Gambusia holbrooki

Gambusia, Plague minnow, Mosquito fish at Hackett, ACT

Gambusia holbrooki at Hackett, ACT - 1 Apr 2020
Gambusia holbrooki at Hackett, ACT - 1 Apr 2020
Gambusia holbrooki at Hackett, ACT - 1 Apr 2020
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Identification history

Gambusia holbrooki 22 Apr 2020 MattBeitzel
Gambusia holbrooki 13 Apr 2020 dhkmapr
Gambusia holbrooki 4 Apr 2020 MAX
Gambusia holbrooki 4 Apr 2020 MAX
Gambusia holbrooki 4 Apr 2020 MAX

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User's notes

Found in Abundance in Hacket ponds, along Blue Metal Road. Very Flighty and evasive at the slightest movement or shadow.

9 comments

waltraud wrote:
   6 Apr 2020
Most likely Gambusia; unfortunately the twin dams are infested with Gambusia. The Gambusia infestations were the reason why FoMM gave up trying to improve frog habitat at the dams ...
MAX wrote:
   6 Apr 2020
Nasty Habits for a cute n pretty fish. Such a shame they displace Native Frog species...
waltraud wrote:
   6 Apr 2020
They nibble the fins of the tadpoles; they do the same with native fish - a real pest!
dhkmapr wrote:
   13 Apr 2020
Female.
MattBeitzel wrote:
   22 Apr 2020
They are known as plague minnows for good reason. There was some work in Victoria that was somewhat successful in removing these from billabongs.
MAX wrote:
   22 Apr 2020
That's interesting, thanks Mattt. Must look up to see how they tried to control the minnows. It would help the Majura Native Frog Fauna a lot....
MattBeitzel wrote:
   22 Apr 2020
id be interested to help out, tried to get it up many years ago - zeb tonkin at ARI did the work in Victoria.
dhkmapr wrote:
   22 Apr 2020
Matt. I recall a proposal (in which you were involved, I think) a few years back to eliminate gambusia from selected urban waterbodies and to refill their niche with native spp. The plan included building a stock of galaxias in volunteer backyard ponds. Did it get anywhere? Daryl
MattBeitzel wrote:
   22 Apr 2020
It got knocked back by animal ethics more than once. I still have dreams of being able to do it.

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Nearby sightings

Page 1 of 1 - image sightings only

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Location information

Sighting information

  • 101 - 1,000 Abundance
  • 1 Apr 2020 02:00 PM Recorded on
  • MAX Recorded by

Species information

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