Sailfin molly
Poecilia latipinna
The sailfin molly lives along the US east coast from North Carolina to Florida and around the Gulf of Mexico to the Yucatán Peninsula, in fresh and brackish water. It eats mainly algae. The male has a huge, sail-like dorsal fin. It is a livebearer. Introduced to several countries, it has become invasive in some. It crosses with other mollies, and most of the trade is farm-bred.
- Scientific name
- Poecilia latipinna
- Family
- Poeciliidae
Part of the hybrids
Fact sheet
General
- Water
- Brackish
- Group
- Fish
Taxonomy
- Family
- Poeciliidae
- Order
- Cyprinodontiformes
- Synonyms
- Limia matamorensis, Limia poeciloides, Mollienesia latipinna, Mollienisia latipinna, Poecilia lineolata, Poecilia multilineata
Origin
- Native region
- América do Norte
Water
- Temperature
- 21–26 °C
- pH
- 7–8.5
- General hardness (GH)
- 15–35 °dGH
Size and lifespan
- Adult size
- 12.5 cm
- Minimum tank (volume)
- 87 L
- Minimum tank (length)
- 76 cm
Behavior
- Temperament
- Semi-aggressive
- Swimming level
- Middle
- Diet
- Herbivore
Care
- Care difficulty
- Easy
Reproduction
- Breeding strategy
- Livebearer
Conservation and trade
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
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