Gammarus pulex

[chris]

What do these eat ? They are also called freshwater shrims. I have collected some to culture but need to know what to feed them. Any other tips would be useful.
cheers,
Chris

 

[kaysie]

"They are largely scavengers feeding on dead plant material and other decaying organic matter. They are not however averse to attacking and eating other small living creatures - so it would be unwise to keep them with fish eggs or fry! If they survive in you tank and the food supply is low, they have a habit of making their homes in the crowns of some aquarium plants, where they can eat the fresh growth. This is not a problem I have noticed as they do not survive long enough to do noticeable damage before the fish eat them! However if they ate too large for your fish to eat, they will live and breed quite happily in a tropical aquarium."

http://www.4qd.org/Aqua/Gammarus.html

 

[chris]

Thanks Kaysie,
I found them in a river, so have themin a cold water setup with flat rocks and some dead leaves that were in thee river. I will now add some pond weed and try and get some watercress. Before I do all this - newts do eat them right...?
Chris

 

[morg]

Yes newts do eat them.
I have used them as a food source in the past.

 

[chris]

great,
Chris