creating a scud farm

[BadgersSong]

I was discussing scud culture with Jonny from Dan's Fish, and I asked him about setting up a 5-gallon tank with under-gravel filtration. He thought it'd be perfect, as there's no risk of scuds getting sucked into the filter intake. If under-gravel isn't your thing, just stick with a sponge filter.

For feeding your scuds, a long wooden or stainless skewer works a treat. And while they're crazy about pumpkin, they'll munch on pretty much any veggie you give 'em. They're like little garbage disposals, really. I've shared this before, but I've got a video of my scuds in action.

[bettaMagenta]

@aquamar, thanks for the offer, but I've got a few things to sort out first. Need to finish setting up the next big tank, then I can free up a 10 gallon that's currently home to some small electric blue Acaras. Once they're moved, that 10 gallon will become my scud farm tank - it's already cycled, has a sponge filter, and some floating plants and Java ferns, so it's just a matter of waiting until I can make the switch.

[aquamar]

I'm giving live food culturing another shot. Got my scud farm up and running now. Big thanks to @aquamar for the scuds. They're currently living in a pretty basic setup, but I'm hoping to upgrade to something nicer soon. For now, they seem happy enough.

I'm actually finding that they're doing alright despite the water changes. I used to stress about it and try to put them back, but now I just let them be. They seem to be surviving gravel vacs just fine, and as long as they're not causing any issues, I'm good with it.

[bettaMagenta]

I'm weighing the pros and cons of introducing scuds to my South American tank, which has ample cover but a pretty crowded fish population. The tetras might leave them be, but I'm pretty sure the angels and dwarf cichlids will view them as a snack. I'm curious about how the corydoras will react, though.

[infold]

@Lachlan, interesting that Jonny from Dan's Fish thinks a 5-gallon tank is ideal for scuds, especially with under gravel filtration. I happen to have a spare 5-gallon lying around, and I found a place that sells under gravel filters - www.jehmco.com.