Where can I find pods in nature (gulf coast.)

I have access to a wide range of water sources, from an estuary by where I grew up (lots of mangroves and mud--mostly brackish though.) Lots of grass flats around Tampa bay; under rocks too. And beach areas with sand out on the Gulf of Mexico. How should I go about collecting them, just scoop some dirt where they should be, or some other way?

Thanks.

 

There's a lot of predatory/parasitic pods out there. I personally wouldn't scoop anything up to put it in my tank. You don't know what you'll be getting.

 

For as much effort as it will take you to collect some pods that you cannot garantee are clean and free of undesirables, it's probably better to just buy a commercially available pod product - a lot of the pods available are fed special diets to make them even more enriching for your tank inhabitants.

There is no quality control when it comes to wild collection of pods. Maybe others will have more experience with wild collection. . .

 

I use to come home with a crazy collection after a day of collecting in the Gulf. I wish there were digital cameras back them. Throw some of that under a microscope and you'll have nightmares for a year!

 

Of course, I spaced that.