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. 'Gold Nugget Sailfin Molly' 
The Gold Nugget
Sailfin Molly is a North American livebearer related to and in the same genus, Poecilia,
as the guppy and other mollies. ( Click here for a
general discussion of the genus Poecilia.) (
Click here for a general discussion of mollies.) Most commercial strains of
mollies have mixed heritage, including ancestors from P.
latipinna, P. velifera, P. sphenops and P. mexicana.
This fish has substantial P. velifera ancestry. The top photo is
of a young male who is just beginning to develop his large dorsal fin. The
bottom picture is a mature female. We acquired this strain from a commercial
source in 2003. We continue to improve the strain by selecting for a solid
coverage of bright orange-gold with turquoise highlights in the fins.
Size: Males often reach 12.5cm (5 in.). Females are somewhat larger and much heavier. Description: Both sexes have bright gold bodies and fins. Some fish have irregular black blotches scattered over the body and fins. We consider this a fault and are selecting against it. Males sport the immense sailfin of its P. velifera ancestors.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). This species can tolerate full marine water and likes some salt added to its water.  Geographic Range: This fish
has no natural range, but of its ancestors hail from North 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. It survives very well with non-predatory African cichlids. 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).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 mature females. Like other Poeciliidae, the females 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 are not significant fry eaters, so the fry can be reared with the adults. The fry will, however, usually grow faster if removed from the adults. The male uses its immense dorsal fin during courtship. Additional Information: For more information about this species, click on one of the following article names:The Livebearer Column - Mollies by Dwight Moody Additional Photos: For additional photos of this species, click on one of the following photo locations: Page last modified May 16, 2007. Copyright © 2007, Goliad Farms, Inc. |
