Mosquitofish

[SPLiSH]

Well after much debate about what to put in my 3 gal desk tank, I thought heck, I'll just get some mosquitofish from a local pond. So the little tank now houses 4 tiny male gambusia holbrooki. I chose males because I don't want fry, and they stay smaller. There's been a little bit of chasing and showing off but otherwise they all seem fine. They're tiny! Probably only an inch long.

Does anyone else have these fish? I'm really happy with them. I just got them to have something in this tank other than a betta but they are such cute little fish

 

[Amerce]

I actually saw some of these in my local LF's a while ago but didn't have the tank space, now that I have space I can't find them

I'll keep my eye open for them again as they looked lovely and ideal for a nano tank (which I now have), currently only have some Danio Choprae and some Boraras maculatus in my nano tanks.

When I come over to OZ in June where would be the best place to spot these, I'd love to bring some back but I very much doubt I can

 

[SPLiSH]

Hey Amerce!

They're everywhere over here, most large ponds or dams have them. They're an introduced species and have taken over. So basically any relatively still body of water will have them. I got mine from a massive pond down the road - it took me about fifteen minutes to collect them all. Most of this time was spent in frustration as every fish I netted was female.

They seem to be very hardy litle guys, they've adjusted wonderfully and are eating bloodworms like there's no tomorrow. Also, they do a really cool little display which reminds me of bettas flaring. Two of them spread their fins, circle each other, and hold their inside fin (closest to the other one) stiff in the water and wiggle around each other. Then they dart off and swim as normal.

Where are you coming in June?

 

[Amerce]

Hey Amerce!

They're everywhere over here, most large ponds or dams have them. They're an introduced species and have taken over. So basically any relatively still body of water will have them. I got mine from a massive pond down the road - it took me about fifteen minutes to collect them all. Most of this time was spent in frustration as every fish I netted was female.

They seem to be very hardy litle guys, they've adjusted wonderfully and are eating bloodworms like there's no tomorrow. Also, they do a really cool little display which reminds me of bettas flaring. Two of them spread their fins, circle each other, and hold their inside fin (closest to the other one) stiff in the water and wiggle around each other. Then they dart off and swim as normal.

Where are you coming in June?

How the dickens are they eating bloodworm, the worms are much to big for them surely ?

The females are quite a bit bigger than the males aren't they (if I remember correctly), so is that how you sexed them when you caught them ?

Leaving the UK on the 14th and should be in Sydney for the 16th early morning.

My son lives/works out there for a maintenance company that looks after railway lines, he's been there since April last year, and this is the first time I will have seen him since there, going over with my daughter as well.

Plan on visiting Sydney aquarium whilst I'm there of course.

 

[SPLiSH]

I culture my own bloodworm so I can give the smaller ones to these guys and my betta gets the big ones
Yeah the males are a fair bit smaller but there were fish of all sizes in this pond. The amount of times I saw a little one and realised it was a juvie female... The males have gonopodiums like other livebearers so I just looked for them. But yeah the females reach about 2.5 inches I think, while the males stay at about an inch.

Aw well that will be good seeing your son And the Sydney Aquarium!

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

I've seen quite a few cases on the forum over the years of people having issues with female mosquito fish being aggressive towards other fish, however i'm not sure if the males personality differs much from the females.

 

[dunchp]

I culture my own bloodworm so I can give the smaller ones to these guys and my betta gets the big ones
Yeah the males are a fair bit smaller but there were fish of all sizes in this pond. The amount of times I saw a little one and realised it was a juvie female... The males have gonopodiums like other livebearers so I just looked for them. But yeah the females reach about 2.5 inches I think, while the males stay at about an inch.

Aw well that will be good seeing your son And the Sydney Aquarium!

Guys, I reckon you are talking about too separate fish.

Amerce, you are talking about Mosquitofish; Heterandria formosa which are fine for a small tank.

SPLISH, you are talking about Mosquitofish; Gambusia holbrooki which are less fine for a small tank.

Hope that clears it up.