| Revision as of 15:54, 8 January 2025 editSurtsicna (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users130,758 edits ←Created page with 'A '''fancy molly''' is any of the breeds of mollies (''Mollienesia'' subgenus of ''Poecilia''), which are popularly kept as aquarium pets. Mollies entered the fishkeeping hobby around 1905. The identity of the species from which the fancy mollies originate is difficult to ascertain.<ref name="Frank"/> Fancy mollies were produced through the hybridization of ''Poecilia sphenops'' with other molly species....'Tag: Disambiguation links added | Latest revision as of 10:51, 9 January 2025 edit undoSurtsicna (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users130,758 editsNo edit summary | ||
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| A '''fancy molly''' is any of the ]s of mollies ('']'' subgenus of '']''), which are popularly kept as ] pets. | |||
| A '''fancy molly''' is any of the domestic strains of mollies ('']'' subgenus of '']''), which are ] fish popularly kept as ] pets. The origin of the fancy mollies is unclear, with '']'', '']'', '']'', and '']'' commonly named as ]. Fancy mollies are widespread in ]s across the world and commonly marketed as good beginner fish. | |||
| Mollies entered the ] hobby around 1905. The identity of the species from which the fancy mollies originate is difficult to ascertain.<ref name="Frank"/> | |||
| ==Origins== | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| Mollies entered the ] hobby around 1905. The identity of the species from which the fancy mollies originate is difficult to ascertain because early aquarists crossbred any mollies available to them. In 1969 Kurt Jacobs credited "Crescenty in New Orleans" with developing the '''black molly''' through seven years of ] of "''Mollienesia formosa''" (today synonym for '']'').<ref name="Frank"/> John A. Dawes considers it unlikely that the black molly is derived from ''P. formosa'' because ''P. formosa'' is an all-female species which reproduces exclusively through ].<ref name="Dawes">{{cite book | last=Dawes | first=J.A. | title=A practical guide to keeping freshwater aquarium fishes | publisher=Exeter | year=1987 | isbn=978-0-671-09309-9 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QsP1oQjUNygC | access-date=8 January 2025 | page=}}</ref> ], a pioneering aquarist, recorded that he had received black-spotted mollies from Panama, and ] identified them as ''Mollienesia formosa''. The identification of ] as the place of collection of this "''Mollienesia formosa''" points to the species in question being '']''.<ref name="Frank"/> | |||
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| Bill Allen, writing for the '']'', doubts that an aquarist named Crescenty ever existed, and suggests that the black molly was produced by several breeders who worked independently in the 1920s and 1930s. Allen notes that one of the first breeders offering black mollies was Bill Schomberg of Crescent Fish Farm in ]. Black mollies were simultaneously bred by Florida fish farmers Jack Beater and Bill Sternke, among others.<ref name="Allen">{{cite web | title=Types of Molly Fish | website=Tropical Fish Hobbyist Magazine | first= Bill| last= Allen| url=https://www.tfhmagazine.com/articles/saltwater/magnificent-mollies-full-article | access-date=8 January 2025}}</ref> The early black mollies were small, with females reaching only {{convert|5-6|cm|abbr=on}} and males {{convert|4-5|cm|abbr=on}}, and were extremely sensitive. They were difficult to breed, producing only 2-20 fry per litter and rarely up to 60. These fish are then said to have been crossed with the wild "]", producing similarly sized fish with shiny green scales and a rounded ].<ref name="Frank"/> | |||
| ⚫ | The black molly is frequently defined in aquarium literature as a breeding form of ''P. sphenops'', but black mollies comprise fish with differing ]s.<ref name="Frank"/> Ichthyologist ] attributed the creation of the black molly to the ] of the shortfin '']'' and the sailfin '']''. He explains that the high-finned breeds were created by adding '']'' to the cross.<ref name="Balon">{{cite journal | last=Balon | first=Eugene K. | title=The oldest domesticated fishes, and the consequences of an epigenetic dichotomy in fish culture. | journal=Aqua: Journal of Ichthyology & Aquatic Biology | publisher=Aquapress Publisher | volume=11 | issue=2 | date=1 April 2006 | issn=0945-9871 | pages=47–87 | url=https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA155569282&sid=googleScholar&v=2.1&it=r&linkaccess=abs&issn=09459871&p=AONE&sw=w&userGroupName=anon~38dc755b&aty=open-web-entry | access-date=7 January 2025}}</ref> | ||
| ⚫ | Fancy mollies are cheap and ubiquitous fish in ]s worldwide. They |
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| == Varieties== | |||
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| A wide array of fancy molly colors have been developed in addition to the classic black molly.<ref name="Allen"/> | |||
| *'''Marbled mollies''' have black blotches, which is a trait found in some wild fish as well. The fully black fish were created by breeding the fish with the largest blotches. The marbled mollies are also traded as '''salt-and-pepper mollies''' or '''Dalmatian mollies'''.<ref name="Allen"/> | |||
| *'''Albino mollies''' are golden-yellow and pink eyes as a result of ]. They tend to have poor eyesight.<ref name="Allen"/> | |||
| *'''Gold mollies''' are yellow-gold like albino mollies but have dark eyes and occasionally scales edged in red.<ref name="Allen"/> | |||
| *'''Silver mollies''' have had all pigments but silver eliminated through ].<ref name="Allen"/> | |||
| *'''Chocolate mollies''' exhibit brown rather than black coloration.<ref name="Allen"/> | |||
| In addition to the colors, fancy mollies differ in the shape of their fins.<ref name="Allen"/> | |||
| *'''Lyretail mollies''' have extended upper and lower ends of the ].<ref name="Allen"/> | |||
| *'''Veiltail mollies''' have an enlarged caudal fin.<ref name="Allen"/> | |||
| Color and fin shape are inherited independently and therefore any combination of color and fin shape is possible.<ref name="Allen"/> | |||
| '''Balloon mollies''' are a small variety with an extremely deformed abdominal cavity. These mollies are poor swimmers, and due to their deformity have sometimes been cited as examples of ].<ref name="Allen"/> | |||
| ==Husbandry== | |||
| ⚫ | Fancy mollies are cheap and ubiquitous fish in ]s worldwide. They are marketed as easy fish for beginners in ]. In the aquarium, they can be aggressive to other mollies and to ], but are usually peaceful to other fish. Black mollies are sensitive to the buildup of bacteria and ] and do not tolerate ]. Suboptimal conditions quickly cause the fish to clamp their fins and rock their bodies, a condition known as shimmying.<ref name="Frank">{{cite web | first= Frank |last=Schäfer|title=Wer kennt das Volk der Mollienser?|url=https://www.aqualog.de/blog/wer-kennt-das-volk-der-mollienser/ | website = aqualog.de | language=de| date = 19 August 2022| access-date=8 January 2025}}</ref> | ||
| ==References== | ==References== | ||
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Latest revision as of 10:51, 9 January 2025
A fancy molly is any of the domestic strains of mollies (Mollienesia subgenus of Poecilia), which are livebearer fish popularly kept as aquarium pets. The origin of the fancy mollies is unclear, with P. sphenops, P. gillii, P. latipinna, and P. velifera commonly named as parent species. Fancy mollies are widespread in pet stores across the world and commonly marketed as good beginner fish.
Origins
Mollies entered the fishkeeping hobby around 1905. The identity of the species from which the fancy mollies originate is difficult to ascertain because early aquarists crossbred any mollies available to them. In 1969 Kurt Jacobs credited "Crescenty in New Orleans" with developing the black molly through seven years of selective breeding of "Mollienesia formosa" (today synonym for Poecilia formosa). John A. Dawes considers it unlikely that the black molly is derived from P. formosa because P. formosa is an all-female species which reproduces exclusively through gynogenesis. Arthur Rachow, a pioneering aquarist, recorded that he had received black-spotted mollies from Panama, and Charles Tate Regan identified them as Mollienesia formosa. The identification of Lake Gatun as the place of collection of this "Mollienesia formosa" points to the species in question being P. gillii.
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Bill Allen, writing for the Tropical Fish Hobbyist, doubts that an aquarist named Crescenty ever existed, and suggests that the black molly was produced by several breeders who worked independently in the 1920s and 1930s. Allen notes that one of the first breeders offering black mollies was Bill Schomberg of Crescent Fish Farm in New Orleans. Black mollies were simultaneously bred by Florida fish farmers Jack Beater and Bill Sternke, among others. The early black mollies were small, with females reaching only 5–6 cm (2.0–2.4 in) and males 4–5 cm (1.6–2.0 in), and were extremely sensitive. They were difficult to breed, producing only 2-20 fry per litter and rarely up to 60. These fish are then said to have been crossed with the wild "liberty molly", producing similarly sized fish with shiny green scales and a rounded dorsal fin.
The black molly is frequently defined in aquarium literature as a breeding form of P. sphenops, but black mollies comprise fish with differing pedigrees. Ichthyologist Eugene K. Balon attributed the creation of the black molly to the crossbreeding of the shortfin P. sphenops and the sailfin P. latipinna. He explains that the high-finned breeds were created by adding P. velifera to the cross.
Varieties
A wide array of fancy molly colors have been developed in addition to the classic black molly.
- Marbled mollies have black blotches, which is a trait found in some wild fish as well. The fully black fish were created by breeding the fish with the largest blotches. The marbled mollies are also traded as salt-and-pepper mollies or Dalmatian mollies.
- Albino mollies are golden-yellow and pink eyes as a result of not producing color pigment. They tend to have poor eyesight.
- Gold mollies are yellow-gold like albino mollies but have dark eyes and occasionally scales edged in red.
- Silver mollies have had all pigments but silver eliminated through selective breeding.
- Chocolate mollies exhibit brown rather than black coloration.
In addition to the colors, fancy mollies differ in the shape of their fins.
- Lyretail mollies have extended upper and lower ends of the caudal fin.
- Veiltail mollies have an enlarged caudal fin.
Color and fin shape are inherited independently and therefore any combination of color and fin shape is possible.
Balloon mollies are a small variety with an extremely deformed abdominal cavity. These mollies are poor swimmers, and due to their deformity have sometimes been cited as examples of cruelty to animals.
Husbandry
Fancy mollies are cheap and ubiquitous fish in pet stores worldwide. They are marketed as easy fish for beginners in fishkeeping. In the aquarium, they can be aggressive to other mollies and to swordtails, but are usually peaceful to other fish. Black mollies are sensitive to the buildup of bacteria and nitrogen compounds and do not tolerate soft water. Suboptimal conditions quickly cause the fish to clamp their fins and rock their bodies, a condition known as shimmying.
References
- ^ Schäfer, Frank (19 August 2022). "Wer kennt das Volk der Mollienser?". aqualog.de (in German). Retrieved 8 January 2025.
- Dawes, J.A. (1987). A practical guide to keeping freshwater aquarium fishes. Exeter. ISBN 978-0-671-09309-9. Retrieved 8 January 2025.
- ^ Allen, Bill. "Types of Molly Fish". Tropical Fish Hobbyist Magazine. Retrieved 8 January 2025.
- Balon, Eugene K. (1 April 2006). "The oldest domesticated fishes, and the consequences of an epigenetic dichotomy in fish culture". Aqua: Journal of Ichthyology & Aquatic Biology. 11 (2). Aquapress Publisher: 47–87. ISSN 0945-9871. Retrieved 7 January 2025.