Sailfin mollies are native to the US but are "exotic" in the San Antonio
drainage. They were accidentally introduced in 1939 from Florida stock when
the ponds of a local fish breeder (Mr. E.E. Shiner) flooded into Alazan
Creek, a tributary of the San Antonio (Coincidentally - it was Mr. Shiner's
dad who introduced the Mexican or Rio Grande tetra to the San Antonio in
1908). Other stockings of sailfin mollies (deliberate) took place at about
the same time in the Comal River using Louisiana fish.
Mollies (P. latipinna and P. formosa) are now common in old bendways,
tributary mouths, and throughout the river, especially in lower portions of
Mission Reach. One easily accessible and collected area is the main channel
at Lone Star Boulevard (near the abandoned brewery). Mollies are readily
dip-netted along the margins of the stream or in the mouths of water
diversion canals (look for palm trees). I assume you will need a fishing
license since you would be collecting them using the same techniques as for
"bait."
Much of the adjacent land on the San Antonio is private property,
city-owned, or National Park Service land. Be sure to get permission before
collecting !
-----Original Message-----
From: Denkhaus, Robert
Sent: Saturday, September 06, 2003 10:29 AM
To: NANFA (E-mail)
Subject: NANFA-- FW: Poecilia latipinna
Does anyone have any specific locations that I can send in response to the
email below?
Thanks,
Rob Denkhaus
Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge
> I was in San Antonio 2 years ago
> and visited the zoo there. While admiring the birds I
> noticed a school of fish in the surrounding moats that were
> flashing brilliant blues and oranges. Upon questioning the
> staff they informed me that they were a locally caught native
> fish, Poecilia latipinna. I could not convince them to let
> go of a couple pair and have not been able to find them
> available on the internet on the NANFA pages. I am
> travelling back to San Antonio in early October would like to
> collect a couple pair while I am in the area. I need to know
> if I will have to purchase a fishing license, what type of
> gear I will need and where I can go to collect these fish and
> if they are an endangered or threatened species. Can you
> provide any information or additional contacts?
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