MF surviving over winter in a water trough??

[bettagurl]

Can mosquito fish live in a water trough during the winter? I have someone interested in picking up some MS from me and they want to know.
They said that it gets an inch or 2 of ice over it..

Need an answer fast.

 

[bettagurl]

Also, do they not eat(like goldfish) when the temp is under 50f?

 

[Sploke]

My guppies did not overwinter in my pond, but I live in CT. Maybe it doesn't get as cold where you are.

 

[Notophthalmus]

I have watched mosquitofish swimming under ice many times; I imagine so long as you provided a hole in the ice, to prevent oxygen deprivation, they would be fine. I don't know what their specific eating cutoff temp is, but they should be fine without feeding in the winter.

 

[Dangerdoll]

I would assume also that their metabolisms slow enough when the water is low in temp and lower metabolism equals no feeding. As far as it not freezing over... how can it freeze 2 inches on the top and not on the sides... what is the shape of this trough?

 

[bettagurl]

Well I'm not sure about the shape, but I don't think it stays frozen long, it's for the her horses, so she has to change it and obviously keep some of it free of ice.
She doesn't seem like the best fishkeeper, but it's her or the pet store for feeders.

 

[Dangerdoll]

horses are going to be drinking the fish water???

 

[paperdragon]

gambusia species can handle the temperature if it's a deep enough trough (like maybe 2'), but I'd really feel sorry for both the fish and the horses in this case.

 

[chefjamesscott]

what is a mosquito fish ??????

 

[bettagurl]

horses are going to be drinking the fish water???

That's what the lady said, she said she's kept goldies in it, but they didn't help with the mosquitos. She has 3-4 150g troughs, which she plans on having about 8 MF in each, males only.

Mosquito fish are like pond guppies pretty much, but breed faster and aren't very nice.