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

The Pigeon Blood Lyretail Sailfin Molly is an aquarium strain of hybrid mollies. Parental species include Poecilia latipinna (click here for information about this species), P. sphenops and possibly other molly species (click here for information about mollies). The Lyretail designation indicates that the fish carry an aquarium mutation causing the formation of a lyretail (the top and bottom of the caudal has long extensions). The "sp." designation indicates that this fish is a hybrid of unknown origin within the genus Poecilia and not a natural species. The strain was named because the color pattern reminded the author of the pigeon blood Discus. We developed this fish from some color mutations that occurred in our Pigeon Blood Sailfin Molly strain, which we no longer raise but whose genes also survive in this strain. We started with a male gold sailfin molly that we purchased from Clark's Pet Emporium in Albuquerque, New Mexico. We crossed him to our wild P. latipinna, Coleto Creek and P. latipinna, Rio San Antonio females to improve hardiness and dorsal fin characteristics. From those crosses we developed the Pigeon Blood Sailfin Molly mentioned above. We crossed those fish to some lyretail mollies and line bred to produce this true breeding strain.

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

Description: Both sexes have pinkish bodies and fins with black and orange-gold spots. Males also often have orange heads and fronts of the body. The male's caudal (tail) sometimes has sky blue highlights. Both sexes sport a "lyretail". The dorsal fin is immense. The top photo is a very young (about three months old) male just starting to grow his large sailfin. The bottom photo is a of mature female. She doesn't have much of the black speckling that we select for.

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 30C (85F), 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 adults tend to be fry eaters, so the fry should be removed from the adults as soon as possible. The male uses its immense dorsal fin during courtship.

Additional Information: None at present.

Additional Photos: None at present.

Page last modified June 14, 2006