Mozzie Larvae

[LauraFrog]

Mosquito larvae are listed on bettatalk as the best thing to feed bettas. I just came across a large supply of them. I fed Spider a couple and he loves them but if I keep going I'll end up with a betta that can hardly swim. I have about a week's worth for both of my bettas, and one of them is currently not eating (got him yesterday, he's really stressed, had a hell of a trip and is still hiding). I don't want to kill them because feeding them dead isn't the same - does anybody know what they eat? Or how to keep them alive for a few weeks? I won't waste them, I'll feed them to my million livebearers before they go off if they start dying, but the livebearers are doing fine on dried foods. I feed them about six different foods so they already have a bit of variety in their diet - the bettas get the same every day unless I run into some live food for them.

 

[nemosworld]

they eat microorganisms in the water (protozoans and such)...you better keep them in your fridge to slow them down. they mature very quickly. dispose of any pupae you see. the pupae kinda look like small black curled shrimp with two antennae

 

[LauraFrog]

Half of them are pupae, the betta was eating them. I'll feed those to the livebearers because I will make him seriously fat. Is there any problem with them?

I can culture infusorians, done it before for fry. Will they eat those?

 

[Bubblenester]

I have fed the pupae to bettas before. Nemosworld, is there a problem with them other than that they will turn into mosquitos?

 

[Colin_T]

Mozzie larvae will eat infusoria but they will have pupated and turned into adults before the culture is ready. You are better off keeping them really cold (as mentioned by nemosworld) to slow their growth. Otherwise you will have a bunch of mozzies lookin for blood. Don't bother feeding the mozzie larvae, just keep them in the fridge until they get fed off.

Mozzie larvae are a great food for any fish and your livebearers will love them.