Mosquito larvae in troughs

[LadyGascoyne]

What would you do about larvae in self-filling, dug-in troughs?

The water is straight from the spring in the field and is crystal clear. I don’t really want to disrupt the troughs too much, as the water itself seems really healthy and there are a few little water plants that are thriving.

What should I be doing or should I leave it? I’m not keen on mosquitos but I figure they are unlikely to affect the horses.

 

[HappyHollyDays]

Goldfish. They eat the mosquitoes as they land on the water and enjoy a good snack on any larvae.

 

[thefarsideofthefield]

Use a mesh kitchen sieve/flour sifter to skim the top few inches of water .

 

[Chinchilla]

Goldfish. They eat the mosquitoes as they land on the water and enjoy a good snack on any larvae.

Please do not do this. Very cruel to the fish and terribly unhealthy for any animals which have to drink out of the trough.

 

[LadyGascoyne]

We have fish in the pond at the top but I would feel the troughs are too small for fish.

I think skimming them might be the answer. Mimosa is going to love watching that- interfering with yard maintenance is her favourite pastime.

 

[HappyHollyDays]

Please do not do this. Very cruel to the fish and terribly unhealthy for any animals which have to drink out of the trough.

Really, I have been on two yards where they had fish in naturally fed toughs and it never caused a problem with either the fish or the horses.

 

[Chinchilla]

Really, I have been on two yards where they had fish in naturally fed toughs and it never caused a problem with either the fish or the horses.

You can't see the ammonia and nitrites the fish end up swimming in and the horses end up drinking, though, but that's what happens and it's not good for either.
Fish don't exhale CO2 as we do - their primary respiratory byproduct is ammonia from their gills so they end up swimming in it, and any livestock drinking it as well.

 

[TheMule]

You can't see the ammonia and nitrites the fish end up swimming in and the horses end up drinking, though, but that's what happens and it's not good for either.
Fish don't exhale CO2 as we do - their primary respiratory byproduct is ammonia from their gills so they end up swimming in it, and any livestock drinking it as well.

Whilst I do very much agree with your sentiment about it not being a great idea for the fish or the horses, fish conduct respiration in just the same way as we do and produce CO2 which is then exchanged back into the water at the gills. They do produce ammonia as a result of protein metabolism, as we do, but we lose it in our urine whereas they lose it through the gills.

 

[Chinchilla]

Whilst I do very much agree with your sentiment about it not being a great idea for the fish or the horses, fish conduct respiration in just the same way as we do and produce CO2 which is then exchanged back into the water at the gills. They do produce ammonia as a result of protein metabolism, as we do, but we lose it in our urine whereas they lose it through the gills.

Okay so I'm thick and phrased it wrong. ? I knew what I meant anyway....a level biology was feels like a lifetime ago ?

 

[HappyHollyDays]

Okay so I'm thick and phrased it wrong. ? I knew what I meant anyway....

I’m the thick one for suggesting it in the first place ?

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

What would you do about larvae in self-filling, dug-in troughs?

The water is straight from the spring in the field and is crystal clear. I don’t really want to disrupt the troughs too much, as the water itself seems really healthy and there are a few little water plants that are thriving.

What should I be doing or should I leave it? I’m not keen on mosquitos but I figure they are unlikely to affect the horses.

put some goldfish in or scoop them out and feed it to fish, they love it

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

Please do not do this. Very cruel to the fish and terribly unhealthy for any animals which have to drink out of the trough.

Don't agree, it is not cruel to fish in a trough, keeping them in a small bowl is, a large trough is more natural, unhealthy you can put rocks at the bottom for cover or the central ball cock area is a safe area for them.

never had a horse ill from it and known this from 70's. Fish keep the algae down and mosquitoes, help stop it freezing, even amuse horses when they suck on their whiskers, https://horsenetwork.com/2018/07/goldfish-water-trough/.

I have seen worst than fish in a trough, as long as the trough is cleaned out ever so often, both can live happily alongside each other.



dead birds for instance, seen many of them

 

[Chinchilla]

Don't agree, it is not cruel to fish in a trough, keeping them in a small bowl is, a large trough is more natural, unhealthy you can put rocks at the bottom for cover or the central ball cock area is a safe area for them.

never had a horse ill from it and known this from 70's. Fish keep the algae down and mosquitoes, help stop it freezing, even amuse horses when they suck on their whiskers, https://horsenetwork.com/2018/07/goldfish-water-trough/.

....And no one who doesn't need their head examining keeps goldfish in a bowl in 2020? the water can get so full of dissolved compounds it would be illegal in drinking water but it's your horses so by all means carry on.... And let's face it goldfish are like £1.75 so don't matter right ?

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

....And no one who doesn't need their head examining keeps goldfish in a bowl in 2020? the water can get so full of dissolved compounds it would be illegal in drinking water but it's your horses so by all means carry on.... And let's face it goldfish are like £1.75 so don't matter right ?

If that is the case, how come we see people at fun fairs winning fish and buying the round blows for them. Hey ho, people do and will keep fish in tanks, up to them, I now bow out of this conversation.

 

[Bellaboo18]

If that is the case, how come we see people at fun fairs winning fish and buying the round blows for them. Hey ho, people do and will keep fish in tanks, up to them, I now bow out of this conversation.

People don't still win fish at fairs do they???!!

 

[Chinchilla]

They do still win fish at fairs unfortunately.

But just because people DO keep them in bowls doesn't mean it's right but I suspect I'm on a hiding to nothing here so I'm going to bow out as I can literally feel my blood pressure rising...?

Mind you my wakins are not cheap pond fillers or fair freebies so ??

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

The trough is spring fed, so not tap water with the chlorine. Possibly not ideal for the horses if the trough is small and will become dirty with goldfish who are frankly bloody filthy.

 

[GSD Woman]

What about frogs? They would eat the larvae and be a plus since so many amphibians are disappearing.