will likely thrive; there and your bio-filter where the solids collect from the fish tank. If your fish tank is bare, some of the eggs will probably hatch there and then migrate to wherever they can find a place to hide from predators.

    Jackalope:- they are very tiny. That is an adult in that photo of the one on the finger. They are scavengers, eating only deteriorating vegetable matter, algae, uneaten food etc. As for fish and game, I doubt if they would be worried about Scuds as they are not an invasive species.
    JCO
    Irish eyes are always smiling but
    • "In the eyes of the world, you are only as good as your last success"
    so never forget
    • "MAN IS ONLY LIMITED BY HIS IMAGINATION"

  5. #5
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    Re: THE LOWLY SCUD

    i had a few bucket filters i put in my system when i moved it into the basement..when i re-arranged everything and moved the fish to the pool, i decided to clean the filters - each bucket was full of "scrubbie" pads..
    both 5 gallon buckets were packed with scuds in the filters.. (and worms)




    if you'd like to see pictures of some scud experiments, shoot me a pm

  6. #6
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    Re: THE LOWLY SCUD

    Quote Originally Posted by JCO
    bbikebbs:- what media do you have in your grow bed? That's the place they will likely thrive; there and your bio-filter where the solids collect from the fish tank. If your fish tank is bare, some of the eggs will probably hatch there and then migrate to wherever they can find a place to hide from predators.

    ...
    I've got gravel in the grow bed.
    Scott
    Jesup (S.E.), Georgia, USA

  7. #7
    Moderator jackalope's Avatar
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    Re: THE LOWLY SCUD

    Quote Originally Posted by JCO
    As for fish and game, I doubt if they would be worried about Scuds as they are not an invasive species.
    Those idiots think anything not native to Montana is invasive - I argued that Marmorkrebs were NOT on the invasive species list, and they still told me that they could make an arbitrary decision under the law to outlaw anything not native to the state (the law doesn't back them up, but it would cost more to take them to court than it's worth)! I just quit advertising the fact that I had them and I didn't have any more trouble with them.

    Freedom ain't free, and the Fish and Game idiots in most states are living proof!
    I use the Linux Operating System ...... Free as in beer!
    You're never too old to learn something
    Aquaponics - food'n'fish at your doorstep

    Helena, Montana - Home of the Northernmost Monument to the Confederacy

  8. #8
    Moderator JCO's Avatar
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    Re: THE LOWLY SCUD

    bbikebbs, gravel is a great place for them to hide and do their job
    JCO
    Irish eyes are always smiling but
    • "In the eyes of the world, you are only as good as your last success"
    so never forget
    • "MAN IS ONLY LIMITED BY HIS IMAGINATION"

  9. #9
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    Re: THE LOWLY SCUD

    Quote Originally Posted by JCO
    bbikebbs, gravel is a great place for them to hide and do their job
    Order has been placed! I'll try to remember to document (with pictures) the process when they get here.
    Scott
    Jesup (S.E.), Georgia, USA

  10. #10
    Moderator JCO's Avatar
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    Re: THE LOWLY SCUD

    bbikebbs...the Scuds (shrimp not missles ) are on their way. Let me know in a PM if there is a problem.
    JCO
    Irish eyes are always smiling but
    • "In the eyes of the world, you are only as good as your last success"
    so never forget
    • "MAN IS ONLY LIMITED BY HIS IMAGINATION"

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