Scuds- Will They Survive?

[MuddyWaters]

Hey everyone. I bought 200 scuds and put a bunch in one tank with mostly moss and a few Caridina shrimp, and the rest in my office tank which is well stocked w various fish 3" or less.
I can't find them in either tank. I think they are in among the moss in the one, and down in the substrate or behind / below rocks in the other (tons of places to hide).

When I put them in the well stocked tank I turned the light out to try and give them a chance to find hiding spots.

Do you think they're down there? I know they don't come out during the day. Seems like they're pretty hardy- certainly no evidence of dead ones.

 

[JuiceBox52]

It’s possible the fish ate them, my past experience with scuds even the small fish enjoyed a snack

 

[MaloK]

Scuds have pretty strong predator avoidance behaviors. Their behavior is significantly influenced by the presence of predators. In their presence scuds may also aggregate more tightly together in safer areas.

 

[MuddyWaters]

Scuds have pretty strong predator avoidance behaviors. Their behavior is significantly influenced by the presence of predators. In their presence scuds may also aggregate more tightly together in safer areas.

That's what I'm hoping, MaloK. My tank is situated so that there are lots of cracks and crevices in which they could dive and get out of the way of fish. I used bags of rocks and bio media in the back to build up the height without having to use stratum, so there's lots of open space under the top level of stratum. Also, I have a rock wall between the stratum and the sand that has lots of little spaces behind it. The kuhli loaches go down in there (I never see them), so not all of it is safe, but I'm hoping some made it and will reproduce enough to balance against getting eaten.

The weird thing is that in the other tank where I have them, I can't see them. The tank is literally filled with moss, though, so I am guessing they are just buried in there (there is no substrate). The only fish in that tank are some dang endlers that I mistakenly bid on at the club auction. Honestly, they are not even in the right water parameters and they're already pumping out babies LOL.

 

[MuddyWaters]

It’s possible the fish ate them, my past experience with scuds even the small fish enjoyed a snack

Do you think even endlers could get them? I guess they could get at juveniles. I have my "back up" scuds in a tank with tons of moss and a few (but quickly growing in numbers) endlers.

BTW- want some endlers? If you live in the continental US and will pay shipping I'll send you some nice black bar endlers- 1 male and 2 females and you'll have 50 in a few months LOL.

 

[MaloK]

That's what I'm hoping, MaloK. My tank is situated so that there are lots of cracks and crevices in which they could dive and get out of the way of fish. I used bags of rocks and bio media in the back to build up the height without having to use stratum, so there's lots of open space under the top level of stratum. Also, I have a rock wall between the stratum and the sand that has lots of little spaces behind it. The kuhli loaches go down in there (I never see them), so not all of it is safe, but I'm hoping some made it and will reproduce enough to balance against getting eaten.

The weird thing is that in the other tank where I have them, I can't see them. The tank is literally filled with moss, though, so I am guessing they are just buried in there (there is no substrate). The only fish in that tank are some dang endlers that I mistakenly bid on at the club auction. Honestly, they are not even in the right water parameters and they're already pumping out babies LOL.

Yes, crevices are good but they must have some depth and also lots of avenues. Scuds becomes somewhat big compared to other inverts.

But any fish will master vacuuming the substrate for them and they will have no problem cleaning them out.

What you need to do to implement a basic food web. Is to be able to provide guaranteed shelter. Food will be falling from the sky for them anyway.

So if you study the critter you want to promote... You get information like their principal feeding and living area, their maximum size, what they eat... etc.

In every case you will really help having at least a part of the tank or a good pile of substrate with bits big enough and also thick enough to provide moving space for adults. to not be impaired by the fishes.

In a tank already established with fish. It can be tough to introduce.

But if you watch for them and never see one after a while... It failed.