Cannula Posted September 13, 2004 Share Posted September 13, 2004 I recently found a large population of Gambusia in a nearby waterway. Just wondering what conditions would be used for breeding ie air, heater, etc (yes/no). I have a 1'6" tank with a leak that I will fix for this purpose but for now I am going to use a storage crate. I was thinking of lots of java fern for the fry to hide, or would it be best to separate the female until she gives birth then keep the fry in a separate fry tank? As for food I read that they should be fed mosquito larvae and bloodworms, mossies should be around soon so have to get my buckets out the backyard. Sorry bout all the q's! Adrian! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaz1986 Posted September 13, 2004 Share Posted September 13, 2004 do the world a service and keep scooping them out of the river...and then quarantine them and feed em off Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter_Gun_Riff Posted September 13, 2004 Share Posted September 13, 2004 take ur fish to them lol ive read they are very easy to breed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davez104 Posted September 13, 2004 Share Posted September 13, 2004 Probably illegal in most states. Breeding noxious species = big trouble if caught. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Posted September 13, 2004 Share Posted September 13, 2004 why stuff around with tanks, heaters and filters? Grab a handful of gambusia, put them in either a large bucket (75L+),an earn or an old laundry tub or something, put in some elodia or other plant in there for oxygen and for fry hiding, leave it outside where it gets A little sun and they will multiply in the warmer months. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cannula Posted September 14, 2004 Author Share Posted September 14, 2004 I have a tub about a metre in diameter, I'll set it up outside with some elodea. I will use the storage box I have in the study to qurantine off the fish that I catch just before feeding to my REAL fish. Just about to go get some of the buggers now. Thanks for all the input guys, keep everyone posted on how easy they are to breed and how much my fish will love them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burek Posted September 14, 2004 Share Posted September 14, 2004 I have some aswell i just put em in a jar and leave them outside and they breed like crazy lol no use gettign a heater waste of money and electricity Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Posted September 15, 2004 Share Posted September 15, 2004 Cannula, One metre diamater is good, basically the greater the surface area, the more it will hold. The fry will hold in amongst the elodia and you will have to discard some elodea every now and then, when it gets too thick. I wouldnt feed them too much either as they get alot of natural food when they are kept outdoors. You probably dont need to water change either, just top up the evaporation losses. If it does not hold enough for your needs, use an additional bucket or two. Whilst ph is not that important with gambusia (or elodea), it will not do any harm to check the ph of the water they live in and try to get withing 0.5 ph of this figure. However, I find this not so important as they are very adaptable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slotha Posted September 15, 2004 Share Posted September 15, 2004 Daniel is right on. I put about 10 outside in a little pond and just left them in there with no food or water changes and they bred like crazy. They even bred over winter with no troubles at all. Ferrets like to mung on them to Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cobaltcraig Posted September 15, 2004 Share Posted September 15, 2004 i also keep a few i have been told that the young from time of birth can breed six weeks later cheers craig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cannula Posted September 15, 2004 Author Share Posted September 15, 2004 I ended up catching about 60 of the buggers in about 5 minutes. I fed fifty of the fish to the Oscar and Texas in the 4', all were eaten within a few hours, mostly by the Oscar. The ten I put in with the other American tank which has a Jag and JD were also eaten quickly, suprisingly the Angel got the first fish. Today I'm off after some more, half of which I will put in the tub out the back, rest with the fish. I also re-enforced the floor yesterday afternoon so now I can fill up the African tank and add more rocks and substrate, have to show pics once completed to see what everyone thinks. I also have a ghost shrimp which I didn't realise was with the fish, it's in Flame's bowl (my Betta glass bowl about 25cm diameter, she is currently in with my Australian natives in a 2'). I am not sure whether to return it or try to catch more, bred them then release, as well as removing the Gambusia. What's everyone's opinion on this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cobaltcraig Posted September 15, 2004 Share Posted September 15, 2004 you have two ways to go each way is to keep the fish 1) is to set up a breeding structure 2) is to set up a quarantine structure either way you must keep the fish for a set period of time to clean them out " i hold mine for a min of 6weeks under no circamstances would i go down to the local creek and catch fish and feed them of in the same day cheers craig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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