Dear Kartikeyan: This is the most popular video I’ve produced this year. I believe this is due to the nice thumbnail (auto-generated, by UA-cam) and the subject matter. Aquarists are interested in culturing live foods. For years I’ve considered getting started, with scuds. I resisted culturing them, as I’m unsure how they would do with daphnia or blackworms. I tend to think they would do fine with daphnia, but would devour blackworms. I decided to culture them, separately and I’m very pleased, with the result. They multiply quickly, when fed blanched bananas and make a terrific, live food. They are also making good progress, ridding a planted tank (with no fauna) of diatom algae. Thank you, for your, continued interest and lovely comment. All my best, Sincerely, Brinegar
@ I had very little knowledge about scuds. However, at one point in time, it developed in my shrimp tank. I started feeding less to my shrimp. In summer it automatically disappeared, and all of your videos are very informative. I have seen very few videos about this subject. Thanks for sharing. 🤝🤝
Dear Kartikeyan: Gammarus species (scuds) are very hardy. Like shrimp, they reproduce sexually. If you acquire both male and female scuds and keep them well-fed and oxygenated, they should reproduce, rapidly, if you care to culture them. You will find numerous videos, on how to culture scuds, on UA-cam. I just had a look at my, rescued, blackworm culture. They are not, yet reproducing, rapidly and the specimens remain small. I intend to increase the frequency, offering spirulina and yeast, in solution. Perhaps they will take off, soon. Keep up your, terrific work, in the hobby and sharing it, on UA-cam. Sincerely, Brinegar
Dear Gil: I usually cut the ends, off my, pealed bananas, anyway. I put these, in a jar, with just enough water, to make them float. I microwave this, for 44 seconds. This usually causes the bananas to sink. If not, I do it a second time. I’ve been adding scuds, to a planted, 10-gallon, which has an issue, with diatom algae. Google says that scuds eat diatom algae. They haven’t rid the tank of it, yet. But, I see that they are surviving, in the tank. I added a tiny piece of blanched banana, to give this, scud culture a boost. Perhaps when the culture reaches sufficient numbers, they will completely devour the diatom algae. Then, I’d like to add a few fish and see if enough survive predation, to keep the algae in check. Culturing scuds is a lot of fun. I’m sure you’ll enjoy it. Thank you, for your, continued support. All my best, Sincerely, Brinegar
Dear Ben: I have a coarse sponge, in the scud culture; but, I haven’t tried to collect scuds, from it, yet. Scuds are reported, to eat diatom algae, so I infested a tank, without fauna, with scuds, to deal with that issue. I believe they will be more effective, in ridding that tank, of diatom algae, once their numbers increase. So, I’m offering them some, blanched banana, as well. I only left the scud trap, in the culture, for a few hours, before harvesting scuds. I don’t want to put too great a dent, in their numbers. Thank you, for your interest and continued support. All my best, Sincerely, Brinegar
Dear DA: I acquired my starter-culture, of around a dozen gammarus, about two months ago. Since that time, I have removed approximately ten scuds, to feed, to my fish or move to another tank half a dozen times. As the culture increases in number, it grows faster. I should be in a position to harvest scuds, for my fish, each week, shortly. Keeping blanched banana available, for them, to consume is working, very well. Thank you, for your, continued interest and support. All my best, Sincerely, Brinegar
it looks like some kind of root system - if it was a saltwater tank i would guess some part of a coral or maybe something like a funghi in a freshwater setup. Maybe a biologist could tell the species. I never fed banana to my fish, will try this next week. Always thought that excess sugar might be bad for them. Do you prepare the banana in some way? Greetings from Germany Edgar :)
Dear Edgar: Yes, I suspect the white growths, on the back of this, 5.5-gallon tank are a fungus. It appears to be harmless. The only fauna, in this tank are scuds (Gammarus species). I blanch bananas, so they will sink, by microwaving them, in water, for 44 seconds. This is usually sufficient. If they continue to float, I microwave, for an additional 44 seconds. Scuds show a marked preference for blanched bananas. I also offer them other, blanched vegetables, such as cucumber and canned green beans (with no, added salt). I include Indian almond leaves, in the set-up. Scuds consume them, as they decompose. Scuds make an excellent, live food, for my fishes. Thank you, for your interest and support. All my best, Sincerely, Brinegar
Dear Gabriel: I’m surprised I can’t identify it, given all the UA-cam videos I watch, about aquaria. I may soon discover what it is. I suspect it is a fungus. Thank you, for your, continued support. All my best, Sincerely, Brinegar
Nice shot sir. 👌 Guppies were looking very excited chasing scuds.
Dear Kartikeyan:
This is the most popular video I’ve produced this year. I believe this is due to the nice thumbnail (auto-generated, by UA-cam) and the subject matter. Aquarists are interested in culturing live foods.
For years I’ve considered getting started, with scuds. I resisted culturing them, as I’m unsure how they would do with daphnia or blackworms. I tend to think they would do fine with daphnia, but would devour blackworms. I decided to culture them, separately and I’m very pleased, with the result. They multiply quickly, when fed blanched bananas and make a terrific, live food. They are also making good progress, ridding a planted tank (with no fauna) of diatom algae.
Thank you, for your, continued interest and lovely comment.
All my best,
Sincerely,
Brinegar
@ I had very little knowledge about scuds. However, at one point in time, it developed in my shrimp tank. I started feeding less to my shrimp. In summer it automatically disappeared, and all of your videos are very informative. I have seen very few videos about this subject. Thanks for sharing. 🤝🤝
Dear Kartikeyan:
Gammarus species (scuds) are very hardy. Like shrimp, they reproduce sexually. If you acquire both male and female scuds and keep them well-fed and oxygenated, they should reproduce, rapidly, if you care to culture them. You will find numerous videos, on how to culture scuds, on UA-cam.
I just had a look at my, rescued, blackworm culture. They are not, yet reproducing, rapidly and the specimens remain small. I intend to increase the frequency, offering spirulina and yeast, in solution. Perhaps they will take off, soon.
Keep up your, terrific work, in the hobby and sharing it, on UA-cam.
Sincerely,
Brinegar
cool lil skud trap
Great timing mate. I have received a scud starter culture last week. I'm off to blanch some banana.
Dear Gil:
I usually cut the ends, off my, pealed bananas, anyway. I put these, in a jar, with just enough water, to make them float. I microwave this, for 44 seconds. This usually causes the bananas to sink. If not, I do it a second time.
I’ve been adding scuds, to a planted, 10-gallon, which has an issue, with diatom algae. Google says that scuds eat diatom algae. They haven’t rid the tank of it, yet. But, I see that they are surviving, in the tank. I added a tiny piece of blanched banana, to give this, scud culture a boost. Perhaps when the culture reaches sufficient numbers, they will completely devour the diatom algae. Then, I’d like to add a few fish and see if enough survive predation, to keep the algae in check.
Culturing scuds is a lot of fun. I’m sure you’ll enjoy it.
Thank you, for your, continued support.
All my best,
Sincerely,
Brinegar
The sponge trick would for me but that trap looks interesting. Thanks for sharing!
Dear Ben:
I have a coarse sponge, in the scud culture; but, I haven’t tried to collect scuds, from it, yet. Scuds are reported, to eat diatom algae, so I infested a tank, without fauna, with scuds, to deal with that issue. I believe they will be more effective, in ridding that tank, of diatom algae, once their numbers increase. So, I’m offering them some, blanched banana, as well.
I only left the scud trap, in the culture, for a few hours, before harvesting scuds. I don’t want to put too great a dent, in their numbers.
Thank you, for your interest and continued support.
All my best,
Sincerely,
Brinegar
Clever way to capture the scuds. How long often can you harvest the scuds? Does it take long for the population to recover for the next harvest?
Dear DA:
I acquired my starter-culture, of around a dozen gammarus, about two months ago. Since that time, I have removed approximately ten scuds, to feed, to my fish or move to another tank half a dozen times. As the culture increases in number, it grows faster. I should be in a position to harvest scuds, for my fish, each week, shortly. Keeping blanched banana available, for them, to consume is working, very well.
Thank you, for your, continued interest and support.
All my best,
Sincerely,
Brinegar
it looks like some kind of root system - if it was a saltwater tank i would guess some part of a coral or maybe something like a funghi in a freshwater setup. Maybe a biologist could tell the species.
I never fed banana to my fish, will try this next week. Always thought that excess sugar might be bad for them.
Do you prepare the banana in some way?
Greetings from Germany
Edgar :)
Dear Edgar:
Yes, I suspect the white growths, on the back of this, 5.5-gallon tank are a fungus. It appears to be harmless.
The only fauna, in this tank are scuds (Gammarus species). I blanch bananas, so they will sink, by microwaving them, in water, for 44 seconds. This is usually sufficient. If they continue to float, I microwave, for an additional 44 seconds.
Scuds show a marked preference for blanched bananas. I also offer them other, blanched vegetables, such as cucumber and canned green beans (with no, added salt). I include Indian almond leaves, in the set-up. Scuds consume them, as they decompose.
Scuds make an excellent, live food, for my fishes.
Thank you, for your interest and support.
All my best,
Sincerely,
Brinegar
wow i hope you get an answer, that is weird looking.
Dear Gabriel:
I’m surprised I can’t identify it, given all the UA-cam videos I watch, about aquaria. I may soon discover what it is. I suspect it is a fungus.
Thank you, for your, continued support.
All my best,
Sincerely,
Brinegar