Goliad Farms, LP - Poecilia 'Marble Lyretail Sailfin Molly'

The Marble Sailfin Lyretail 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. The top photo is of a mature male of our strain. The grid behind him is in inches and shows just how large our mollies grow. This particular male has a total length (nose to end of tail) of about five inches. The second photo is a mature female.

Size: Males reach 12.5cm (5 in.). Females grow somewhat larger and much heavier.

Description: Male marble sailfin mollies have gray-lavender bodies with many irregular black blotches, the "marbling". Often, the head and front of the body are orange. The caudal (tail) is orange and sky blue. Some males have bluish flanks instead of the normal gray-lavender base color. The male's dorsal is immense and has rows of black bars and an orange margin. Females have gray-green bodies with black marbling. Both sexes sport a lyretail.

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.

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).

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

Additional Photos: None at present.

Page last modified June 14, 2006