A Guide to Raising and Feeding Mosquito Larvae to Your Fish

Give your fish a nutritious, affordable, and live food source. Mosquito larvae are a cost-effective, nutrient-rich snack suitable for almost any type of fish. Moreover, they are incredibly easy to cultivate—mosquitoes will lay eggs in nearly any standing water source. Hence, we have compiled a comprehensive manual on raising, harvesting, and feeding mosquito larvae to your fish, allowing you to tap into nature's natural food cycle.

Prepare a container of any size filled with dechlorinated water. Mosquitoes are drawn to—and lay eggs in—practically any stagnant water, regardless of the container. Use a food-grade container, like a 5-gallon bucket (sufficient for most hobbyist fish). Then, fill it approximately 2–3 in (5.1–7.6 cm) from the brim with dechlorinated water.

• Tap water typically contains chlorine, which eradicates crucial algae and microbes that larvae depend on for sustenance.
• To dechlorinate tap water and render it safe for mosquito larvae, simply boil it for 20 minutes and let it cool for 30 minutes.
• Avoid containers previously used for paint, tar, or other chemicals, as these substances will poison the algae or larvae.

Position the container in a shaded outdoor location. Mosquitoes thrive in warm, murky, shaded water sources. Place the container away from direct sunlight but in a warm spot, such as under an overhang or in the shade of a tree. Note that larvae may only hatch outdoors in warmer months, when the temperature exceeds 68 °F (20 °C).

• Additionally, add a sprinkling of dead leaves and refrain from cleaning the water or removing accumulated dirt or debris, as these serve as nutrients for the larvae.
• Optionally, place the leaves in a mesh bag to facilitate later larval skimming from the container.

Wait for mosquitoes to deposit their eggs in the water. Regularly check your container for eggs. Depending on your location, this may occur mainly during spring and summer, but you should notice mosquito eggs in your water source within a week or two. These eggs typically resemble small rafts of dark brown bumps and usually hatch within 48 hours.

• Upon hatching, mosquito eggs release larvae resembling worms with 2 antennae, known as 'wrigglers,' which you can feed to your fish.
• If you don't observe any eggs in your bucket within a week or two, consider relocating it elsewhere in your yard. The water temperature may be becoming too warm (if exposed to sunlight) or too cold.

Catch and transfer the larvae into a small water container. Ensure that the eggs have hatched into wrigglers. If so, use an aquarium net or a turkey baster to collect them and place them in a small cup filled with dechlorinated water, or water from your fish tank.

• If the original container contained dirty water, rinse the larvae under tepid tap water while holding them in a fish net, then transfer them to the new container.
• Avoid pouring water from the original container into the fish tank to prevent contamination.

Move the larvae to your aquarium using a turkey baster. During feeding time, use a turkey baster to suction larvae from the small container, then release them directly into the fish tank to feed your fish. Feed the larvae to your fish within an hour or two of harvesting to ensure they remain alive and do not hatch into mosquitoes indoors.

• Initially, feed your fish only a few larvae to gauge their appetite, and adjust for future feedings—excess larvae may be ignored by your fish, allowing them to mature into mosquitoes.
• You may also introduce unhatched egg rafts into the tank. Fish will consume the eggs or larvae as soon as they hatch, streamlining the process.
• Larvae entering the pupa stage appear to have enlarged heads. While suitable for fish consumption, we recommend discarding them down the drain, as they are on the verge of developing into mosquitoes.

Dispose of any surplus larvae in the containers or fish tank. To prevent a mosquito infestation in your yard or home, remove any larvae your fish do not consume by capturing them with a net and flushing them away. Additionally, pour the water from both your larvae containers onto dry ground at least once a week.

• Depending on the environment, mosquito eggs can mature into flying pests in as little as 4 days or up to two weeks.
• Alternatively, freeze-dry excess larvae to use as long-term fish food.
• Also, eliminate any dead larvae or shed skins from the fish tank and rinse them down the drain. Most fish will overlook these.

• Almost any type of fish will consume mosquito larvae, but they are particularly beneficial for bettas, minnows, Mollys, and mosquitofish.
• Consider allowing your egg container to fill with rainwater over time, as mosquitoes generally prefer it over plain dechlorinated tap water.
• For a more consistent supply, set up two containers with lids. While one container hosts larvae, cover the other, then switch lids shortly before purging and covering the other container.

• Monitor your larvae environment closely. Neglecting a container of stagnant water could lead to mosquito infestations and upset neighbors.
• Ensure that cultivating mosquito larvae is permitted by checking with your local county agricultural office. Some areas may have strict mosquito control regulations.