Common name
Sailfin molly
Scientific name
Poecilia latipinna
Category
Freshwater fish
Group
Livebearers
Environment
Freshwater
Origin
Atlantic and Gulf coastal drainages of the south-eastern United States, extending around the Gulf of Mexico to the Yucatán Peninsula
Care level
Beginner
Adult size
Commonly 8–12 cm; large females and males may approach 12–15 cm total length
Expected lifespan
2–5 years
Minimum housing
180 L+
Temperature
22–28 °C
pH
7.2–8.5
Hardness / minerals
Moderately hard to very hard
Salinity
Freshwater or brackish according to provenance; salt is not a universal requirement and abrupt changes are unsafe
Lighting
Normal aquarium lighting
Placement / swimming zone
Species dependent

Identity and search names

Single-species profile for Poecilia latipinna. Preserve the permanent AquaNexus ID and route; retain former scientific combinations and trade names only as searchable aliases. Search names include Sailfin molly, Poecilia latipinna, Mollienesia latipinna.

Environment and housing

Large planted or marsh-style aquarium with hard alkaline water, open swimming space, dense retreat cover and stable salinity appropriate to the stock

Feeding and nutrition

Feeding ecology: Omnivore with substantial algae and plant material, small invertebrates and complete prepared foods

Feeding routine: Offer plant-rich and invertebrate foods once or twice daily; control portions and verify females and juveniles are not excluded.

Breeding and reproduction

Internal fertilisation and live birth; females can store sperm and produce repeated broods

Breeding plan: Internal fertilisation and live birth; females can store sperm and produce repeated broods Parental care: No post-birth parental care; adults may eat fry.

Compatibility plan

Best with fish that tolerate similar mineral-rich water and active feeding.

Filtration and aeration

Filtration: Use mature biological filtration sized for the adult group and feeding load, with protected intakes and a flow pattern suited to the species.

Aeration: Maintain dependable gas exchange and dissolved oxygen with surface agitation or supplementary aeration while preserving sheltered resting areas.

Maintenance

Test water routinely, remove waste and uneaten food, service filtration without destroying biofilm and review stocking as animals mature.

Adult projected load

Adult projected load includes mature body mass, social-group size, territorial space, oxygen demand, feeding waste and breeding output.

Welfare and risk

Maintain the stated adult space and social structure, verify feeding and intervene early when injury, exclusion, weight loss, abnormal respiration or altered behaviour appears. Salt is not a cure-all and is not mandatory for every stock. The bigger errors are undersized housing, soft acidic water, male pressure and uncontrolled breeding.

Main risk: Salt is not a cure-all and is not mandatory for every stock. The bigger errors are undersized housing, soft acidic water, male pressure and uncontrolled breeding.

Biosecurity and release

Never release fish, fry, eggs, aquarium water, sediment, plants or live foods into drains, dams or natural waterways. Confirm current Australian import conditions and South Australian possession, trade and movement rules before acquisition or transfer.

Overridable warnings

Warnings may be overridden only after adult size, group structure, filtration, aeration, compatibility and maintenance capacity are recorded.

Sources