Largest mosquitofish (gambusia) sp?

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Mount_Prion

Mount_Prion

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Jan 31, 2012
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Anybody know what the largest species of mosquitofish (preferably available in the hobby) is?

I still haven't come across any in my research larger than western mosquitofish (gambusia affinis), but the only ones I see on aquabid right now are g. vittata and g. holbrooki, which both seem a little smaller. Also, wikipedia (the most reliable source for anything, clearly) says that affinis produces typically 60 offspring, and I'm not sure if other species are that prolific.

Lastly, anybody know where to source g. affinis or whatever turns out to be the larger species? Trying to set up a robust feeder breeding tank. I suppose I can put up a post looking for them when I've got the correct species figured out.

Thanks!
 
I believe that G.affinis and G. rhizophorae are both largest Gambusia species. I had two 4" G.affinis females that keeps eating the males!!!! G.rhizophorae can also be larger, especially the males and females of this species are same size. I had some hybrids between G.affinis and G.rhizophorae, they ended up being melanistic and larger than their pure parents.

But if you want produce robust feeders then you better get a huge pond and stock it with mosquitofish. If you want to produce feeders by use aquariums then the mosquitofish isn't your guy. I had trouble with the parents eating fry...they are very highly cannibalistic.
 
Apparently they're easy as dirt to source, my bad. Pond supply spots have them, not aquabid.

Still, though, you guys think I should be using affinis or another species as breeder/feeders?

MN_Rebel said:
I believe that G.affinis and G. rhizophorae are both largest Gambusia species. I had two 4" G.affinis females that keeps eating the males!!!! G.rhizophorae can also be larger, especially the males and females of this species are same size. I had some hybrids between G.affinis and G.rhizophorae, they ended up being melanistic and larger than their pure parents.
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Thanks! Just saw this. I'll probably just go with afinnis then. Hoping to raise em to about 2'' and then nom nom.

Hah this keeps updating. Yeah no I'm talking in aquaria for feeders. Wanted something similar in size to rosies that would be easier to breed.
 
Personally, I think you will better off use different species than any gambusia since the parents will readily eat their own fry if you are planning raising them in aquariums. Use a large pond is your best bet.
 
MN_Rebel said:
Personally, I think you will better off use different species than any gambusia since the parents will readily eat their own fry if you are planning raising them in aquariums. Use a large pond is your best bet.
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Hah. Don't have too much pond access in Manhattan. Maybe back to the drawing board.
 
MN_Rebel said:
A plastic long tub would be your good bet.
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I wonder if I could keep it on my terrace in the winter. I've got a plug out there. I could probably hook up some kind of outdoor-rated heater and filter. I sort of assume NY rainwater would be really bad though, as its chemistry would eventually make its way up the food chain.
 
the literature always says they "can" produce those large broods, but IME (in aquaria), they don't. nor do fry grow fast.
males stay really tiny. females, especially gravid, are good feeders if you get them already grown for mosquito control.
 
petspoiler said:
the literature always says they "can" produce those large broods, but IME (in aquaria), they don't. nor do fry grow fast.
males stay really tiny. females, especially gravid, are good feeders if you get them already grown for mosquito control.
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Not all males that stay smaller. I had Innes strain of G.affinis, the males of this strain grew to same size of the mature female. I had a colony of Albino strain they dont eat their fry since their eyesight isn't good.
 
I have G. Affinis if you want some. They're very hardy shippers, you could do cheap priority shipping safely.
Most of them don't get very big. I have some females that are monsters at over 2 inches long, but most are around .5 in to almost an inch.

They've been in my pond for about 2 years, even after it mostly froze. None died off that I noticed. You're further north so I'd use a small pond heater to make sure your tub didn't freeze heavily, but otherwise they should be fine. They seem to breed year round as long as it's above about 40 degrees.
They'll breed in aquariums just fine, you just want it heavily planted so they can't find and eat all their fry. Floating anachris/brazilian waterweed or similar works great. Mine also don't seem to be as bad about fry eating or aggression as some other people have mentioned of theirs. Probably regional genetic differences. My pond is OS with them, even with other fish eating them.

Personally I think if you want some hardy larger coldwater feeders you'd be better off with topminnows (killifish) since they get larger for the most part, don't eat their fry as rabidly, and are about as prolific. They also don't contain thiaminase as far as I know, unlike most shiners or minnows, making them safer feeders than those or goldfish.
The spawning technique is the same as for mosquitofish. Lots of plants, live or fake, otherwise just let them do their thing.

No matter what you do, do NOT stock gambusia with other fish you plan to breed. They will absolutely outcompete them and you'll end up with nothing but mosquitofish anyway.
 
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