FREE Live Food Culture for Aquarium Fish! (So Easy)

[@adamwilson5108]

It's all fun and games until one makes it into your shrimp tank where nothing eats them. Next thing you know you wake up to dozens of mosquitoes on your ceiling

[@ikeoku]

or a dragonfly larva eats all the shrimp

[@MsJimbo1960]

50 years keeping fish and i still learn some things from you.Watching from Glasgow Scotland ..

[@australianbiotopes4563]

I do this every season to my tubs, I give them a bit of a clean re pot the plants and let the mosquitos move in first, then I add the fish, It's a great way to get them established with some live food, for the rest of the season I use 20L buckets with some boiled botanicals so they sink fast add water then a week or so later you can start to harvest, the beauty of this is when they get a bit gunky you can just tip them out into your garden and start again, the mosquitos tend to sit around the edges of the top surface of the bucket and the leaves stay to the bottom so your pretty much guaranteed to just get mosquitos without the other stuff if your worried about it, Great video Nick, it just shows you don't need heaps of money to feed live 🙂

[@Andriastravels]

The method in the video will breed adult mosquitos, since some of the pupae (those round ones) will be missed by the net and quickly hatch out to adults. In south FL, USA I used to set out a few 5 gal buckets with clean (old) water, adding a cup of milk to each bucket. Once the milk curdles, it attracts many mosquitoes overnight. The next day, collect the all the egg rafts, and put them in other buckets for rearing, with a little fish food. In a few days they hatch, all the larvae being the same age. The larvae eat very little, mainly detritus. Harvest as needed. The young larvae are excellent for fry. If the larvae become round pupae, harvest all, and feed or freeze. Be careful city inspection doesn't catch you, as in many municipalities there is a fine for having standing water with larvae but no fish.

[@JessMcCrossan]

I love the idea of freezing some. My kid will love the job of harvesting from my mini pond next summer and will hopefully stop harassing the frogs!

[@franko1642]

I agree with you about the idea of leaving dead leaves and whatever it's in the water where you harvest the mosquitoes, but people need to make shure that no pesticide or bad substance wasn't used near the buckets. I know it´s kinda harsh example but it happened to me once, I have a big backyard and at the time I didn´t ask my dad. loved the video👌🏽👌🏽

[@AndrewFishman]

Been feeding mosquito larvae to my fish for 40 years. They are the best food available. Feed them to everything, never had a problem with parasites or disease.

[@juliemcgugan1244]

Where I used to buy guppies, frozen mosquito to larvae was sold in thin sheets of ice, each wrapped in newspaper and packed into a small freezer bag. Gave me enough time to get home and can be stored in a small amount of space in my freezer. I’d just break off a small amount a throw it into the tank. Sadly I don’t live there anymore (Singapore.) To me, it was a fish-keeping paradise and that wasn’t even the height of the fish breeding industry (1980s-2020s.) I would have loved to keep fish there in the 70s and 80s! I lived there from 1984, but was only 2 years old. I got into breeding in my early teens.

[@greeneileen]

Yes! I did this over the summer in a large flower pot without drainage. We're in our second year of drought conditions so the insects were definitely attuned to the opportunity. Great video.

[@sust8n]

I do this too. Working well. In the same area as you, also doing daphnia in outdoor ponds. Clam shell kiddy-pools work well. TIP: Use a net with holes just big enough to let the tiny larvae through and catch the big ones, so they grow a little bit for more feed to the fish.

[@AndrewFishman]

If you have small or young fish, the tiny larvae are great.

[@sust8n]

@@AndrewFishman True too

[@AndrewFishman]

@@sust8n if too fast for the fry, stick them in the fridge before feeding. This slows them RIGHT down.

[@MrGhostsword]

You got to be on top of those mosquito cultures.. also mosquito larvae can eat fry. You really need to able to empty those ponds every few days.

[@helloDobson3259]

A bunch of those larvae are in the second stage, almost morphed into mosquitoes. You can see it in both ponds. If your going to try this, you really need to make sure you use or kill all larvae in the pond as they hit the second stage of morphing. From what I can see, your pools are actually releasing a lot of baby mosquitoes. This is a bad idea.

[@michaellavella2377]

What if you don't spend time outside but your loud neighbors do? Then the mosquitoes are okay.

[@quitlife9279]

Yes there are already many pupa in that cup, almost certain that mosquitos are emerging from there, depending on temperature it only takes a few days, there's no way to catch them all with a small net like that. Terrible idea.

[@AndrewFishman]

@@michaellavella2377 I operate on this theory. My tubs feed on the neighbours. I am not a fan of them. I do not mind 😁 I was talking to my son about it last summer.

[@ThylineTheGay]

@@michaellavella2377 there are many ways to get back at annoying neighbors without releasing a mosquito plague on the whole neighborhood or just politely ask them to keep it down, if you're not an utter jerk

[@thomasevans3387]

This is a good point, and a real concern. If the goal is to generate mosquito larvae without producing adults, regular drying and refilling is necessary. Be careful with mosquito cultures as they are good at spreading certain diseases. Remember that while you do collect a lot of larvae, mosquitos have evolved to have high mortality, and can sustain huge losses of individuals and still produce numerous offspring (i.e., one female is sufficient to replace 100's or potentially 1000's of larvae collected). They are good fish food, and freeze well, but I recommend keeping hardy surface orientated fish outdoors to prevent mosquitos from emerging. If you want to see how many mosquito adults you are generating, simply place a plastic sheet over the tubs at night. In the morning lift it off and you will see plenty of adults is my guess.

[@m.hreptilesandmore7913]

I did the exact same over this summer. Bro, be careful to not overfeed your fish or you will regret everytime you have to slap yourself..😂😂

[@Holmeslice]

Win-win! Free fish food and less mosquitos

[@jairalt]

Problem is u wont be able to catch all of the larvae with a net, there will always be some them hides or u might have missed. So you are still breeding mosquitoes, unless u keep draining all of the water.

[@universe1879]

It will still be less mosquitoes than if the mama mosquito laid eggs in dead sewage water or someone’s left out water jar

[@Geezman1977]

Love the idea, but in Malaysia, because Dengue is SUCH a problem to public health, we get fined RM500 per Aedes, if found in personal properties. And the Compound becomes heftier, and may include jail as penalties.

[@AndrewFishman]

Had Dengue in Solomon Islands years ago. Not something I would recommend to anyone. A bad ride. Never been sicker. I literally wanted to die.

[@bktee22]

Same here, we will get compound is local municipal found larvae in our water

[@jake8748]

You can breed mosquito larvae in small buckets. Even a 2L icecream tub they will lay eggs into. I definitely wouldn't use an IBC as its alot to maintain and just breeds too many to feed consistently or safely.

[@cesardias7579]

Im trying daphnia production "indoors" in small space, by giving some use to "waste water" from my osmosis system. Some room for 2 60Cm T5 LED lamps and 4 x 6 Liter water bottles for "green water" production, more or less the same space for a 60 Liters plastic box, a flood light over it and a "bubbling" tube to keep some water movement. For "green water" fertilizer i was using an expensive fertilizer used for salt water micro algae production, but had done some experiments with "earthworm leachate" that can be found on gardening shops for cheap and im getting some decent results :) Routine is simple: After stablishing the green water production on those 6L water bottles, i just remove some water from the daphnia box through a sieve, feed the daphnia caught on the sieve to the fishes and add the same amount of green water that it was removed before. Something similar to a partial water change :) The water i get from this water change works as a powerful fertilizer on the garden! Its another way to get live food for cheap by giving another use for all that osmosis waste water.

[@nightlite9009]

Aren't you concerned that some Mosquito's might make it?

[@Ishan.patel.]

The thing is even if some mosquito do make it it will be less than if he didn't culture them

[@Netabare_kin]

Yep, female mosquitoes are still out there laying eggs wherever they can find water. Using traps to catch those egg-laying mosquitoes is actually way more effective at reducing mosquito numbers than just using repellents. Unfortunately, a lot of people don’t realize this!

[@wabalaka1565]

As long as you drain the tub every 7 days they will never become mosquito. Their cycle took 8 to 10 days to complete

[@sust8n]

Compared to the hundreds of natural mozzies in the area?!

[@MrGigi-dz9cv]

Well. 1 They make it. 2 If they don't, there is nobody to breed.

[@Diospyros1985]

Great video. So cool to use what could be viewed as a negative of the natural world into a benefit for the aquarium!

[@Yinda_groundhog]

I also tried to farm mosquito. I once filled a bucket with water and left it outside. A few days later, I could see at least 100 of those bugs inside.

[@briangrant2426]

I do the same! Can only do it during the summer here in Seattle, but my pea puffers and my community tank LOVE them!

[@miniscenesgb]

This will work in the UK too. I left a random bucket in the garden by accident last year , it filled up with rain water - free fish food turned up on it's own

[@garageaquatics2023]

Summer before last I tried to raise a bucket full of green water. All I got was mosquitoes. This past summer I finally got a bucket of green water and not a mosquito in sight. Go figure. :-) Great content, Nick. Thanks. ~Ron

[@strangepetscmty]

Same thing happened to me when I was young. My mom was pissed! 😂

[@garageaquatics2023]

@@strangepetscmty 🙂

[@cosmicnights]

A snake will love these ponds.

[@moogiesretirementhaven2265]

lol just bought a green godless bamboo, they warned me two things; the bamboo needs ware daily and they are very attractive to mosquitoes . My koi will love this

[@aurelian6313]

Your video of your mosquito larvae shows a mix of mosquito larvae and mosquito pupae. It’s from the pupae, of course, that the adult mosquitos will emerge. So, to prevent the emergence of adult mosquitos, it’s only the pupae that you have to make sure you remove. Don’t let the pupae accumulate, in other words.

[@andrewfinch6351]

Grass clippings make good botanical as you call it.

[@mr.navorski7501]

Awesome video as always. Very good to see your ideas! Greetings from Hungary!

[@devoncrowe2184]

I did something similar, I use the waste from my filters and put it outside. Got some bloodworms with it.

[@AndrewFishman]

Gets a good infusoria culture happening also.

[@falcon1136]

I used to do this for my bettas. But the water gets too dirty and their is a risk of parasites

[@semadden5098]

Dude! You are looking really toned and healthy

[@falcolf]

I definitely want to do this!!!❤❤❤

[@mikefisher4834]

All I did is set up my tank and let it establish itself and live food appeared💯🤯

[@TheSamboly]

Don't underestimate how quickly the larvae in the final stage can grow into mosquitoes. :)

[@cherellzandell]

What?! Your girlfriend doesn't like them? You're kidding me 🤣

[@timanabaker2781]

My girlfriend doesn’t even like me

[@Cigsarevegtables]

Lol your doing everything I did as a kid in Brisbane but KZbin wasn't a thing then and i only delt with native fish :) also had no money I live in FNQ now way bigger variety of native fish but not many people are interested in Qld rainbows n similar up here

[@MarcoPolo-vb1sw]

Bros creating a mosquito army 😂 This will get out of hand very quickly. 🦟🦟🦟🦟🦟🦟 More than you can feed.

[@beatatarczon1402]

I am using mosquito larvae to feed my fish but prefer to freeze them because they carry parasites and fish catches them from larvae

[@bktee22]

Do you meant the parasites will be killed when frozen?

[@beatatarczon1402]

@ That's what they say

[@jasonbollman]

I may try this here in the states next spring

[@aljosephabanales3206]

Nice! Also doing that easiest things to culture

[@drugore2968]

I add them to my guppies they love it but I can’t seem to ever have enough lol I’ve been feeding that and they are breeding really well

[@mikekb4649]

Absolutely not, I'm surprised this is not illegal in your area. Mosquitos kill people do not breed them on purpose.

[@ElectroFriedBees]

Oh, it probably is. It is most certainly one of the stupidest things I have seen today. This bloke lives in SEQ where we have several horrible and debilitating mosquito borne viruses floating around. He is going to really hurt someone or encourage someone else too.

[@Scotsandirish87]

followed you since the beginning, videos get better and better, living in scotland i cant do this but very interesting

[@davidolivares6421]

Do you ever get mosquitos? you could culture some in the summer and then put them in a greenhouse. Personaly, I don;t like thinking about being bit lol

[@Scotsandirish87]

@@davidolivares6421 no we dont get mosquitos in scotland, too cold.

[@shawncraib]

I've been doing this with my spare tub.

[@zombo9725]

I put mine near steady water in the jungle

[@footagemissing]

Good vid, hopefully you'll do a vid on breeding those Congo tetras!

[@ozzifranco9160]

Just the video I wanted thanks

[@ElementalMJ]

I have plants growing with water in various containers around my house. Noticed some of the mason jars I neglected had these little terrifying looking worms swimming around. I'm like, cool! Wonder what they are... and if I can use to feed fish?? Found out they were mosquito larvae and tossed.(I dont have any fish atm.) Appreciate the answer to my second question and this wonderful video.

[@jake8748]

Id be careful Nick. You can actually get alot of bad stuff introducing from outside ponds here in Australia. A big issue is nematodes like capillaria or camallanus worms. We've had an outbreak of them here in SE QLD before and it wiped out hundreds of dollars in fish each time. Before we realised the infection it was in most tanks (didnt disinfect nets and moved plants and fish around) and the treatment for them is quite difficult and expensive, plus the chemicals to kill those nematodes are not available generally in the aquarium trade here and you need to seek out livestock treatments for Levamisole/Prazi etc. Also treatment takes months to complete and you cant treat/cure tanks with copepods or snails you want to keep as it kills them too, and isnt friendly to shrimp or scaleless fish. I know one source of infection for us was external water/decorations/plants from a pond into a tank. The life cycles typically involves adult parasite lays eggs in fish, fish pass them out, the larvae infect a copepod (daphnia/snails etc) and then reinfect fish. Birds spread it by eating an infected fish and their droppings can contain the eggs. If you want to breed mosquito larvae better to do it protected and in smaller containers. A small bucket inside a shed for example can attract them but birds can't get to it. Ive also just had buckets inside the house downstairs where there is gaps for them to get inside. Bloodworms however are possibly easier source too (midge larvae)

[@ElpredatorGYRO]

This is a bad idea. If you want to do this, do it in shallow "dishes" that you will drain regularly so that no adult mosquito ever hatch. It is most likely illegal too.

[@triplr-j7h]

Great idea until a few survive and you end up with mosquitos flying around your house.

[@bradysonnenberg5730]

In cooler places they need some sunlight. In warmer places they need shade.

[@doughjho7016]

Need an update on those betta’s u bred in a bucket 2 months ago

[@1969longshanks]

Good luck ❤

[@Matt-du9ez]

every straight man has a buzz cut phase

[@piercett917]

I’ve been in my buzz cut faze for 12 years I’m (16)

[@wytebunny]

Do you need to use a brine shrimp net or really fine mesh net to catch the larvae or will a standard fish net work?

[@bktee22]

I don't know if coincidental or not, I once feed 1 mosquito larvae to my betta fish, the next day he got sick (he looks fine before that) and die

[@christopherlavis8028]

used to do this alot but started getting dragon fly nymph

[@andrejanela2668]

We in brazil... we can't... so yeahh.... but cool vid!

[@k-c]

You can make a patty out of that. High protein. 😄

[@ricksallotment5923]

The update to this video is going to be pi## funny. 🤭🤭🤣🤣

[@lordhemel10]

dude they r growing very soon U have to harvest the whole tank to avoid larva from growing and flying

[@its_elser]

where do you get those ponds from round black Nick? daphnia is great. I've had buckets of daphnia on my balcony for a year. so easy and great food. also get mozzies lava and the fish love em

[@tshot2862]

Did you come out with a fish room tour of Eric Bodrock's fish room?

[@TheBBae]

What size is your tank for your bichirs??? I really want to keep some but don't know how long I can keep them before they grow out of a reasonable tank size

[@TheZodiac-p2n]

Is there anyway to reduce the risk of beining pathogens into your tank? For example soaking the mosquito larvae in salt water.

[@nishantgeorge]

Do we need to be concerned about any diseases that might affect fish?

[@nishantgeorge]

Oh you address it in the video. Thanks!

[@AndrewFishman]

@@nishantgeorge I have never experienced any parasites or diseases from feeding Mosquito larvae. I culture them in Val tubs, and cycle the bloodworm laden Val through tanks. Mozzies are netted and fed to everything. Certain Bettas and Dwarf Cichlids like Checkerboard and transvestitus are going to spawn more willingly and have larger, healthier spawns, when conditioning is done using a large volume of mozzie larvae over any other food except, maybe, daphnia. I like a combination of both.

[@jonisolis9645]

👍👍👍👍

[@harleydosewhathewants9141]

I do this where I work but I can't do it at home because I'm allergic to there bites I go up like a balloon when I get bit

[@AndrewFishman]

"I don't feed them to expensive fish..." Pea puffer, bichirs, of course nothing expensive.

[@Griimnak]

Illegal in my state, MA

[@guspessoal]

Pra você que é do sudeste do Brasil, existe alguma variedade de mosquito que não faz bem pro peixe, não me pergunte cientificamente, mas já fiz isso e alguns peixes adoeceram. Mesmo lavando as larvas. Tenha cuidado ao reproduzir essa ideia.

[@GS-sg6ov]

Really bad idea! This is a very nice breeding pond - not for you fish only but for the neighborhood as well! As you will remove the larve only partly everytime you use your net, there will be many that will complete their cycle and escape as mosquitos. Best way to reduce mosquitos is to avoid water pools.

[@-AndrewR]

👍🏻👍🏻

[@deadpoet415]

Check your local laws. I can't do this legally where I live. It's because of the West Nile virus and other mosquito-spread problems. Prior to that, yes, breeding mosquitos is very easy.

[@SithijaWijesinghe]

Wait did you take a dump in the second tub? haha

[@Daniel-x4z]

I've been harvesting the little blood suckers off the kids pool for years..none survive the fish or filters.

[@lesteraguada2293]

❤

[@Apexnoob-1]

Do you send shrimp overseas?

[@AkwarystaNiedzielny]

👍👍👌👌

[@dexterkoeman6050]

Wait... The puffer fishes don't eat the shrimps???

[@Ishan.patel.]

Hi Nick it's my birthday today and I am gonna get some fish as a gift I will pick out some fish I am turning 14 I am thinking of getting either some rainbows or cichlids I will have some 5 gallons one 20 gallon and one 4ft tank which will be free after I sell my betta fry do you have any recommendations? from: Ishan aquatics

[@MichaelAChang]

I've been doing this since the 90s taking advantage of short summers in Canada, unfortunately there is no excess to freeze since I do the mosquito breeding in a 30 gallon plastic box on the back porch.

[@stringer1818]

why do u have nets on top

[@Nigelaquaticsfish]

I hate misquoting

[@a7c777]

The poor neighbors man:’/

[@BadtoyDontplay]

Mosquito 🦟🦟🦟🦟 are poor man's brine shrimp been doing this for years 🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲

[@papascrumpeeh]

sadly not when u have to deal with shitty winter .-.

[@NoCO2fishtank]

Unfortunately, it's not the right time to do this here in the Midwest States right now. Stupid garbage winter is coming! 😂 Great video, Nick! Thank you!

[@andrewlee843]

Looks illegal to me....malaria and dengue outbreak in neighborhood....

[@janetclimer1264]

What happens if your fish doesn't eat them all are you going to have tons of mosquitos inside your house ? 🤔🤷

[@iluvchese3737]

i thought you didnt swear bro

[@akhirpekan123]

PARAB CUPANG

[@ziender]

I wouldn't want to be your neighbor. Those mosquito ponds are way too big. You obviously don't spend much time in your own yard. Mosquito's spread disease.

[@JonGilGonefishing]

Hell no. That’s gross. And you’re bringing it inside the house?! How expensive is fish food out there??!

[@TrevorSmith84]

Some areas you could be fined if you are breeding mosquitoes around your home, but only if you get caught ;)

[@millennialsgoals]

Fish keeping , no! Breeding mosquitos!!!