Attracting mosquito larvae?

[teeneythebetta]

I heard somewhere online to attract mosquito larvae to feed live to bettas you just put a bucket of water in a shady area...

That's it? How long should it take? I live in Florida if that matters.

[Bettafish]

Originally Posted by teeneythebetta

I heard somewhere online to attract mosquito larvae to feed live to bettas you just put a bucket of water in a shady area...

That's it? How long should it take? I live in Florida if that matters.

Your in florida. mosquito heaven. It should take a few days. but intime im sure

[tanseattle]

1-2 days for mosquito to find your bucket. 1-2 days to lay egg (2-4 days). 3-5 days for eggs to hatch. 1 weeks before larva big enough to feed.

[vilmarisv]

Great info Tan!

[toad]

Can you freeze mosquito larva to preserve them longer?

[teeneythebetta]

Originally Posted by tanseattle

1-2 days for mosquito to find your bucket. 1-2 days to lay egg (2-4 days). 3-5 days for eggs to hatch. 1 weeks before larva big enough to feed.

Thank you! :)
My mom doesnt want it anywhere near our house so i have to go put it in the woods.... O.o
And yes, as toad said, they can be frozen?

[MSG]

I was going to freeze them but the ones I netted were HUGE, so when they're that big they're literally about to turn into mosquitos.

That's why I dumped all of them into the fish tank at the end. Didn't want to come home to a house full of hungry mosquitos.

I would recommend freezing them in ice cube trays, JUST MAKE SURE YOU don't mix them up with your regular ice cubes & plop one into your drink.

[teeneythebetta]

Tanseattle(or anybody else)... Is it possible for the mosquito larvae to have some sort of disease/illness/parasite that could hurt Teeney? Like is there any possibility?

[toad]

Originally Posted by MSG

I would recommend freezing them in ice cube trays, JUST MAKE SURE YOU don't mix them up with your regular ice cubes & plop one into your drink.

[tanseattle]

Teeney, I am not sure if the larva carry any disease. Personally I do not worry about this. From what I remember that mosquito carry disease if only they bite/suck blood from someone with infected agent and bite you.

Freezing is more difficult than simple freezing. Because the water and the ice with crystallize the larva and burst it (I think) and it became no good.

I am a cell biologist doing medical research before I went into teaching. As a cell biologist, I freeze cells, bacteria, virus, etc. We freeze them in a freezing media with about 70% DMSO (toxic to human). I am not sure about mosquito larva but I think they are big and the crystaline form around them with burst them and it become no good for fish.

However since you ask, I will try freeze it myself. I think harvest them then drain them to remove most of the water (pour them all into the net) and spoon them into zipcloc bag and freeze.