Mosquito larcae in Jun's "pond"

There's a million of 'em!

I tried Mosquito Fish in my Koi pond a few years ago, but they didn't make
it through the winter, which is fast approaching, even here in Southern
California.

Is there something I can put on/in the water that will kill them without
harming the lotuses and water chestnuts nor make them toxic to eat?

Thanks.

--
Nick. Support severely wounded and disabled Veterans and their families!
I've known US vets who served as far back as the Spanish American War. They
are all my heroes! Thank a Veteran and Support Our Troops. You are not
forgotten. Thanks ! ! ~Semper Fi~

"Nick Cramer" wrote:

> There's a million of 'em!
>
> I tried Mosquito Fish in my Koi pond a few years ago, but they didn't make
> it through the winter, which is fast approaching, even here in Southern
> California.
>
> Is there something I can put on/in the water that will kill them without
> harming the lotuses and water chestnuts nor make them toxic to eat?
>
> Thanks.

Hi Nick,

The quantity of mosquito fish goes down every year during the winter,
especially after the frost we had last winter. I've always had plenty by
spring again though. If you contact your county vector control they give
them away.

The other alternative is mosquito dunks.

Were you near the fire? We have soot and dust everywhere. Three years ago we
could see the flames but were lucky enough that they stopped before our
place. We live on a canyon and one more jumped freeway and it would have
been a fast track to out place.


San Diego Joe
4,000 - 5,000 Gallons.
Koi, Goldfish, and RES named Colombo.

On Oct 26, 5:03 pm, Nick Cramer <n_cra...@pacbell.net> wrote:
> There's a million of 'em!
>
> I tried Mosquito Fish in my Koi pond a few years ago, but they didn't make
> it through the winter, which is fast approaching, even here in Southern
> California.
>
> Is there something I can put on/in the water that will kill them without
> harming the lotuses and water chestnuts nor make them toxic to eat?
>
> Thanks.
>
> --
> Nick. Support severely wounded and disabled Veterans and their families!
> I've known US vets who served as far back as the Spanish American War. They
> are all my heroes! Thank a Veteran and Support Our Troops. You are not
> forgotten. Thanks ! ! ~Semper Fi~

I use fathead minnows I order from Carolina Biological Supply!

San Diego Joe <joe@bizqwick.com> wrote:
> "Nick Cramer" wrote:
> [ . . . ]
> The quantity of mosquito fish goes down every year during the winter,
> especially after the frost we had last winter. I've always had plenty by
> spring again though. If you contact your county vector control they give
> them away.
>
> The other alternative is mosquito dunks.
>
> Were you near the fire? We have soot and dust everywhere. Three years ago
> we could see the flames but were lucky enough that they stopped before
> our place. We live on a canyon and one more jumped freeway and it would
> have been a fast track to out place.

Hi Joe,

Thanks for the info. I don't wanna hafta deal with all those belly up
mosquito fish, even though they'd make good fertilizer for the water
chestnuts. Plus, I know it would get Jun real upset. I'll look into the
mosquito dunks.

I'm in N. Hollywood (San Fernando Valley), so the fires were no threat to
us. Glad you came through unscathed.

--
Nick. Support severely wounded and disabled Veterans and their families!
I've known US vets who served as far back as the Spanish American War. They
are all my heroes! Thank a Veteran and Support Our Troops. You are not
forgotten. Thanks ! ! ~Semper Fi~

One word: goldfish
42

"Nick Cramer" <n_cramer@pacbell.net> wrote in message
news:20071026173454.802$ov@newsreader.com...
> There's a million of 'em!
>
> I tried Mosquito Fish in my Koi pond a few years ago, but they didn't make
> it through the winter, which is fast approaching, even here in Southern
> California.
>
> Is there something I can put on/in the water that will kill them without
> harming the lotuses and water chestnuts nor make them toxic to eat?
>
> Thanks.
>
> --
> Nick. Support severely wounded and disabled Veterans and their families!
> I've known US vets who served as far back as the Spanish American War.
> They
> are all my heroes! Thank a Veteran and Support Our Troops. You are not
> forgotten. Thanks ! ! ~Semper Fi~
>

Hi..

Nick Cramer wrote:

> I tried Mosquito Fish in my Koi pond a few years ago, but they didn't make
> it through the winter, which is fast approaching, even here in Southern
> California.

Hm.., there are two Gambusia affinis subspecies, an eastern and a western
type but only one is more or less cold resistent..

I guess mosquito fish are potential koi life food, too..

Does this pond have any refuges (plant-crowded shallow water zone)..?

--
cu
Marco

they are called mosquito "dunks" are round and contain B. t. israeli, a bacteria that
will knock the population off. not toxic to fish or plants. Ingrid

On Fri, 26 Oct 2007 17:03:22 CST, Nick Cramer <n_cramer@pacbell.net> wrote:

>There's a million of 'em!
>
>I tried Mosquito Fish in my Koi pond a few years ago, but they didn't make
>it through the winter, which is fast approaching, even here in Southern
>California.
>
>Is there something I can put on/in the water that will kill them without
>harming the lotuses and water chestnuts nor make them toxic to eat?
>
>Thanks.

On Fri, 26 Oct 2007 21:30:38 CST, Nick Cramer <n_cramer@pacbell.net> wrote:

>Thanks for the info. I don't wanna hafta deal with all those belly up
>mosquito fish, even though they'd make good fertilizer for the water
>chestnuts. Plus, I know it would get Jun real upset. I'll look into the
>mosquito dunks.

If this is the small pond you had on that website, a few drops of veggie
oil will smother them. After a few days, put in an air stone and keep the
water agitated so new skitters won't be tempted to lay eggs. ~ jan
------------
Zone 7a, SE Washington State
Ponds: www.jjspond.us

"~ jan" <Seewebsite@jjspond.us> wrote
> If this is the small pond you had on that website, a few drops of veggie
> oil will smother them. After a few days, put in an air stone and keep the
> water agitated so new skitters won't be tempted to lay eggs. ~ jan


Excellent advice. The dunks work, and I don't think they are toxic, but who
really knows.

The oil works very well because the little mosquito larvae float just below
the water and breathe through a snorkel tube. The oil clogs up the snorkel,
and voila the little critters are gonzo. Any type of oil will work, but the
usual kitchen type oils are inexpensive. It only takes a very small amount,
as a teaspoon will cover about a (US) acre. It won't hurt the fish, but you
have to add more regularly.

As for the air stone, that may work to deter egg laying, but I'm guessing
you'd have to really roil the water to have any effect. And even then there
would be calm spots here and there. Mosquitos are very successful insects
for a reason - they can get along in nearly any environment. The oil will
probably deter them just as effectively.


Michael
New Orleans, Louisiana USA fermanis@REMOVEsprynet.com
================================================================

On Sun, 4 Nov 2007 10:21:45 CST, "MLF" <fermanis@sprynet.com> wrote:

>
>"~ jan" <Seewebsite@jjspond.us> wrote
>> If this is the small pond you had on that website, a few drops of veggie
>> oil will smother them. After a few days, put in an air stone and keep the
>> water agitated so new skitters won't be tempted to lay eggs. ~ jan
>
>
>Excellent advice. The dunks work, and I don't think they are toxic, but who
>really knows.

The "dunks" contain a bacteria that is specific to mosquitoes and
totally harmless to other forms of life. It is definitely non-toxic.

>The oil works very well because the little mosquito larvae float just below
>the water and breathe through a snorkel tube. The oil clogs up the snorkel,
>and voila the little critters are gonzo. Any type of oil will work, but the
>usual kitchen type oils are inexpensive. It only takes a very small amount,
>as a teaspoon will cover about a (US) acre. It won't hurt the fish, but you
>have to add more regularly.
>
>As for the air stone, that may work to deter egg laying, but I'm guessing
>you'd have to really roil the water to have any effect. And even then there
>would be calm spots here and there. Mosquitos are very successful insects
>for a reason - they can get along in nearly any environment. The oil will
>probably deter them just as effectively.

I live in northern Florida and have an aerator in my (unlined) pond. I
have seen no (0) mosquito larvae anywhere in the pond, and there are
very many places in the pond that seem to the eye to have flat or
still water. Not far from the pond, I do have several self-watering
pots outside that do retain water. I have found mosquito larvae in
them from time to time. Perhaps the higher oxygen levels in the water
with the aerator inhibit mosquitoes, I really don't know, but the air
stone idea seems to work.
--
Galen Hekhuis ghekhuis@earthlink.net
Hell hath no fury like a bird in the hand

We must have the cold resistent ones. Our mosquito fish go through
the winter without blinking.

Jim

On Sun, 4 Nov 2007 11:37:45 CST, Galen Hekhuis <ghekhuis@earthlink.net>
wrote:

>them from time to time. Perhaps the higher oxygen levels in the water
>with the aerator inhibit mosquitoes, I really don't know, but the air
>stone idea seems to work.

I figured the rolling water pulled the egg rafts in thus damaging them
before they could hatch. ~ jan
------------
Zone 7a, SE Washington State
Ponds: www.jjspond.us

Hi..

Phyllis and Jim wrote:

> We must have the cold resistent ones. Our mosquito fish go through
> the winter without blinking.

Have found the website again: :-)

http://www.fattigfish.com/mosfish2.htm

--
cu
Marco

I believe that fathead minnows are the gray version of rosy reds sold
in pet shops as feeder fish.

Jim

What is Gambusia affinis?
Gambusia affinis, appropriately named the "mosquito fish," is a small,
guppy-like fish ranging in size from approximately ¾ to 1 ½ inches
long. As its name implies, it is a natural predator of mosquito
larvae.

Larvae Consumption
Gambusia affinis is a voracious predator. According to statistics
cited in U.S. Navy research, a large female Gambusia is able to
consume 225 larvae within a one hour period, and a pair of half-grown
Gambusia are capable of consuming over 5000 larvae in 11 weeks. All
sizes of Gambusia feed on mosquito larvae; even fry only a few hours
old will attack young instars.

Reproduction Capabilities
Gambusia bear live young, producing an average of three to four broods
per summer at intervals of three to six weeks. The number of fry per
brood averages between 25 and 125. Reproduction usually occurs during
the warmer spring and summer months.

Cold-Tolerant Gambusia
More than 30 years of natural selection by Fattig Fish has resulted in
a genetically adapted cold-tolerant stock of Gambusia affinis able to
survive temperatures below -30° and to 100° Fahrenheit. This special
cold-tolerant strain is particularly well-suited to climates above the
39th parallel, where winter temperatures often prevent overwintering
of Southern Gambusia. Additionally, the cold-tolerant strain has been
observed to feed at 50° water temperatures, a distinct advantage over
other strains, which generally begin to feed at considerably higher
temperatures.