Mosquitofish Giveaway Event This Weekend in Fishhawk to Help Fight Mosquito Breeding this Summer

Hillsborough County, Fla. (June 2, 2026) - Hillsborough's Mosquito Management team will be in Fishhawk this Saturday, June 6, from 8 a.m. to noon giving away free mosquitofish and providing information about how residents can protect themselves this summer.

The event will be held at the FishHawk Sports Complex at 16000 Fishhawk Blvd., Lithia, FL 33547.

As rains have picked up over the past couple of weeks, many neighborhoods are beginning to see increased numbers of mosquitoes. Mosquitofish eat mosquito larvae and help control the population of mosquitoes.

During the past few years, thousands of Hillsborough residents have taken mosquitofish home to combat mosquito larvae in ponds and other intentional standing water features.

Most of the mosquitofish given away at these events were raised in custom-built aquaculture tanks at Mosquito Management Services to help ensure that they can continue providing healthy fish for residents.

During the events, Hillsborough families also can join the Mosquito Management team at the mobile education lab, which helps residents better understand mosquito behavior so they can fight mosquito populations in their own backyard. Florida Department of Health personnel will be there to distribute more information about mosquito-borne diseases.

The schedule features giveaways once per month through August.

• FishHawk Sports Complex - 16000 Fishhawk Blvd., Lithia, FL 33547
  June 6, 8 a.m. to noon.
• Jan Kaminis Platt Regional Library - 3910 S. Manhattan Ave., Tampa, FL 33611
  July 18, 8 a.m. to noon
• Northdale Park and Recreation Center - 15510 Hooting Owls Pl., Tampa, FL 33624
  Aug. 15, 8 a.m. to noon.

Things to know about the event

• To receive fish, residents must present a valid photo ID showing residence in Hillsborough County.
• Staff will scan or enter your ID information into the County's mosquito database. After that step is completed, you can go inside the mobile education lab to learn more about mosquitoes or the next station to receive your mosquitofish.
• There are limited quantities. Mosquitofish are available while supplies last.

Mosquitofish facts

• Mosquitofish are small, native freshwater fish that primarily eat mosquito larvae and pupae.
• Place fish in standing water such as backyard ponds, fountains, rain barrels, animal troughs, and unused swimming pools to effectively and naturally manage mosquito populations.
• They require no feeding, and care is limited to protecting them from garden sprays, chlorine, or other chemicals used for cleaning.
• Mosquitofish do not lay eggs and require no special environment for breeding.
• Mosquitofish reproduce quickly once introduced into an applicable habitat, capable of sustaining themselves in the desired environment if conditions are ideal.