Goliad, Texas 77963
Fax 361.645.2258
Email goliadfish@goliadfarms.com
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Goliad Farms, LP | 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)
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A wide-ranging and successful genus, Poecilia are found naturally from South America through Central America, the Caribbean islands, North America's Gulf Coast and up the US Eastern Seaboard to the Carolinas. They occupy both freshwater and saltwater. One member of the genus, the guppy, has been introduced in tropical areas all over the world and has become established in warm springs in cold weather areas such as the mountains of Northern New Mexico. Mollies are a group of closely related species that are members of the family Poeciliidae (the so-called "live-bearing toothed carps"). The live-bearing toothed carps are most closely related to the "egg-bearing toothed carps" which include the "killifishes", (click here for information concerning killifishes). Poeciliidae includes such common aquarium fish as guppies, swordtails, platies, and, as well, the mollies. Mollies are members of the genus Poecilia which also includes the guppy. The name "molly" originated with the original genus that mollies were placed in: Mollienesia. The members of this genus were added to the genus Poecilia at the same the guppy (originally in the genus Lebistes was moved to that genus. The abbreviaton "molly" stuck with the fish. Most mollies maintained in captivity are hybrids of two or more species of mollies or are manmade aquarium strains. A large range of color and fin type mutations have been identified and set in the myriad aquarium strains. The other common member of the genus Poecilia, the guppy, is so variable that only the goldfish and Betta splendens rivals them in color and finnage combinations. Guppies are so popular that they have their own hobbyist group (click here to go to the International Fancy Guppy Association webpage). Mollies are generally peaceful and retiring, although conspecific males often battle for access to females. While male mollies can be somewhat quarrelsome, this translates to beautiful threat displays but usually not much damage. Males can drive females hard, but the solution to that is multiple females to each male. Mollies almost never molest other species. While some of the larger mollies have somewhat exacting requirements (a much overstated reputation for sensivity), most Poecilia are very tolerant of water conditions. Also, mollies are not picky about foods. They do not require live foods (although live foods are beneficial). Most appreciate some vegetable matter in their diets. Unlike many attractive, exotic fishes, mollies are not difficult to breed. Most healthy adult females deliver broods of relatively large fry monthly. Fry rearing is not difficult and with a little practice nearly anyone can grow them to maturity. Rearing quality fish that are representative of their strain is, however, very difficult. Mollies come in two basic types: Most mollies that are maintained in captivity are hybrids of two species of mollies. The small-finned varieties are predominantly Poecilia sphenops and the sailfinned varieties mostly P. latipinna probably with some influence from P. velifera. The short-finned mollies come in a variety of commercially developed strains. There are lyretail and veiltail mutations and large range of colors including black, gold, orange, yellow, etc. The sailfinned mollies come in the same variety of lyretail and veiltail mutations and colors. The males of these varieties sport the immense sailfins of their wild ancestors, P. latipinna and possibly P. velifera. These massive sailfins are used by the males to intimidate other males and to impress potential mates. While the sailfinned mollies have a reputation of having somewhat exacting requirements, most are actually very tolerant of water conditions. Mollies tolerate a large range of pHs, temperatures and water hardness. Mollies are not picky about foods. They do not require live foods (although live foods are beneficial), but do appreciate vegetable matter in their diets. For additional information and a list of resources about the genus Poecilia, click here or click on one of the following: American
Livebearer Association One advantage of keeping and raising mollies is the large international community that shares your interest. Every hobbyist should join one or more of the above non- profit organizations. Membership brings a wealth of information in the form of monthly publications and provides ready sources of fish. For additional information and a list of resources about mollies, click here to go to our library or click on one of the following organization names: American
Livebearer Association (ALA) For articles about mollies, click on one of the following article names: The Livebearer Column - Mollies by Dwight Moody One advantage of keeping and raising mollies is the large international community that shares your interest. Every hobbyist should join one or more of the above non- profit organizations. Membership brings a wealth of information in the form of monthly publications and provides ready sources for hard to get fish. Below are the varieties that Goliad Farms produces. Click on the name to see a description of a particular variety.
In addition to the species/varieties listed above, we are working to develop a hardy albino sailfin, a blue sailfin, a black delta sailfin, an orange sailfin and others. Occasionally among our stock, an albino arises. We mated one such young male with some of our Gold Freckle Sailfin molly females. The F1 generation (all non-albino as expected) has been retained and are now producing some albino fry. Albinos tend to be less hardy than their normal pigmented siblings, so we will segregate them until we've accumulated a group from which we can select the most vigorous albinos. These will be set up as our other molly breeding colonies and production will begin. All of their offspring will be albino. Each generation only the most vigorous will be bred until we are satisfied with the strain. For several years we have been working on a blue sailfin molly. We had a fairly good set of breeders until Hurricane Claudette destroyed them in July 2003. Fortunately, we had back up breeders and the program continues. We hope to produce a solid turquoise-blue fish with some orange in the dorsal and caudal fins and perhaps on the head. Once when sorting our Black Sailfin mollies, we discovered a young male with an enlarged caudal. Unlike the guppy-tailed mollies presently available, its caudal is symmetrical. We gave the male a group of his sisters and some Black Sailfin Lyretail females (hoping the lyretail characteristic might be synergistic). We are now breeding him back to some of his granddaughters. So far, we have not gotten any enlarged caudals in his offspring. We will continue mating him to his offspring until we get enlarged caudals or he dies. We hope to recreate the beautiful delta guppy-tail mollies developed by Joanne Norton. Unfortunately, it seems her strain was lost. If anyone has access to nice, symmetrical guppy-tailed mollies, please email us. Occasionally, a fish with a bright, clear orange color arises in our Bronze Sailfin molly strain. We've segregated some of these and are breeding for increased orange coverage and brightness. We are making some progress. Page last modified December 24, 2007. |
those with small dorsal fins and