| Living Materials
Information
Mosquito Fish
(Gambusia
affinis)
|
Materials |
|
• |
3 or 4 holding tanks |
|
• |
2 sprigs of elodea for each holding tank |
|
• |
30 mosquito fish |
|
• |
10–12 liters of
water |
|
• |
1
bottle of tap water conditioner |
 |
| Mosquito fish
(Gambusia) |
|
|
Procedure
Fill the holding tanks with water and add the proper amount of tap water
conditioner to each tank. Allow time for the water to reach room
temperature before adding the fish. The ideal water temperature for mosquito
fish is 24° C (75° F), but they can withstand temperatures from 4°
C to 38° C (40° F to 100° F) as long as the change is not
abrupt.
Open the box of fish immediately upon
arrival. The fish are in a plastic bag inside the box. To allow the fish
to adjust to the temperature of the holding tanks, remove the bag from the
box, open it, and allow it to float in one of the holding tanks for 20–30
minutes.
Next, remove about ¼ of the water from the shipping bag and replace it with water
from the tank. Repeat this process after 15 minutes. This procedure enables the fish to adjust to the
pH in the holding tanks. After another 15 minutes, use the dip net to
carefully transfer the fish into the holding tanks. Discard the bag and
the shipping water.
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