All Turtles Message Board

escott2075 · Guest Joined: 14 Dec 2005 Posts: 2

My RES tank has developed an odd problem. In the past 3 days, hundreds of mosquito larva were spotted in the tank. Lots of adults hatched too. This tank is in an enclosed porch, temp about 60-65 degrees F. How can I get rid of them without harming the turtles? Skimming seems to be pretty ineffective, I scooped for an hour and the next day there were still an awful lot in there. Are there fish I can add to the tank that will eat the larva? The turtles don't eat them, but they are eating less these days anyway. I keep the water temp at about 72 degrees but they're still pretty sleepy these days.

I also wonder where mosquitos came from, it has been below freezing here for over 10 days. (New Jersey, USA) Thank you for your help!

deesygirl · Moderator Joined: 12 Sep 2002 Posts: 1226

Your tank temp is to low as it is right on that line of being to warm for them to hibernate yet to cold to stimulate them to eat. Just a few degrees up will make a big difference, try for 76. Mine love to eat mosquito larve in the pond and they keep the pond clear all summer. So it must be the coolness as to why they aren't going after them.
For more queets to hatch out the females will need blood for the eggs. Make sure you and your family are well covered when in the porch area so they don't have a supply. This hopefully will limit how many can hatch out. They have a short life span so hopefully with the cold weather and a limited supply you can soon be rid of them. I will see what else I can find out for you.

EarthVsJazz · Posted: Thu Dec 15, 2005 6:41 pm Post subject:

Also try any type of feeder fish, they will eat anything and should cut the problem down a little.

It just takes 1 mosiquito, doesn't matter if it's screened in or not.

If that's still ineffective, you might be looking at a good water change. I know it's cold, but try to do it on a warmer day.

- Ed
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contact444 · Posted: Thu Dec 15, 2005 10:08 pm Post subject:

http://www.lawestvector.org/MosquitoFish.htm

This is a link about a small fish that loves to eat up mosquitos. The only problem is if your turtles will leave them alone long enough to eat them.

-The circle of life, all in your turtle tank. Razz

_________________
2 big RES, 1 Flowerhorn Cichlid, 1 Cockatiel. I will alway hold a place in my heart for Daphne, my albino RES.

dixieee · Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2005 3:57 am Post subject:

sounds good enough and maybe u would want to move the turtles to leave it alone in the tank until it does its job.
_________________
Wed 10/27/2004 is the worst day..i lost my best friend Leo

so now i have a female RES, Green, and a cute stupid male YBS, Mint

5/4/2006 RIP Lemon, u were my first rescue and i'm so proud of u. will never 4get u