Sailfins

[scruffy]

I have some questions about breeding sail fin mollies. I read in a book that male sail fins required a lower temperature to retard sexual maturation in order to get the large sail fin. My second batch of sail fin molly fry is almost 6 weeks old and I am able to detect gonopodiums on the boys even though they are 1/4 to ½ inches long. This was not the case with the last batch of babies. I did raise the temp a few weeks ago to help a sick and then forgot about it. Can’t remember what temp since the stealth heater doesn’t have readable numbers on it and my stick-on thermometer is shot.

Does this mean they have already reached poeciliad puberty and won’t be getting the big sailfins? At what age does the gonopodium supposed to develop? Is the temp needed for the big fins a healthy one? Even though I don’t expect much when I finally give them to the pet store, I want to do things right.

By the way, has anyone ever seen a 1 month old guppy with a gravid spot? She was in the same tank with the baby mollies.

[Kuli_Loach]

It takes one year for the males to get his whole sail.

[scruffy]

I won't worry about them not having sailfins now, but does temp really affect sailfin development?

[Algenco]

I remember hearing years ago that they would only achieve the big sails in ponds, don't know personally if there is any truth to that but, it may be the temps in the ponds

[Kuli_Loach]

You can add salt to make it brackish, they like salt and that should help with the development. No they don't have to be in a pond, just well taken care of.