Gambusia sp.
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Gambusia sp.
Gambusia species are often called topminnows or gambusias; but are also known as mosquitofish, which, however, refers more specifically to Gambusia affinis Western Mosquitofish & Gambusia Holbrooki Eastern Mosquitofish. Eastern Mosquitofish can grow to 3.5 centimetres in length and have been introduced into ponds in Saudi Arabia to eat mosquito larvae and they are native to the eastern and southern United States of America. The species consumes algae and detritus, is extremely hardy, and thrives in shallow, slow moving, freshwater between 31 & 35 degrees Celsius. The species gives birth to live young and can have up to nine broods per breeding season and live for one to two years
'affinis' seems to be the one that is most widely introduced and the most commonly referred to as Mosquito Fish from what i have been reading. In some areas their introduction seems to have been ill=advised as they feed on the indigenous small fry and can be very agressive with regard to territory and in other areas they have been considered a godsend in the eradication of malaria - on balance they do more good than harm is the ovrall consensus but i suppose that depends on local conditions. Your local Herons and Egrets wo'nt care tho'! A small town on the Black Sea even has a statue erected to the Mosquito Fish because of the positive benefits of it's dietary requirements..
ReplyDeleteLaurie -
Does anyone know where we can buy some in Saudi Arabia, thank you
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