Mosquito Fish
From Microcosm Aquarium Explorer
New-World native now widespread globally. Gravid female. York County, MD.
[edit] Overview
This is a plain-jane guppylike fish with a prodigious appetite for mosquito larvae. Well-meaning individuals and organizations have released it into local temperate and tropical waters around the globe in efforts to control disease-carrying mosquitos.
Unfortunately, it often competes directly with native species and is widely blamed for upsetting local population balances. Ironically, some biologists believe its impact on mosquito populations is questionable, as it also targets other organisms that prey on the mosquito larvae.
A very similar species is Gambusia affinis, also called the Mosquitofish.
See: Saving Australia's Smallest Fish.
Will enter and thrive in brackish water.
Family: Poeciliidae
Other common name(s):
- Eastern Mosquitofish
- Mosquitofish
Native range:
- North America
- United States
Habitat: It's native range, according to Fishbase covers Atlantic and Gulf Slope drainages from New Jersey south to Alabama in USA.
Maximum length: 8 cm (3 in)
Water: Freshwater 15 °C (288 K, 59 °F) - 35 °C (308 K, 95 °F)
General swimming level: All levels.
[edit] Feeding
Omnivore. Feeds primarily on insects and insect larvae in the wild.
[edit] Aquarium Compatibility
Peaceful.
[edit] Special Care
DO NOT release this fish into the wild. It has negatively impacted native populations of fish in many countries.
[edit] Breeding/Propagation
Livebearer (viviparous). Easy to propagate.
| Common name | Mosquito Fish +, Eastern Mosquitofish +, and Mosquitofish + |
| Family | Poeciliidae + |
| Genus | Gambusia + |
| Maximum length | 3 in + |
| Native range | North America +, and United States + |
| Specific name | holbrooki + |
| Swimming level | All levels. + |
| Water max temp | 308 K (35 °C, 95 °F) + |
| Water min temp | 288 K (15 °C, 59 °F) + |
| Water type | Freshwater + |