How Much Are Mosquito Fishes?

Can you keep a mosquito fish as a pet?

While most mosquitofish are kept in ponds to control – you guessed it, mosquitos,

they will also do well in small aquariums

. They can be housed quite easily in a 10 gallon aquarium and will thrive if you provide them with anything larger.

How many mosquito fish do I need for my pond?

How many mosquitofish do I need? Normally

6 to 10 fish

are sufficient to stock an average sized pond. The high reproductive potential of the mosquitofish will overcome future problems with mosquito larvae.

How big does a mosquito fish get?

Mosquitofish are small in comparison to many other freshwater fish, with

females reaching a maximum length of 7 cm (2.8 in) and males a maximum length of 4 cm (1.6 in)

. The female can be distinguished from the male by her larger size and a gravid spot at the posterior of her abdomen.

How long do mosquito fish live?

The small size of mosquitofish allows them to inhabit shallow waters and penetrate dense vegetation where mosquito larvae and pupae tend to hide. Mosquitofish live

between two to three years

and maintain population levels that fit their environment. Overbreeding is of no concern with mosquitofish.

Do mosquito fish survive winter?

During the winter, mosquitofish move to the bottom of the water column, become inactive, and do not feed.

In most cases, they will survive the winter

and become active in the spring when temperatures rise. Mosquitofish require little to no care.

Where do I find mosquito fish?

Mosquitofish are appropriate for use in

ornamental ponds, water troughs, wine barrels, neglected swimming pools and other man-made water sources with a minimum depth of 18 inches

. Mosquitofish typically do not thrive in heavily shaded locations.

How much space do mosquito fish need?

For best care, the Mosquito Fish requires a pond of

at least 20 gallons

with moderate water temperature and plenty of plants for hiding. If insufficient natural foods are present, supplement their diet with a quality flake food. You can differentiate the male and females easily.

What do I feed my mosquito fish?

During warm months, mosquito fish usually do not need to be fed. During the winter when larvae may be scarce or if the water source does not have any plant life, feed the fish

tropical fish flakes, or dry dog or cat food

. Feed them as much as they can eat in 5 minutes 2 times a day.

Do goldfish eat mosquito fish?

Mosquitofish are compatible with koi and all varieties of pond goldfish

, such as common goldfish, comets, shubunkins, omadas and fantails. Mosquitofish can be kept in a tank with swordtails, platies, and common guppies.

Do mosquito fish need aeration?

The fish will need aeration unless you can set your tank up with a flow-through water supply

. Putting the tank in-ground is a good idea, the water temperature will be more stable. Leave at least 6′′ to 12′′ of free board to help keep small critters from falling in.

Do mosquito fish eat baby fish?

They also will eat some of their babies

. Each fish should have a few gallons to itself but can thrive in high densities with more than five fish per gallon.

What are mosquito fish good for?

Mosquitofish:

Help control backyard mosquito breeding in neglected or “green” swimming pools, fountains, ponds, and birdbaths, as well as animal troughs, and other standing water sources

. Provide an effective and natural method of backyard mosquito control.

Should I put mosquito fish in my pond?

Although a natural way of controlling mosquito larvae without the use of insecticides or chemicals,

mosquitofish should never be placed in any natural habitat

, such as lakes, streams, rivers, or creeks.

Is mosquito fish a guppy?

Guppies and Mosquito fish are both nano species

that share similar water parameters and tank conditions. However, whereas Guppies are sociable community fish, Mosquito fish should be kept in a same-species tank, as they're intolerant of other species.

How fast do mosquito fish breed?

They grow rapidly in the summer and reach a maximum size of 1-1.5 inches in males and 2.5 – 3 inches in females. Gambusia breed throughout the summer and a new brood is produced at

4-6 week intervals

. The young fish reach maturity in about 4-5 months.

How fast do mosquito fish swim?

Mosquitofish swim at relatively moderate speeds and are found mostly in a pond or shallow waters. Their exact speed is not known. Sailfish are considered to be the fastest fish in the ocean. They are known to travel at speeds of

68 mph (109.4 kph)

.

Are mosquito fish pests?

Mosquitofish are considered a noxious pest, especially in New South Wales and Queensland

, and it is illegal to release them into the wild or transport them live into any of the states or territories.

Do koi eat mosquito fish?

Mosquito Fish are compatible with most ornamental pond fish including Goldfish, Koi, and Carp and will not harm them

. Lake and stream sport sport fish, birds, frogs, and turtles prey upon Mosquito Fish.

Will mosquito fish eat tadpoles?

The mosquitofish is being distributed around the world to control mosquitoes–without regard for its effects on other aquatic species. New research shows that

mosquitofish devour tadpoles just as readily as mosquito larvae

and so can decimate native amphibians.

Do turtles eat mosquito fish?

Smaller turtles may eat mosquito larvae, and

most turtles will eat Gambesia and other fish if they get in easy reach

.

How can I get a free mosquito fish?

The Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District provides FREE mosquitofish to all District residents for placement on their property only

. Please call the District Headquarters at (562) 944-9656 or the Sylmar Branch at (818) 364-9589 to request FREE mosquitofish for your home.

Do mosquito fish eat snails?

Mosquito fish are small fish ranging in size from one to 2.5 inches.

They have been known to feed on spiders, snails

, algae, zooplankton, fish fry and insect larvae.

Can mosquitofish live in cold water?

Gambusia affinis are hardy and can tolerate wide temperatures and water quality ranges. Although,

they usually survive brief periods of nearly freezing temperatures, they may die after prolonged exposure

. Sources stocked with them should be examined after cold weather to verify that the fish are still present.

Can mosquito fish and guppies breed?

We suspected that

reproductive interference may occur between guppies and mosquitofish

because females of the two fish appear morphologically similar despite their phylogenetic distance (they belong to different genera), and because the two species share visual mate recognition and choice systems (for the guppy, see

¹⁷

; …

Can you put mosquito fish with bettas?

Registered. Gamubsia are really nasty fish that will almost definately nip at your Betta,

I wouldn't keep them together

.

Do Crayfish eat mosquito fish?

Anything that you use on your fish is fine for your crayfish.

Things like dried krill, mosquito larvae, and worms do well

.