Gambusia holbrooki
Mosquito Control in Maryland
The Eastern Mosquitofish
is small, only growing up to 1 1/2 inches long. It is a
light olive-brown color on top, with silvery sides and a
yellowish belly. It has rows of black spots on its dorsal
(back) fin and caudaul (tail) fin. This fish's mouth is near
the top of its head, and it has a black "tear drop" under
its eye. Eastern Mosquitofish live
in ponds, lakes, marshes,
and slow-moving streams. They like places with muddy
bottoms, shallow water, and lots of plants. Copyright, Florida Fish
and Wildlife Conservation Commission, www.FloridaFisheries.com Copyright,
www.jjphoto.dk Mosquitofish
breed
from April to August. Female mosquitofish are one of our few
native
livebearing fish. This means baby fish are born alive;
mothers do not lay eggs. One female fish can give birth to
more than 200 young each year. Fry
(baby fish) are born three to four weeks after
mating. These small fish are
voracious eaters. They will eat just about any living thing
that fits in their mouth, including: worms, mites, small
crustaceans,
insects (aquatic
and terrestrial),
snails, tadpoles,
and algae.
Of course, they eat tons of mosquito larvae
and pupae,
which is how they get their name. Copyright 1998, Stephen
L. Doggett
