Mosquito Fish.

[PheonixKingZ]

I found wild Mosquito Fish in my little creek! It is really drying up, and they will all die soon. I will try to capture as many as I can to save them. Not really sure where I will put them yet, may get a big storage container and an ayirstone. Suggestions?

(I will go get them today. No joke, there is literally 3 inches of water left, I have to save them)

 

[ClownLurch]

Dont forget your cape.

 

[PheonixKingZ]

Dont forget your cape.

I guess I am a superhero to them huh?

Deciding wether or not I should add them to my 20g long tank. The only other thing it has in it is a zebra danio. (A lone one, I know, I know, not really ideal)

 

[Wills]

Few things to think about first. Is it legal for you to collect wild fish? How far away from the main body of water are they? For example would it not be better to move them to a more stable wild environment?

If you do decide to house them be aware they will likely have parasites of some kind which is not something you will want to add to your other fish.

I know it’s a very tempting thing to dive in and save them but might be worth thinking about how you do it first.

Wills

 

[PheonixKingZ]

Few things to think about first. Is it legal for you to collect wild fish? How far away from the main body of water are they? For example would it not be better to move them to a more stable wild environment?

If you do decide to house them be aware they will likely have parasites of some kind which is not something you will want to add to your other fish.

I know it’s a very tempting thing to dive in and save them but might be worth thinking about how you do it first.

Wills

Yes it is legal, as its on my property. Main body of water? I'm not sure what you mean... its a really long river that stretches through at least 3 other properties. I can't really see any other place to love them to. If I move them to my pond, they will get eaten by my LargeMouth Bass.

What do you suggest I do @Wills?

 

[ClownLurch]

Where does the river join a bigger river? Could you take them there? Kentucky River at Tyrone maybe?..........he posted pretending he had even the slightest clue about what he was talking about.

 

[Wills]

I meant that if your river/creek is drying up there must be a more stable body of water near by even if you have to drive half an hour to get to it.

People collect wild fish all the time I’ve had wild caught from South America in my tanks and I always see people catching sticklebacks from the stream in my village so it’s not an issue if you want to go collect them but if there are a lot of them and you are only able to house them in a big tub rather than a tank to enjoy and maintain it feels like it makes sense to make sure they survive but in an other wild location.

 

[PheonixKingZ]

Where does the river join a bigger river? Could you take them there? Kentucky River at Tyrone maybe?..........he posted pretending he had even the slightest clue about what he was talking about.

Where is Tyrone...?

I meant that if your river/creek is drying up there must be a more stable body of water near by even if you have to drive half an hour to get to it.

People collect wild fish all the time I’ve had wild caught from South America in my tanks and I always see people catching sticklebacks from the stream in my village so it’s not an issue if you want to go collect them but if there are a lot of them and you are only able to house them in a big tub rather than a tank to enjoy and maintain it feels like it makes sense to make sure they survive but in an other wild location.

The only other spot I can think of is my pond, which has large and small mouth bass, blue gill, and turtles. All of which will probably eat these guys.

I don't know... I just wish I could keep them in my tank.

 

[ClownLurch]

Where is Tyrone...?

Due East of Lawrenceberg according to my quick google. Why am I getting the impression “ Where Is Tyrone...” is a line from TV or a film.

 

[PheonixKingZ]

Due East of Lawrenceberg according to my quick google. Why am I getting the impression “ Where Is Tyrone...” is a line from TV or a film.

It’s not from a film - I’ve really never heard of it! Lol.

 

[WhistlingBadger]

Another thing to consider is that mosquitofish (if I remember correctly) are adapted to intermittent waters. The stream drying up temporarily is not necessarily a death sentence for all of them.

 

[PheonixKingZ]

Another thing to consider is that mosquitofish (if I remember correctly) are adapted to intermittent waters. The stream drying up temporarily is not necessarily a death sentence for all of them.

Will you please clarify? That sounds interesting.

 

[PheonixKingZ]

@emeraldking, what are your thoughts?

 

[Barry Tetra]

There is only 2 inch of water in the river next to my house and the blue panchax in the river still survive, You could just leave them there, natural fish can survive in any environment they were born in.

 

[Lajos_Detari]

You have to quarantine them if you want to keep them.

Wild caught fish carry many parasites.
My group of 20 Mosquisto Rasboras are left with only 8 now due to the gill flukes outbreaks.
Gill flukes take long time to die off as their eggs may remain dormant for a long time.

Use any big container that you can find with an airstone or sponge filter temporarily.
Don't keep too many but just sufficient for you to be able to take care of them.
Change water frequently.

If you want to take precautions, use Praziquantel immediately after bringing them home.
Probably a 3-4 weeks treatment might be sufficient.
So, monitor, observe and quarantine them for 3-4 weeks before putting them in your main tank.
Almost all wild caught fish carry parasites with them.

When I bought the wild caught Satanoperca Jurupari from South America, they also carried gill flukes with them.
But it wasn't difficult to treat wild caught fish with gill flukes unlike the farm bred fish.
The gill flukes strain that are carried by the farm bred fish are resistant to most medications.

But if you really can't maintain and keep them, then just forget about it.