Mosquitofish
Gambusia affinis
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The mosquitofish is native to Mexico and the southern United States. It was released in dozens of countries to fight mosquito larvae and ended up competing with native fish and upsetting ecosystems. It lives in still or slow vegetated waters, sometimes brackish, and eats zooplankton and small insects. It is a livebearer; the female is much larger than the male.
- Scientific name
- Gambusia affinis
- Family
- Poeciliidae
Fact sheet
General
- Water
- Freshwater
- Group
- Fish
Taxonomy
- Family
- Poeciliidae
- Order
- Cyprinodontiformes
- Synonyms
- Fundulus inurus, Gambusia affinis affinis, Gambusia affinis katruelis, Gambusia gracilis, Gambusia humilis, Gambusia patruelis, Haplochilus melanops, Heterandria affinis, Heterandria patruelis, Zygonectes brachypterus, Zygonectes gracilis, Zygonectes inurus, Zygonectes patruelis
Origin
- Native region
- América do Norte
Water
- Temperature
- 18–27 °C
- pH
- 6–8
- General hardness (GH)
- 5–30 °dGH
Size and lifespan
- Adult size
- 4 cm
- Lifespan
- 3 years
Behavior
- Swimming level
- Middle
- Diet
- Omnivore
Reproduction
- Breeding strategy
- Livebearer
Conservation and trade
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
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