got free gambusia today

[Sgooosh]

hello! i had a wine barrel pond for a while now, and today i got free fish from a service in the district that drops off gambusia or poecilia in pond so mosquitoes dont spread
they are hiding because it's raining outside, but i will def post pictures!

 

[emeraldking]

but i will def post pictures!

Please do...

 

[Slaphppy7]

hello! i had a wine barrel pond for a while now, and today i got free fish from a service in the district that drops off gambusia or poecilia in pond so mosquitoes dont spread
they are hiding because it's raining outside, but i will def post pictures!

Congrats...."free" just happens to be my favorite price

 

[Colin_T]

What species of Gambusia?
I probably would have gone for the Poecilia because they eat more mozzie larvae than Gambusia do

 

[GaryE]

I like Gambusia affinis, but not many will say that.

 

[Slaphppy7]

I like Gambusia affinis, but not many will say that.

Because of this?

G. affinis has been introduced throughout the world as a mosquito-control agent. It has become a pest in many waterways following initial introductions in the early 1900s. G. affinis is a highly predatory fish, that as well as controlling mosquitoes also eats the eggs of economically important fish, and preys on rare indigenous fish and invertebrate species

Source: https://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/82079

 

[GaryE]

Because of this?

G. affinis has been introduced throughout the world as a mosquito-control agent. It has become a pest in many waterways following initial introductions in the early 1900s. G. affinis is a highly predatory fish, that as well as controlling mosquitoes also eats the eggs of economically important fish, and preys on rare indigenous fish and invertebrate species

Source: https://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/82079

That for sure. They have been a ecological disaster in many regions. But they also shred tankmates. I didn't keep them with anything they could harm. Smart little devils though.

I had a couple of other Gambusia species that were more sociable.

 

[Back in the fold]

Wow ! Very cool ! A very common fish that is uncommon in the hobby these days. Please post updates on behavior , eating habits and preferences and pics. I've heard they are kind of mean little buggers.

 

[Rocky998]

where pic lol

 

[Sgooosh]

What species of Gambusia?
I probably would have gone for the Poecilia because they eat more mozzie larvae than Gambusia do

affinis
they said only if i had koi or goldfish in the thing i could get guppies sadly
and like 20-40g isn't really enough for goldfish

I like Gambusia affinis, but not many will say that.

same, they are very cute imo
maybe id add some guppies from my tank that have short tails in summer

Wow ! Very cool ! A very common fish that is uncommon in the hobby these days. Please post updates on behavior , eating habits and preferences and pics. I've heard they are kind of mean little buggers.

i catch them wild sometimes with my net and i've kept some in a big bowl before

Because of this?

G. affinis has been introduced throughout the world as a mosquito-control agent. It has become a pest in many waterways following initial introductions in the early 1900s. G. affinis is a highly predatory fish, that as well as controlling mosquitoes also eats the eggs of economically important fish, and preys on rare indigenous fish and invertebrate species

Source: https://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/82079

they got into our local rivers...
i like catching them there

where pic lol

Please do...

they are very elusive, i have a log in the barrel and they hide under that when i go near them
are birds a problem? i saw a little bird drinking from it today and it might be catching my fish

 

[GaryE]

Birds are always a danger.

I watched a group in Florida swimming around a young alligator once.

Because they're hardy, they were one of the early livebearers in the hobby. They beat the daylights out of guppies, shredded fins and generally made pests of themselves in early set ups.
In large tanks, like no one had back then, I found mine to be okay, but I didn't have any sitting ducks in there. Their tankmates were also tough characters from the bad side of the pond.

 

[Rocky998]

they are very elusive, i have a log in the barrel and they hide under that when i go near them
are birds a problem? i saw a little bird drinking from it today and it might be catching my fish

Eexcuses excuses excuses... Wow... They must not be real
But for real, I hope the birds arent eating them... I hope you can get a photo sometime!

 

[OliveFish05]

Very cool! Why would they only let the Guppies go to a setup with goldfish or koi?

 

[Sgooosh]

Very cool! Why would they only let the Guppies go to a setup with goldfish or koi?

apparently gambusia are bad for carps i think
it's fine, i have many guppies
but all of mine are dumbos LOL

 

[OliveFish05]

apparently gambusia are bad for carps i think
it's fine, i have many guppies
but all of mine are dumbos LOL

Ohhhhhhh so they were saving the guppies for people with koi and goldfish?