Goliad, Texas 77963
Fax 361.645.2258
Email goliadfish@goliadfarms.com
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Goliad Farms, INC. | 8497 FM 622 Goliad, Texas 77963 |
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361.645.2252 Fax 361.645.2258 Email goliadfish@goliadfarms.com |
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Contents
Fish
Mollies (Poecilia) |
Poecilia sp. 'Black Lyretail Sailfin Molly' 
The Black Lyretail Sailfin Molly, is an aquarium strain of hybrid mollies.
Parental species include Poecilia latipinna (click
here for information about this species), P. sphenops and
possibly other molly species (click here
for information about mollies). The lack of a species name here
indicates that this fish is a hybrid of unknown origin within the genus Poecilia
and not a natural species. The top photo is a young, but sexually mature,
male of about five months of age. While it is
difficult to see in this photo, he sports and orange margin on his dorsal. The
second photo is the same male about two later. He has grown and his body has
gained mass and his dorsal is larger. The bottom photo is a mature female about six months old. We
originally acquired this strain from a commercial source in 1999. We out crossed
those original fish to our P. latipinna,
Coleto Creek and P. latipinna,
Rio San Antonio fish to improve the dorsal fins.Size: Males reach 12.5cm (5 in.). Females grow somewhat larger and much heavier. Description: Both sexes have solid black bodies and fins. The male's dorsal fin is immense, often showing a thin orange distal margin. Both sexes sport the lyretail that gives the strain its name. The lyretail characteristic is controlled by a dominant gene. This gene originally occurred in fish of P. sphenops heritage and, therefore, all mollies with the characteristic carry genes. Since this species has males with small dorsals, most lyretails don't have sailfin dorsal fins. We have diligently worked to improve dorsal size through selection and out-crossing to P. latipinna.
Geographic Range: This fish has no natural range since it is a hybrid among species that range from the Carolinas to Central America. Temperament: This fish is not aggressive (although males can be quarrelsome among themselves) and is active. It can be kept either in a large single species aquarium or in active community aquaria with rainbowfish, other livebearers or other fish with similar behavior and requirements. Feeding: Feeding is simple with the fish taking prepared foods as well as live and frozen foods. Periodic feedings of Daphnia or other live foods are helpful in color maintenance, general health and breeding. This species also requires vegetable material in its diet that can be supplied by feeding a commercial food or by providing algae, lettuce, cucumbers or fine leaved aquatic plants (Lemna, duckweed, is a good food).
Additional
Information: For more information about this species, click on one of
the following article names: Additional Photos: None at present. Page last modified May 16, 2007. Copyright © 2007, Goliad Farms, Inc. |
Environment:
This fish tolerates pHs from 6.5 to 8.0 while preferring the higher end
(basic) of this range. Water hardness is not critical, but it prefers hard
water. Optimum temperature ranges from 20-30°C (68-85°F).
Spawning:
This livebearer breeds like other members of its genus. At 30°C (85°F),
broods are delivered about every 28 days. Broods can be as large as 200
fry for large females. Like other Poeciliidae, the females of this species
can store sperm and have as many as 8 broods from a single mating. The fry
are large and can eat commercial food, Daphnia, brine shrimp nauplii, etc. immediately. The adults tend to be fry eaters, so the fry
should be removed from the adults as soon as possible. The male uses its
immense dorsal fin during courtship.