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Fish

Mollies (Poecilia)

Poecilia 'Gold Wag Sailfin Molly'

   The Gold Wag 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. We began developing this stain in 1999 from our Gold Sailfin Molly by selecting for black fins and clear gold bodies. Additionally, we out-crossed these fish to P. latipinna, Coleto Creek and P. latipinna, Rio San Antonio to improve hardiness and dorsal fin size. Our breeding efforts suffered a setback in 2003 when Hurricane Claudette destroyed our breeding facility and killed some of our breeding stock.

Description: Both sexes have gold bodies and fins with occasional black spots. We are trying to breed out the black entirely. 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. The top photo is a mature male showing the coloration of the original breeding male that we began working with in 1999.  The second photo is our present breeding male. He has much better black coverage in his fins and fewer black spots on the body. The third photo is of a mature female showing the current coloration of our female breeders. The bottom picture is of the same male in the top photo with his dorsal down and a female (top fish), which is representative of the original selection. We continue to select for fish with blacker fins and no black spots on the body.

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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