Sailfin molly
Poecilia latipinna
- Adult size
- 8 cm3 in
- Start with
- 3
- Tank length
- 32 cm13 in
- Lifespan
- 3–5 yrs
- Temperature
- 20–28 °C68–82 °F
- pH
- 5.5–7.8
- Hardness
- 1–15 dGH
- Diet
- omnivore
Needs hard, alkaline water and room for sailfin males to display; breeds readily, so plan for fry.Needs hard, alkaline water and room for sailfin males to display; breeds readily, so plan for fry.
Tank sizes
Good tankmates
Avoid with
- African pike
African pike may eat Sailfin mollyAfrican pike may eat Sailfin molly
- Alligator gar
Alligator gar may eat Sailfin mollyAlligator gar may eat Sailfin molly
- Antenna ray
Antenna ray may eat Sailfin mollyAntenna ray may eat Sailfin molly
- Arapaima
Arapaima may eat Sailfin mollyArapaima may eat Sailfin molly
- Asian arowana
Asian arowana may eat Sailfin mollyAsian arowana may eat Sailfin molly
- Australian pearl arowana
Australian pearl arowana may eat Sailfin mollyAustralian pearl arowana may eat Sailfin molly
- Barred bichir
Barred bichir may eat Sailfin mollyBarred bichir may eat Sailfin molly
- Black bullhead
Black bullhead may eat Sailfin mollyBlack bullhead may eat Sailfin molly
- Black diamond cichlid
Black diamond cichlid may eat Sailfin mollyBlack diamond cichlid may eat Sailfin molly
- Brown bullhead
Brown bullhead may eat Sailfin mollyBrown bullhead may eat Sailfin molly
- Bullseye snakehead
Bullseye snakehead may eat Sailfin mollyBullseye snakehead may eat Sailfin molly
- Butterfly peacock bass
Butterfly peacock bass may eat Sailfin mollyButterfly peacock bass may eat Sailfin molly
Sources
| temperature | 20–28 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04; agrees with FishBase (fishbase.se), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium |
|---|---|---|
| ph | 5.5–7.8 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium |
| gh | 1–15 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium |
| origin | Coastal southeastern USA and northeastern Mexico | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| notes | Needs hard, alkaline water and room for sailfin males to display; breeds readily | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| beginner friendly | true | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| care level | easy | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| color palette | #8A9A9A, #E8C547, #2A2A2A | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| activity | moderate | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| swim zone | top | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| temperament | peaceful | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| fin nipper | false | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| long finned | false | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| territorial | false | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| schooling | false | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| social min | 3 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| schooling min | 1 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| diet | omnivore | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| lifespan years | 3–5 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| growth to adult months | 8 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| length weight | {"a":0.013,"b":3} | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| planted safe | true | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| body shape | livebearer | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |