How Do I Clean Mosquito Larvae?

[coldcazzie]

Found one of my muck tubs outside with a puddle of murky water in the bottom and some wrigglers in it, so I've just spent half an hour with a syringe (don't have a turkey baster unfortunately) catching a nice selection of them - the biggest ones about 4-6mm long. (There were also some dinky ones about 2mm long, I've left those in for a later date! )

Now, how do I clean them before dunking them in the tank at lights on? Do I just stick them in a seive and run some tap water over them? Or old tank water? never done this before! lol

 

[StandbySetting]

I just gave them a rinse in tap water and then literally threw them in the tank, a few days and a few still remained but they were all eaten.

 

[micko]

Is this just in a bucket?

 

[Athena]

Hmm, if they've come from murky old, stagnant water, I'd be inclined to sterilise them first to avoid the possibility of introducing bacterial diseases.

Do you have any Myxazin? You can use a solution of this to sterilise live foods with. I always do, even when buying live foods from my LFS as an extra precaution.

Athena

 

[coldcazzie]

I just gave them a rinse in tap water and then literally threw them in the tank, a few days and a few still remained but they were all eaten.

Fair enough...

Is this just in a bucket?

Yeah, one of those wide buckets with handles. Gets used for carting mud around in the garden.

Hmm, if they've come from murky old, stagnant water, I'd be inclined to sterilise them first to avoid the possibility of introducing bacterial diseases.

Do you have any Myxazin? You can use a solution of this to sterilise live foods with. I always do, even when buying live foods from my LFS as an extra precaution.

Athena

No. I have no fish meds whatsoever - I've never had any illnesses that have required me to buy meds...

 

[Athena]

Ah well, I'm sure loads of people don't sterilise live foods. I just do it because I'm paranoid about introducing disease into my tanks. I've not had any illness or deaths in my convict tanks since I bought the first pair nearly 4 years ago, but I do keep up-to-date meds in my cupboard just in case and I use the Myxazin for sterilising live foods and nets etc LOL.

Bet your fish are going to love their juicy little treats! Just don't let the little blighters hatch out LOL

 

[coldcazzie]

haha, noooo!

They won't live long enough for that

The fish are going to be thrilled... think I might rope one of the kids in to help put them in and take a video of the inevitable feeding frenzy! they go crackers enough for flake!

 

[fluttermoth]

My kids go 'fishing' for mosquito larvae in the water butt with an old tea strainer and a margarine tub

 

[coldcazzie]

Well... they lasted approximately 6 seconds.

 

[Dav]

You should have taken a little feeding frenzy video

 

[coldcazzie]

I wouldn't have had time!

 

[Dav]

I wouldn't have had time!

they must love them

 

[fluttermoth]

I haven't owned a fish yet that didn't love mosquito larvae (except the oscar; they're too small for him and he can't be bothered).