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Re: Gambusia sp.

Gambusia are indeed out of fashion although they show up from time to
time in general club auctions, especially those with livebearer
enthusiasts and Breeders' Awards Programs (BAP). The Chicago Tribune
carried an article a couple of years ago about a company who sold
hundreds of thousands of gambusia as biological controls in this area
for situations exactly such as yours. The hope around here is that the
dambusia, as they are known to those interested in preserving local
ecosystems, will perish come winter or become sunfish chow. I also
remember reading of a gambusia population doing very well in a Ohio
power company cooling lake.

	There was some talk recently on the killie lists about a Pennsylvannia
killifish called Fundulus diaphanus. That fish may prove to be what you
want. I believe (somebody please correct me if I am wrong) they can be
collected; probably having a fishing licence is a good idea. Sometimes
killies (more often F.heteroclitus) can even be found in the bait shops.

	If you still wish to go with gambusia you might do a phone book search
and/or a net search for companies dealing in biological controls.
The Native Fish Conservancy group <http://nativefish.interspeed.net/>
are hooked up with an exotics removal program in Florida. Operating
under the slogan "Save a Native, Eat an Oscar" they do some fundraising
(according to a livebearers correspondant) by selling some of the
exotics that they catch. That wouldn't include gambusia from
Florida...but who knows what they find?

	I have also taken the liberty of copying this to the livebearers list
because they may have some sources and insights to share. They have some
great talent which is under-utilized on that list.

			All the best!

			Scott



Linden Craig wrote:
> 
> I am looking for some mosquitofish to control the mosquito larvae in a
> small outdoor fountain/pond.  I was told that Gambusia sp. or killifish
> were aggressive larvivorous fish.  Where can I find some in the
> Philadelphia area?  The tropical fish stores I have called say they don't
> carry killifish "anymore".  Are they out of fashion?
> 
> Linden E. Craig, D.V.M., Ph.D.
> Laboratory of Pathology
> School of Veterinary Medicine
> University of Pennsylvania
> 3800 Spruce Street
> Philadelphia, PA 19104-6051
> 
> Phone: 215 898-7873
> Fax: 215 898-0719
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