Mosquito Fish for Ponds
Mosquito Fish are available free of charge at the Vector Control Office at 1826 Sycamore View Road Memphis,TN 38134 from April to October.
You will be able to pick up Mosquito Fish at Vector Control in the summer months for your ornamental ponds.
*Please float the container of mosquitofish in your water source for 10-15 minutes; this allows fish to adjust to water temperature prior to release.
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Vector Control
Physical Address
1826 Sycamore View Road
Memphis, TN 38134
Phone: 901-222-9715Fax: 901-222-9746
What are Mosquito Fish? Gambusia Affinis Fish, called Mosquito Fish are important to the Mosquito Control Program. They eat mosquito larvae as soon as they hatch from the eggs laid by mosquitoes, thus reducing the mosquito population. The Mosquito Fish feeding habits also include a variety of insects and plant materials. The mosquito fish is guppy-like and may be placed in ponds or small bodies of water.
The Mosquito Fish reproduces rapidly, about 21-28 days. This small fish is unlike any other fish. It does not lay eggs; it bears live young. Each female can produce three to four broods in her lifetime and each pregnancy can deliver 40 to 100 young. Births occur usually during the warm spring and summer months. The females are significantly larger than the males. The females are usually about 2 1/2 inches long and the males are about 1 1/2 inches long.
Mosquito Fish have been proven to be environmentally friendly and extremely effective controlling mosquitoes. Each fish eats up to 300 mosquito larvae per day. They require little or no feeding and their care is limited to protecting them from garden sprays, chlorine and other chemicals. The fish inhabit the shallow edges of ponds and creeks because of the abundance of food and to escape predation by larger fish.
LIFE CYCLE & HABITAT: This freshwater fish may live up to a year. Each female produces 3-4 broods during spring/summer; each brood results in 40100 young. Mosquitofish thrive in 32ºF, to as high as 100ºF weather. Ensure the water body has sufficient refuges (e.g. rocks/aquatic plants) to allow the fish to escape from predation by larger fish.
CARE: Each fish can eat up to 300 mosquito larvae daily. They require little or no additional feeding, and their care is limited to protection from garden sprays, chlorine and other chemicals.
RELEASE: Only release mosquitofish in artificial bodies of water. Examples include ornamental ponds, drainage ditches, etc. Never release mosquito fish into natural water bodies, as they may disrupt ecosystems.