Re: NANFA-- Black Hets./Black Mollies

Leo Arieux (HOLLIS1506-in-webtv.net)
Sat, 15 May 2004 08:46:52 -0500

Re: The Origin of Black Mollies

To my knowledge it was developed in the very early 1900's supposedly by
a german fish breeder in New Orleans (Mr. Schomburg) , who had a
commercial fish farm (Crescent Fish Farm). I had aquarium magazines
where he advertized a trio of black mollies for sale (in 1919) for 25.00
which was a fortune-in-that time.

However these were NOT the puny black mollies for sale in LFS's today.
His were truly giants, the males were 5" long with a very large dorsal
fin toped by a milk chocolate edge and the females were 6" or more long
and round in proportion to the length.

I remember going to his retail/wholesale outlet on Mandeville St. when I
was 11 or 12 (using public transportation), His place was like a fish
fantasy land for a kid my age. There were indoor ponds, tanks very
large and small and bowls with fish of all types and descriptions many,
I had only seen in Innes' book. I'd spend an hour or more, buy my 1 or
2 fish and go home. It was worth going there even if you bought nothing
! ... now where can you do that today? :-) I am not certain which
mollies were bred to get his black molly, but I do know it was a
combination of "a couple of molly species".

Hope this information helps and stay well,

Leo

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