We have a number of ponds and containers around our property that support birds frogs and some are bee friendly also. Our chooks use them also when they are out.
The problem now is the amount of mosquitoes breeding. I used to place some small chemical granules in them to kill the larvae but now am more conscious of the bees and birds being harmed. The ponds aren’t really big enough to support fish but a couple do have water lilys in them
Any suggestions would be most appreciated.
Hi Gaz, if you’re ever up the Sunshine Coast, I can help you get some small guppies that are just perfect for the job. We have no more mosquito larvae in our Chinese water chestnut tubs.
The bees gather water from them. Not today though, or tomorrow… 23 degrees!!!
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Gary,
Jeffs got the answer ! I don’t use guppies but do have gold fish in my two small ponds … no skeeters at all. Guppies might be cheaper. I’ve had to add plenty of hidden under water cover to keep fish eating birds n raccoons from dining on my gold fish.
Jeffs got the answer ! I don’t use guppies but do have gold fish in my two small ponds … no skeeters at all. Guppies might be cheaper. I’ve had to add plenty of hidden under water cover to keep fish eating birds n raccoons from dining on my gold fish.
Good luck bro,
Gerald.
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Gaz you also have access to some stunning native blue eyes that are struggling in the wild. Mosquitoes are like a weed, they colonise new water with low levels of other organisms. You either need to rapidly mature the water or stop the adults being able to breed in them. One of the most practical ways is to aerate the water so they can’t land to breed.
If possible remove the small water vessels and have a fewer number of bigger ones that can support Fish.
Adam
THAT is the perfect answer
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Thanks Jeff appreciate that, I might ditch the small containers and just make the larger ponds more bee friendly and add the guppies. Are they pacific blue eyes?
Thanks Adam, we get striped marsh frogs in the small ponds so we left the ponds still but with Lilys in them. Might try the blue eyes and see how they last.
You’re welcome Gaz, I don’t know. We caught them in a pond/small dam near where we did a trap out. They are just little fish that you see in ponds, I guess that they are just common guppies. Nothing fancy about them.
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Guppies are non native and blue eyes are one of the natives.
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Gaz, The suggestions you have gotten for goldfish and guppies are right on. You may have to overwinter the guppies inside and restock them every spring ----------the goldfish will stand up to freezing conditions pretty well unless the pond freezes top to bottom. I also use mollies in my ponds and have to overwinter them. Mosquitofish and other natives are recommended by naturalists. I am not familiar with the “species” that have the common name Blue-eyes.
jimfisch
Hi Jim thanks for that, no problem with winters in Brisbane rarely a day that doesn’t get to 18 to 20deg C.
Gaz
I forget that this forum is worldwide, and my information on local fish wouldn’t do you much good. The mosquitofish looks like a guppy and is closely related except it has only a drab green color to blend in with murky water, and has no excess tail or fin growth. Here in S. Texas we usually only have freezing temperatures about twice during the Winter. The local fish have to be reasonably hardy.
jimfisch
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Mosquito fish are a noxious pest in Australia.
Better to stick with the pacific blue eyes that will still control mosquito larvae but not pose the same environmental threat.
Alan
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