Mosquito Fish
Gambusia affinis · family Poeciliidae
Parameters
- Temperature
- 10–30 °C
- pH
- 6.5–8.5
- Hardness
- 5–25 °dGH
- Tank volume
- from 60 L
- Maximum size
- up to 7 cm
- Group size
- min 1, ideal 6
- Temperament
- Semi-aggressive
- Swimming zone
- Top
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Lifespan
- 1–2 years
Description
Mosquito fish — guppy relative famous as biological mosquito control. Incredibly hardy (-2…+35 °C), but aggressive toward ornamental fish.
Care
Ideal for ponds or dedicated tough tanks. Do NOT mix with guppies or bettas — clips long fins.
Feeding
Omnivorous: mosquito larvae, bloodworm, flakes. Excellent at clearing water of any insect life.
Compatibility
Compatibility data not yet available.
FAQ
- Is the mosquito fish an invasive species?
- Yes. Releasing it into natural waters is banned in many countries. Use ONLY in closed tanks or private ponds.
Goldie editorial team
Practising aquarists with a combined 30+ years of experience · Biologists and editors, fact-checking against FishBase and Seriously Fish · Every piece is reviewed by a qualified ichthyologist before publication
Scientific board — ichthyologists and veterinarians
Ichthyologists and veterinarians with university degrees · Reference FishBase, Seriously Fish and peer-reviewed literature · Sign every reviewed article with their credentials shown
Sources
- Wikipedia: Gambusia affinis · Wikipedia · 2026-05-22