Pecilia blacktail

Pecilia black-tailed, trade English name Wagtail Platy (in translation – wagtail). It is considered the most popular, even textbook, variety of Pecilia. It is with her that this group of fish is associated. It has a red, orange or golden body color with contrasting black fins and a tail. According to the main color, it is also often called Red Pecilia or Yellow (golden) Pecilia, although these names refer to separate varieties.

Maintenance and care

Small moving fish. It is distinguished by a peaceful disposition and the ability to live in various conditions, due to which it can be compatible with a large number of species. Prefers warm, slightly alkaline water with medium to high GH values. For a group of 3-4 fish, an aquarium of 60-70 liters will suffice, subject to regular maintenance and equipped with an effective filtration system.

Brief information:

• The volume of the aquarium – from 60 liters.
• Temperature – 20-28°C
• Value pH — 7.0–8.2
• Water hardness – medium to high hardness (10-30 GH)
• Substrate type – any
• Lighting – moderate or bright
• Brackish water – acceptable at a concentration of 5-10 grams per liter of water
• Water movement – light or moderate
• The size of the fish is 5–7 cm.
• Food – any food
• Temperament – peaceful
• Content alone, in pairs or in a group

Food. Will accept most popular dry, frozen and live foods. A good choice would be food designed for Pecilia, produced by many manufacturers. Feed 2-3 times a day with the amount eaten within 5 minutes. This is very important as fish tend to overeat and leftover food left uneaten will pollute the water. The main thesis is that it is better to underfeed than to overfeed.

Breeding / reproduction. In the presence of a sexually mature male and female, fry will appear regularly. The incubation period usually lasts about 4–6 weeks. It is with this interval that replenishment occurs. It is worth remembering that fish can interbreed with other varieties, giving hybrid offspring.

The history of the origin of the variety

The history of Blacktail Pecilia began in the 1940s in New York in the laboratory of biologist Myron Gordon.

During one of their expeditions to tropical Mexico, he found a small fish of the genus Xiphophorus, which has black edges on its fins and tail. Later it was called “Comet” Platy, which means – Pecilia comet.

In an extended article in Aquarium magazine (August, 1940), Dr. Gordon recalled: “When we first discovered this fish in Mexico, the first thought that came to our mind was that it was another specimen among the huge genetic diversity of Paecilians. At that time, she interested me only as an object for the study of genetics. The aquarium fish dealers who accompanied our expedition did not see it as a commercially successful species.”

Returning to New York, the fish in his laboratory Myron Gordon did not separate the “Comet” Platy, but placed it in an aquarium with other varieties of Platy. A month later, the fish gave unexpectedly colorful offspring. The fry had not only black fins, but also a contrasting pattern of specks all over the body and head. The new variety was named Wagtail Platy (Pecilia black-tailed).

This species acquired its final form on commercial fish farms. In the course of selection, specks from the body were eliminated, and crossing with Red and Golden platies gave the body reddish and yellow shades, respectively, while maintaining black fins.