My Betta Just Ate...

[Ciddian]

So collecting from a wintered pool or someones bucket set outside would be safe?

[Joeee]

Originally Posted by Ciddian

So collecting from a wintered pool or someones bucket set outside would be safe?

I think I've heard someone say that they keep a bucket full of water so they can collect mosquito larva, not sure if this is safe though.

[bae]

I keep a few buckets out on the patio to raise mosquito larvae. I pour the contents through a fish net at least once a week, so the larvae never mature, which reduces the number of mosquitoes in the neighbourhood overall.

[Joeee]

Originally Posted by bae

I keep a few buckets out on the patio to raise mosquito larvae. I pour the contents through a fish net at least once a week, so the larvae never mature, which reduces the number of mosquitoes in the neighbourhood overall.

Do you condition the water or do anything special with it?

[bae]

Originally Posted by Joeee

Do you condition the water or do anything special with it?

You have to 'enrich' the water to make it attractive to the mosquitoes and provide something for the larvae to eat. Green water attracts them, but 'swampy' water attracts them more. Put a small handful of rich soil or compost or dried grass clippings or some such in a bucket of water and let it stand. The egg rafts look like oblong flecks of soot, and float even if disturbed. If you want to have larvae of consistent size in each bucket, collect the egg rafts daily and put them all in one bucket. After a day or two, put new ones in a different bucket, etc. You'll get other critters in the buckets too. I usually get some bloodworms.

You can also put egg rafts in with small fry indoors. The fry will eat them as they hatch.

I use plastic food-rated buckets that I've gotten free over the years from bakeries and donut shops. They are used to ship frostings and fillings and such.

Be sure to pour the water through a fish net every 7-10 days. If you see pupae, do it right away. The larvae and pupae will all dive for the bottom when the water is disturbed, so you may have to wash them out of the sediment.

I don't always do this in an organized manner, but I usually have some buckets of water out on the patio for the plants. These provide treats for the fish, and are great for getting them into breeding condition. It's interesting to see them use some of their natural instincts hunting the bugs, too.

[Sagittarius-Aquarius]

Very cool, I've been trying to find a cheap way to culture some live food for my boys.

Thanks.