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Scud
Hyalella azteca
Also known as scuds, freshwater amphipod, hyalella, gammarus
Animalia›Arthropoda›Malacostraca›Amphipoda›Hyalellidae
A tiny freshwater amphipod (scud) kept as a cleanup-crew detritivore or a self-sustaining live-food culture for fish. Harmless to plants, breeds readily in cool, well-oxygenated water with leaf litter or moss for cover; larger fish will hunt them, so keep a refuge if you want the colony to persist.
At a glance
- Size
- 0.3 in
- 1 cm
- Min tank
- 2 gal
- 8 L
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Swims
- Bottom
Care
Diet
Detritivore — grazes on detritus, biofilm, decaying plant matter and leftover food.
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Legality
No state or federal restrictions on record.
Not legal advice, and possibly incomplete or out of date. Rules vary by state and change over time; check with your state wildlife or agriculture agency before buying, keeping or shipping it.
The care information here is written with AI help, so it can contain mistakes. Spot one? Tell us and we'll fix it.
At a glance
- Size
- 0.3 in1 cm
- Min tank
- 2 gal8 L
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Swims
- Bottom
Keepers’ experiences
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