TankBud

One species · 1 variety

Sailfin molly

Poecilia latipinna

FreshwaterBrackishFish

Sailfin molly (Poecilia latipinna)
(c) Nick Tobler (Cowturtle), some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC BY 4.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
70–79°F
21–26°C
pH
7.0–8.0
Adult size
4.7 in
12 cm
Minimum tank
24 gal
90 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Swim level
Middle
Diet
Omnivore
Difficulty
Easy
Breeding
Livebearer · Easy
Rarity
Very common
Family
Poeciliidae
Origin
United States, Mexico

Pick a variety

One setup covers every line on this page: care is the species' care.

Overview

The sailfin molly is one of the larger mollies, a mostly peaceful livebearer for a roomy community tank. It is easy to keep.

Did you know

Male sailfin mollies flare their big sail fin in a side-on display to impress females and warn off rival males. The fin is far larger than the common molly's. Getting it to develop fully takes good food and space while the male is growing.

Caring for the sailfin molly

Sailfin mollies are social and do best in a group with more females than males. Give them a tank of at least 24 gal (90 L) to suit their size, with open swimming room. They cruise the middle and upper water.

They like warm, hard, alkaline water at 70 to 79°F (21 to 26°C) and a pH of 7.0 to 8.0. Sailfin mollies tolerate a wide salinity range, from fresh to brackish. Some keepers add a little marine salt, though the freshwater form does not strictly need it.

Sailfin mollies graze a lot, so include algae and vegetable matter in their diet. Add flake and the odd live or frozen treat.

They are mostly peaceful and safe in a community tank, though males can get pushy with each other. Mature males are easy to spot by their tall, sail-like dorsal fin.

Sailfin mollies bear live young rather than laying eggs. A female can produce a brood every few weeks, and breeding them is easy.

Good to know

The sailfin molly, Poecilia latipinna, belongs to the livebearer family Poeciliidae. It usually lives two to three years.

In the wild

Sailfin mollies come from the coastal lowlands of the southern United States and Mexico. They live in brackish marshes, ditches and slow streams, in warm water with plenty of algae to graze.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

Every variety on this page wants the same water, so one set of picks fits them all. These picks match on water type, temperature, pH, size and temperament.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does a sailfin molly need?

A sailfin molly needs at least 24 gal (90 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a sailfin molly need?

A sailfin molly is comfortable at 70–79°F (21–26°C) with a pH of 7.0–8.0.

What does a sailfin molly eat?

A sailfin molly grazes a lot and needs algae and vegetable matter. Add flake and the odd live or frozen treat.

How big does a sailfin molly get?

An adult sailfin molly reaches about 4.7 in (12 cm).

How can you tell a male sailfin molly from a female?

Males grow a tall, sail-like dorsal fin as they mature, which makes them easy to spot.

How does a sailfin molly breed?

A sailfin molly gives birth to live young instead of laying eggs. Breeding it is easy, and a female can produce a brood every few weeks.

Related species