"Kayakkhan" wrote:
Here in Australia, the pacific blue eye and rainbowfish are prodigious
consumers of mosquito larvae, they are fry and spawn friendly. We also
have
Gambusia here, but it's illegal to keep them. However, I believe it is not
illegal to do so in the states, and in lieu of the above fish, they make
an
excellent mosquito slayer, and as their forays are largely nocturnal, they
should co-exist with Koi quite well..

Most states allow mosquito fish to be stocked only in “aquaria,” defined as
self-contained systems that are not fed or drained by natural waterways such
as ornamental ponds and stock troughs. Natural waterways include creeks,
streams, sloughs, ponds, lakes and ditches if connected to natural
waterways. Ponds located in floodplain areas are not considered “aquaria”
and should not receive mosquito fish, because flooding could allow
them to enter natural waterways. They may eat or harm small or young native
fish, young frogs and salamanders, and beneficial aquatic insects. They also
may out-compete these native species for available food and habitat. In
addition, their presence may reduce some natural mosquito control provided
by native fish, wildlife and aquatic insects. Mosquito fish predation and
competition have contributed to the elimination or decline of federally
threatened and endangered fish species in the western U.S..

Also see: http://www.gambusia.net/

The following describes the Gambusia (from
http://www.fattigfish.com/mosfish.htm ):

For more than twenty years Fattig Fish has offered a cold-tolerant strain of
mosquito fish (Gambusia affinis) which are particularly well-suited for use
north of the 39th parallel. Unlike more commonly available strains, this
hardy strain has been developed to successfully overwinter at air
temperatures to -30 F. and to withstand summer air temperatures to 100 F.
Southern races of mosquito fish will NOT overwinter in northern climates and
will NOT actively feed in cold weather even though mosquitos hatch readily.

Mosquito fish are small guppy-like fish used to control mosquito populations
by devouring mosquito larvae. According to U.S. Navy research, a pair of
half-grown Gambusia can consume 5000 mosquito larvae in 11 weeks. An adult
female can devour several hundred larvae per day. These voracious predators
have upturned mouths specially designed for scooping up larvae prey, and
represent one of the most environmentally friendly forms of mosquito
control.

Gambusia are highly prolific: each female will produce three to four broods
of 40 to 100 young each year. Gambusia typically live two to three years, so
produce a multitude of offspring during their lifespan. Unlike most other
fish, gambusia bear live young; these offspring begin consuming larvae
shortly after birth.

Gambusia are ideally suited to stock ponds, ornamental ponds, golf courses,
canals, creeks and lakes. They prefer to inhabit the shallow vegetated areas
near the shore which are also the preferred habitat of mosquito larvae. They
require virtually no maintenance, as they are self-feeding and
self-sustaining. Their adaptability and effectiveness in mosquito control
have made mosquito fish one of the most distributed freshwater fish in the
world.

Gambusia may be stocked either in spring or fall. Fall release enables the
gambusia to begin controlling mosquito populations in advance of the spring
breeding season, while spring release is particularly appropriate for
shallow bodies of water such as ditches which may dry up by the end of
summer.


Michael Fermanis
New Orleans, Louisiana USA (Remove the RICE to reply)
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