Color: RED MOON—deep rich red. GOLD MOON—gold body, red dorsal fin, BLUE
MOON—blue body, black crescent at base of caudal. (Black Crescent
may appear on Red and Gold Moons.) BLACK MOON—black body sometimes
with greenish sheen, also found with red heads, (Black Helmet
Moon), GOLD WAGTAIL—Gold body with black fins and black caudal.
RED WAGTAILS—deep red body with black fins and black caudal.
Breeding Habits: Live bearers—15 to 30 young every 6 to 9 weeks.
Breeding habits same as swordtails, except most young moons come
to top. Cross breeding with swordtail common, producing beautiful
hybrids (HELLERI) larger than either parent and assuming color of
male (MOON).
Temperature: 70° to 80° F. Maturity: 4 to 6 months.
Temperament: Very peaceful. Fry must be kept very warm.
SAILFIN: MOLLIENISIA LATIPINNA
(Southern U. S., Northern Mexico)
[Illustration: About one half size]
Color: Male—body olive green, black stitching; large dorsal fin
(sailfin) lavender and orange spotted with black; caudal, orange
and light blue. Female—similar to male but without large dorsal.
Breeding Habits: Live bearers—have 20 to 100 young at irregular
intervals. All Mollienisia are hardy but females must not be moved
to another tank when young are expected. This frequently causes
young to be born prematurely and few will survive. Moving female
or undue excitement at this time may cause death of female.
Provide ample vegetation in tank. Sailfins are not very
cannibalistic but it is always safest to remove fry for several
weeks. Young are ⅜″ long when born.
Temperature: 45° to 85° F. Breed best at 70° F.
Maturity: 9 months.
Temperament: Very peaceful.
In breeding Mollienisia, no two varieties should be kept in the same
tank as they will cross breed. Each variety should be provided with a
separate tank. (This is also true of the moons). Only very careful
intelligent selective breeding has produced the Black Mollienisia,
later the Sailfin Black Molly, and most recently, Black Molly Sailfin
with an orange bordered dorsal.
BLACK MOLLIENISIA:
(Southern U. S.)
[Illustration: average size]
Color: Both male and female coal black.
Breeding Habits: Live bearers—15 to 25 young born at irregular intervals
throughout the year. Young when born are large and black. Turn
gray in a few weeks and then gradually turn black. Female should
never be moved when young are expected—as this usually results in
loss of young and frequently loss of female. (See Sailfin). Young
are fairly safe with parents if ample floating plants are
provided. “Mollies” are algae eaters. Black Mollienisia have been
crossed with Sailfins producing the beautiful BLACK MOLLIENISIA
SAILFIN.
Temperature: 65° to 80° F. Breed best at 75° F.
Maturity: Good male becomes black in about 6 months. Female about 18
months. Breed at 9 months. Males less hardy.
Temperament: Very peaceful.
“Mollies” are heavy eaters, and largely vegetarians. Some algae should
be present.
MEDAKA: (above) ORYZIAS LATIPES
(China)
[Illustration: average size]
Color: Male and female light lemon yellow. Male slim like
Zebra—sometimes called “Golden Danio.” Female—slightly heavier.
Breeding Habits: Egg layers—these interesting and attractive fish are
the easiest of the egg layers to breed. Eggs cluster about anal
region of female like bunch of grapes. Here they are carried for
several hours and later brushed off on plants where they become
attached. Eggs can be easily seen hanging to plants. Fish seldom
bother eggs but it is safest to remove plants containing eggs to
another jar. Fry hatch in 10 to 14 days. Feed fry infusoria. Never
have snails in tank containing fish eggs.
Temperature: 45° to 80° F. Spawn best at 70° F.
Maturity: Mature in about 6 mos.
Temperament: Very peaceful.