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Mosquito Fish Group (Gambusia sp. aff. Affinis)
Mosquito Fish Group
Please Note: Due to variations within species, your item may not look identical to the image provided. Approximate size range may also vary between individual specimen.
Please Note: Due to variations within species, your item may not look identical to the image provided. Approximate size range may also vary between individual specimen.
Mosquito Fish Group (Gambusia sp. aff. Affinis)
Additional locales and sizes may be available!
Additional locales and sizes may be available!

Quick Stats

Care Level Easy
Temperament Semi-aggressive
Color Form White
Diet Omnivore
Water Conditions 65-75° F, KH 4-20, pH 6.5-7.5
Max. Size 3"
Family Poeciliidae
Minimum Tank Size 20 gallons
What do these Quick Stats mean? Click here for more information
Care Level Easy
Temperament Semi-aggressive
Color Form White
Diet Omnivore
Water Conditions 65-75° F, KH 4-20, pH 6.5-7.5
Max. Size 3"
Family Poeciliidae
Minimum Tank Size 20 gallons
What do these Quick Stats mean? Click here for more information

Overview

The beneficial Mosquito Fish can consume large quantities of insect larvae in your pond. Most backyard water garden enthusiasts use this species of Gambusia to control, as its name suggests, mosquitoes. However, this voracious feeder will also consume other insect larvae and algae to benefit your pond in numerous ways. First, the Mosquito Fish helps prevent your pond from becoming a backyard breeding ground for potentially disease-carrying mosquitoes. Secondly, it helps keep your pond beautiful by feeding on algae and hatching insects that can damage pond plants and the overall aesthetics of your pond or water garden.

Native to the backwaters and freshwater ponds of North and Central America, Gambusia sp. is related to the common guppy and very similar in characteristics. The body is long and slender and pale in color. Most Mosquito Fish have a tail of moderate size, void of any coloration. Varieties of Mosquito Fish can be found naturally as far north as Central Illinois and most survive harsh, freezing winters as long as the pond is deep enough and well aerated throughout the cold season.

Do not release plants into local waters. Learn more here 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. The males are smaller in size, have a pointed anal fin and are much thinner than the female. The females are larger in size, have a rounded anal fin, as well as a pregnancy patch on the lower portion of the body. Ideally, the environment should have a covering of floating plants or a breeding mop to protect the fry. Adults may eat the fry if left to fend for themselves without a safe nursery area.

Approximate Purchase Size: 1/2" to 1"

Customer Testimonials

Anonymous Queen , MI
if you use these as feeders for frogs etc. do not mix with regular guppies they will kill other guppies and they will also rip feeder goldfish's tails
B.A. B Corpus Christi , TX
For what it's worth, I tried keeping some wild Mosquito Fish in a brackish community tank, but it did not go well. While they're ideal for a pond setting for all of the above reasons, they seem to make very unpleasant tank mates, from my experience. The females tend to be very aggressive towards other fish, and even one another. To the point that other fish in the tank will end up becoming stressed, withdrawn or even ill. To be frank, there is just something about them that is very unlikable, for me anyway. It may be that their eyes and faces seem to have a very primitive, cold and expressionless look to them, almost reminding me of a shark's eyes, if that makes any sense. It's as though there's just no personality there, so to speak. So again, great for ponds, but not so great for aquariums. Also, note that they breed prolifically, and will produce large amounts of fry on a continuous basis. I hope that's helpful.
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