Native fish for mosquito control
Officers of DPI&F Fisheries
Mosquitos have a serious impact on the health and comfort of our communities. They interfere with outdoor work and recreation and transmit a range of serious and sometimes life-threatening diseases. In Australia, mosquito-borne diseases include dengue fever, Australian encephalitis, Ross River virus and Barmah Forest virus.
Some species of native fish have been found to be very effective in controlling mosquito populations. These fish eat mosquito larvae and also control the algae that provides protection to the larvae. However, choosing the right fish is important. Fish that are native to local the area help ensure that local ecosystems are not disturbed.
Under no circumstances is the noxious fish gambusia (or mosquitofish) to be stocked as mosquito control.
On this page:
- The introduced mosquitofish (Gambusia spp)
- Native fish as mosquito control
- Stocking fish in Queensland public waters
- Stocking fish in artificially created water on private land
- Obtaining native fish
- Recommended native fish species
- Identifying native and introduced fish
- Recommended readings
- Further information
The introduced mosquitofish (Gambusia spp)
Gambusia spp (mosquitofish) are small live-bearing fish native to central America that was distributed worldwide as a mosquito control agent. This species was first introduced into eastern Australian waters in 1929 and by 1945 was widespread throughout eastern Queensland. They were introduced to Cairns in 1943.
The impact of gambusia on mosquito populations has been minimal, because mosquito larvae form only a small part of their diet. They are no more effective at mosquito control than many native fish species and in fact the presence of gambusia may actually encourage mosquito larvae. They may prey on the larvae's natural predators (eg. dragonfly larvae) and also cause a reduction in the population of native fish that consume insect larvae.
Gambusia are known to dominate some fish communities in eastern Queensland, often resulting in either a reduction in native fish numbers or the total elimination of native fish species. Gambusia threaten native fish species by predation on their eggs and fry and by competing for food and space. They are also well known for their aggressive behaviour (eg. nipping fins of other fish species which may lead to fungal infections and death).
Gambusia not only cause reductions in native fish populations but may also have an impact on invertebrate populations such as aquatic beetles, backswimmers, rotifers, crustaceans and molluscs.
The introduction of exotic fishes such as gambusia may also adversely affect a river system and its fauna through competition for resources such as food and space, predation, habitat alteration and the introduction of exotic diseases and parasites.
Gambusia are declared noxious in Queensland and cannot to be possessed dead or alive. If you catch them in the wild, they must be killed and disposed of immediately.
Native fish as mosquito control
Many small native fish are widely distributed in natural waters and are considered effective control agents for insect pests such as mosquitoes. Native fish species have none of the problems associated with the use of the introduced gambusia, provided they are not introduced to rivers where they do not naturally occur.
Translocation, or movement of native fish species between drainage basins, is similar to the introduction of exotic species (such as gambusia) and may have negative impacts on local native species through predation and competition for food and space.
The species of native fish stocked in a farm dam or pond for mosquito control purposes is therefore of major concern as most farm dams and ponds are not considered to be secure environments from which stocked fish cannot escape. During high rainfall and flooding, fish in farm dams and ponds can easily find their way into local creeks and river systems.
The use of local native fish as mosquito control agents is advantageous as they are:
- easy to locate,
- are suited to local conditions, and
- are unlikely to cause ecological disturbance.
Many small native fish are hardy and will reproduce quickly in most permanent water bodies such as ponds or dams, to form a population large enough to control mosquito larvae. Fish can be released into dams as soon as water is present. Sufficient food will be available and the fish will breed as the dam fills.
Stocking fish in Queensland public waters
Public waters are all waters not on private property including rivers, creeks, lakes, dams and local government-owned lakes.
DPI&F Fisheries may issue a General Fisheries Permit to stock fish for mosquito control in public waters in Queensland. Permits are issued only to fish stocking groups or local governments.
When assessing fish stocking applications, DPI&F takes the 'responsible approach', the aim of which is to ensure that stocking occurs with minimal risk of irreversible damage to existing fisheries resources and the ecological systems on which these resources depend.
Stocking fish in artificially created water on private land
Private waters are waters on privately owned land or property, not including waterways such as rivers or creeks. Examples of private waters include farms dams, ponds and unused swimming pools.
A permit is not required to stock fish in artificially created water on private land (eg. farm dam, ornamental pond) if the water is stocked with local fish which occur naturally in the area.
From the point of view of ecological risks, the escape of inappropriate fish stocked in farm dams can have just as severe impacts on natural systems as stocking fish directly into these systems.
Obtaining native fish
Native fish are available from the following outlets:
Licensed fish hatcheries - Landholders can obtain native fish from licensed fish hatcheries. Contact DPI&F Call Centre 13 25 23 for a list of hatcheries in Queensland.
Local councils - Some local councils breed and supply native fish to local residents. Contact your local council for information.
The wild - If collecting native fish from the wild, ensure you comply with possession limits, use appropriate apparatus and collect the correct species. Details about fisheries legislation can be obtained from the DPI&F website or from the DPI&F Call Centre 13 25 23.
Recommended native fish species
The species of native fish that you should use for mosquito control depends on where you live in Queensland. Queensland has five major drainage divisions: East Coast, Murray-Darling, Gulf of Carpentaria, Lake Eyre, and Bulloo-Bancannia.Firstly, determine the drainage division you live in by referring to the map and table below.
East Coast Drainage Divisions
| Section A | |||
| 101 Jacky Jacky Creek | 102 Olive-Pascoe River | 103 Lockhart River | 104 Stewart River |
| 105 Normanby River | 106 Jeannie River | 107 Endeavour River | 108 Daintree River |
| 109 Mossman River | |||
| Section B | |||
| 110 Barron River | 111 Mulgrave-Russell Rivers | 112 Johnstone River | 113 Tully River |
| 114 Murray River | 115 Hinchinbrook Island | 116 Herbert River | 117 Black River |
| 118 Ross River | 119 Haughton River | 120 Burdekin River | 121 Don River |
| 122 Proserpine | 123 Whitsunday Island | 124 O'Connell River | 125 Pioneer River |
| 126 Plane Creek | 127 Styx River | 128 Shoalwater Creek | 129 Water Park Creek |
| 130 Fitzroy River | 131 Curtis Island | 132 Calliope River | 133 Boyne River |
| Section C | |||
| 134 Baffle Creek | 135 Kolan River | 136 Burnett River | 137 Burrum River |
| 138 Mary River | 139 Fraser Island | 140 Noosa River | 141 Maroochy River |
| 142 Pine River | 143 Brisbane River | 144 Stradbroke Island | 145 Logan-Albert River |
| 146 South Coast Rivers | |||
Major Queensland Drainage Divisions
| Murray-Darling | |||
| 416 Border Rivers | 417 Moonie River | 422 Condamine River | 423 Warrego River |
| 424 Paroo River | |||
| Gulf of Carpentaria | |||
| 910 Settlement Creek | 911 Mornington Island | 912 Nicholson River | 913 Leichardt River |
| 914 Morning Inlet | 915 Flinders River | 916 Norman River | 917 Gilbert River |
| 918 Staaten River | 919 Mitchell River | 920 Coleman River | 921 Holroyd River |
| 922 Archer River | 923 Watson River | 924 Embley River | 925 Wenlock River |
| 926 Dulhunty River | 927 Jardine River | 928 Torres Strait Islands | |
| Lake Eyre | |||
| 1001 Georgina River | 1002 Diamantina River | 1003 Cooper Creek | 1007 Hay River |
| Bulloo-Bancannia | |||
| 1101 Bulloo River | |||
The table below lists the native fish species suitable
for stocking in farm dams and ponds within each particular drainage division in
Queensland. To determine which species are appropriate for your farm dam or pond
you first need to determine which drainage basin your dam or pond exists
within.
| Drainage Division | Fish species |
| Murray-Darling | Aggassiz's perchlet (Olive perchlet) (Ambassis agassizi) |
| Murray River rainbowfish (Melanotaenia fluviatilis) | |
| Australian smelt (Retropinna semoni) | |
| Fly-specked hardyhead (Craterocephalus stercusmuscarum fulvus) | |
| Western carp gudgeon (Hypseleotris klunzingeri) | |
| Darling River hardyhead (Craterocephalus amniculus) | |
| Purple spotted gudgeon (Mogurnda adspersa) | |
| Gulf of Carpentaria | Chequered rainbowfish (Melanotaenia splendida inornata) |
| Banded rainbowfish (Melanotaenia trifasciata) | |
| Spotted blue-eye (Pseudomugil gertrudae) | |
| Delicate blue-eye (Pseudomugil tenellus) | |
| Macleay's glassfish (Ambassis macleayi) | |
| Pennyfish (Denariusa bandata) | |
| Empire gudgeon (Hypseleotris compressa) | |
| Lake Eyre | Desert rainbowfish (Melanotaenia splendida tatei) |
| Western carp gudgeon (Hypseleotris klunzingeri) | |
| Australian smelt (Retropinna semoni) | |
| Mueller's perchlet (Ambassis mulleri) | |
| Bulloo-Bancannia | Desert rainbowfish (Melanotaenia splendida tatei) |
| Northwest glassfish (Ambassis spp) | |
| Western carp gudgeon (Hypseleotris klunzingeri) | |
| East Coast: Section A (Basins 101 - 109) | Eastern rainbowfish (Melanotaenia splendida splendida) |
| Empire gudgeon (Hypseleotris compressa) | |
| Cairns rainbowfish (Cairnsichthys rhombosomoides) | |
| Banded rainbowfish (Melanotaenia splendida splendida) | |
| McCulloch's rainbowfish (Melanotaenia maccullochi) | |
| Threadfin rainbowfish (Iriatherina werneri) | |
| Purple-spotted gudgeon (Mogurnda adspersa) | |
| Fly-specked hardyhead (Craterocephalus stercusmuscarum fulvus) | |
| East Coast:Section B (Basins 110 - 133) | Eastern rainbowfish (Melanotaenia splendida splendida) |
| Empire gudgeon (Hypseleotris compressa) | |
| Fly-specked hardyhead (Craterocephalus stercusmuscarum fulvus) | |
| Pacific blue-eye (Pseudomugil signifer) | |
| Aggassiz's perchlet (Olive perchlet) (Ambassi agassizi) | |
| Spotted blue-eye (Pseudomugil gertrudae) | |
| McCulloch's rainbowfish (Melanotaenia maccullochi) | |
| Pennyfish (Denariusa bandata) | |
| Purple-spotted gudgeon (Mogurnda adspersa) | |
| East Coast:Section C (Basins 134 - 146) | Aggassiz's perchlet (Olive perchlet) (Ambassi agassizi) |
| Duboulay's rainbow fish (Melanotaenia duboulayi) | |
| Empire gudgeon (Hypseleotris compressa) | |
| Firetail gudgeon (Hypseleotris galii) | |
| Fly-specked hardyhead (Craterocephalus stercusmuscarum fulvus) | |
| Pacific blue-eye (Pseudomugil signifer) | |
| Ornate rainbowfish (Rhadinocentrus ornatus) | |
| Australian smelt (Retropinna semoni) | |
| Marjorie's hardyhead (Craterocephalus marjoriae) | |
| Bug-eyed goby (Redigobius bikolanus) | |
| Purple-spotted gudgeon (Mogurnda adspersa) |
Identifying native and introduced fish
All of the native fish recommended here for mosquito control havetwo dorsal fins.
Most of the introduced fish found in Queensland waters have one dorsal fin. Livebearers such as gambusia (Gambusia holbrooki), guppy (Poecilia reticulata), swordtail (Xiphophorus helleri) and platy (Xiphophorus maculatus) have one short dorsal fin. Carp and tilapia have one longer dorsal fin.
The following sketches of native fish (Figure 1) and introduced fish (Figure 2) show the number and position of dorsal fins for both native and introduced species. For more detailed descriptions with coloured photographs, consult the references at the end of this DPI&F Note.
Recommended readings
Allen, G (1989) Freshwater fishes of Australia, TFH Publications, New Jersey, United States of America.
Department of Primary Industries (2001). Control of exotic pest fish - an operational strategy for Queensland freshwaters, Department of Primary Industries, Queensland.
Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (2004). Native fish for ornamental ponds regional brochure series - Southeast Queensland, Central Queensland Coast, Northeast Queensland, Murray-Darling, Gulf of Carpentaria, Lake Eyre, Bulloo Buncannia.
EDFISH Wetlands Education Project, Teacher information sheet: Native aquarium fish - Part 1 , Department of Primary Industries.
EDFISH Wetlands Education Project, Teacher information sheet: Native aquarium fish - Part 2 , Department of Primary Industries.
EDFISH Wetlands Education Project, Teacher information sheet: Noxious and non-indigenous aquarium fish - Part 1, Department of Primary Industries.
EDFISH Wetlands Education Project, Teacher information sheet: Noxious and non-indigenous aquarium fish - Part 2, Department of Primary Industries.
Fisheries Act 1994 and Fisheries Regulation 2008 - Copies of legislation can be downloaded directly at the Office of the Queensland Parliamentary Councel website.
Leggett, R and Merrick, J (1987) Australian native fishes for aquariums, Griffin Press Limited, South Australia.
McDowall, R (1996) Freshwater fishes of south-eastern Australia, Reed Books, New South Wales.
Merrick, J and Schmida, G (1984) Australian freshwater fishes: biology and management, Macquarie University, New South Wales.
Further information
Contact the DPI&F Business information centre.
Information contained in this publication is provided as general advice only. For application to specific circumstances, professional advice should be sought. The Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries Queensland has taken all reasonable steps to ensure the information in this publication is accurate at the time of publication. Readers should ensure that they make appropriate inquiries to determine whether new information is available on the particular subject matter.
Last reviewed 1 April 2008
