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Fish

Mollies (Poecilia)

Poecilia sp. 'Gold Wag Lyretail Sailfin Molly'

   The Gold Wag Lyretail Sailfin Molly is an aquarium strain of hybrid mollies. Parental species include Poecilia latipinna (click here for information about this species), P. velifera and possibly other molly species (click here for information about mollies). This fish is a hybrid of unknown origin within the genus Poecilia and not a natural species. This strain was developed by crossing our Gold Wag Sailfin Mollies to a lyretail molly and then selecting for the wag pattern. The top picture is of a mature male (about eight months old). The middle picture is a young male (about three months old)  just beginning to grow his large dorsal. He has less black spotting on his body, which we consider an improvement from his father (the top fish). The bottom photo is a mature female of about six months of age. We continue to select for blacker fins and brighter gold bodies without the black spots these fish display.

Description: Both sexes have gold bodies and black fins . We are trying to breed out the black in the body entirely, while selecting for a more gold body color. Both sexes also show the "wag" pattern, black caudal and dorsal and often the paired fins and the anal fin. Males also often have orange heads and fronts of the body. The male's caudal (tail) sometimes has sky blue highlights. The male's dorsal fin is immense. Both sexes sport the lyretail pattern.

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).

Geographic Range: This fish has no natural range since it is a hybrid among species that range from the Carolinas to Central America.

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 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 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

Page last modified May 16, 2007.

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