There are numerous different animals around the world that eat duckweed as a major part of their diet. All kinds of animals, including fish, ducks and geese, small mammals, and even reptiles, are known to eat duckweed and other related aquatic plants. Humans also eat duckweed in some areas. Duckweed can be a great food source for animal feed because it grows fast and requires very little care or maintenance. That is why it is commonly used in farming operations around the world. For some people, duckweed can be a nuisance. It can completely overcome small ponds and lakes with thick mats of vegetation. Because of this, many people seek out duckweed-eating animals to help control growth.
As you might guess from its name, duckweed is a favorite snack for ducks, as well as geese and some other birds. Duckweed can make up an important part of the diet of ducks where it is available, but ducks rarely eat enough to control the growth rate of the duckweed plant or to have a noticeable effect on ground cover. of the surface area.
There is also a wide variety of fish that are known to eat duckweed. Many types of carp love to eat duckweed. Sufficient numbers of large fish can help control duckweed growth in small ponds. Another fish that loves to eat duckweed is tilapia. Tilapia is commonly farmed using duckweed as a food source. Tilapia and duckweed are perfect for each other as they can grow very quickly, allowing farmers to maximize yields and profits. Many other freshwater and tropical fish will also eat duckweed plants if introduced to an environment containing duckweed. This makes duckweed an excellent aquatic aquarium plant because it can be grown as a secondary or even primary food source for most tropical fish. Duckweed also helps filter contaminants in the water, making ponds and aquariums cleaner.
Various mammals are also known to eat duckweed from time to time. Muskrats, beavers, woodchucks, rats, and mice are duckgrass eaters. In addition to these animals, many farm-raised animals also eat duckweed that is made into animal feed. Pigs are commonly fed feed made from duckweed and other aquatic plants. Duckweed has a very fast growth rate and is high in protein, making it an ideal plant to grow for animal feed.
There are also some reptiles and amphibians that occasionally graze on duck grass. These include turtles, frogs, snakes, and salamanders. For these animals, duckweed usually makes up a small part of their diet.
Duckweed is truly an amazing plant and is a vital part of many ecosystems. At the same time, it can be a devastating invasive species if allowed to invade small lakes. For this reason, many people choose to control duckweed with fish and other animals that will eat it.