Yucatan Sailfin Molly
Poecilia velifera
Brackish Central America Usually captive bred
A magnificent livebearer renowned for the male's huge dorsal fin displayed during courtship. They thrive best in hard, alkaline or brackish conditions with vegetable-rich fare. Standard freshwater soft water weakens their immune system over time.
Also called: Giant sailfin molly, Sailfin mollie, Sailfin Molly, Sail-fin molly, Yucatan molly.
Try it in the planner Opens a tank sized to its minimum with 4 fish added.
What it needs
| Item | Value | Because |
|---|---|---|
| Adult length | 15 cm | Used for the Space check: the tank must be long enough for the fish to turn round. |
| Smallest tank | 150 L, at least 100 cm long estimated | The least water and floor length this species is kept in for good, as a single fish or smallest group. |
| Extra water per added fish | 20 L estimated | What each further fish adds once the minimum is met. |
| Waste load | Class 3 of 5 estimated | How much waste an adult makes against its size. Feeds the Load check. |
| Temperature | 22 to 28 C | Stock sharing a tank need overlapping ranges. |
| pH | 7.5 to 8.5 | Compared with tankmates in the Water check. |
| Hardness | GH 15 to 30, KH 10 to 25 | Degrees of general and carbonate hardness. |
| Flow | Medium | Low-flow fish are stressed in a strong current. |
| Light | Moderate | Matched to the lighting class on the needs sheet. |
| Group size | At least 4, ideally 6 | Kept alone or in small numbers it hides, fades or turns on tankmates. |
| Temperament | Peaceful | Territorial: weak. |
| Swims in | Upper water | Fish that use different levels share a tank more easily. |
| Lifespan | About 4 years | A fish is a long commitment. |
| Experience | Some experience helps | A guide to how forgiving the species is of mistakes. |
| Jumps | Yes | Keep the tank covered. |
Tags marked estimated are judged from the size and habits of the species rather than measured, so treat them as a sensible default.
Diet and tank layout
Yucatan Sailfin Molly is an omnivore that swims in the upper water. It leaves most plants alone. Give it some cover.
Tankmates
Works with
No close matches in the data. Check the pair tool.
Depends
- Indian Glassy Fish
- Silver Moony
- Spotted Scat
- African Moony
- Banded Archerfish
- Columbian Shark
- Orange Chromide
- Bumblebee Goby
- Four-Eyed Fish
- Knight Goby
- Barred Mudskipper
- Green Chromide
- Sheepshead Minnow
- Silver Scat
- Banded Killifish
- Banded Lampeye
- Belly Pipefish
- Blueback Blue-Eye
- Green Panchax
- Javanese Ricefish
- Mummichog
- Queen of Siam Goby
- Shortfin Molly
- Shuttles Mudskipper
Compare any two fish on the compatibility page, or print the equipment for a stock on the needs sheet. How this is worked out: the method.