Sailfin Mollies: What are the Facts vs. Fiction?

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SilverArowanaBoi

Redtail Catfish
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Sep 21, 2023
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Hey y'all! I've been eyeing these guys for a while, I think they would be a perfect schooling/shoaling addition to my tank; I love their looks. However, I'm getting a bunch of mixed information on them. The two main things I would like clarification on are, 1. Are they brackish or fresh? and 2. What is their average size? I keep seeing that they are like 6+ inches long, even though I've legit never seen a molly that size (and I have had large mollies in the past).

Also, for those who have kept this fish, what is their temperament? Are they peaceful like common livebearers such as platies, normal mollies, and guppies, or are they aggressive? Any other additional information would also be appreciated.

Thank you in advance!
 
Mollies can be acclimated between fresh, brackish, and saltwater but all the ones you’ll find in a store will be freshwater unless stated otherwise.
 
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There are at least two species of "sailfin" mollies, Poecilia velifera and P. latipinna. Velifera is apparently much larger, up to 6 inches or more, and is the more southerly species. Latipinna is smaller, although I've still had females up to about 5 inches. It's found much further north which is why I like it, as it does well outside in the summer, and is fine overwintering in my basement with little or no added heating required.

I've heard that they are easily acclimated to brackish or pure salt water, but I've never played with that. Several of my homes over the years have had hard or very hard, high-pH water and they always did well in that. The one time that I tried keeping them in neutral, soft water they didn't last long.

I find them to be very peaceful, and multiple males can get along much better than multiple male
Swordtails. They are good algae eaters, including hair algae, and they don't seem to be very interested in eating their fry to any great extent.

The ones I keep are wild-form, descended from wild-caught fish from Florida. They are outside now, sharing a large stock tank with a group of American Flagfish. Both species have similar diets and requirements and do well together. Their stock tank is one of the sunnier ones I have, it grows a ton of algae and yet is usually among the cleanest thanks to their constant nibbling on it.

I don't know but I tend to suspect that most of the mollies purchased at your LFS are probably hybrids of P. velifera and P. sphenops, with maybe other relatives tossed into the mix as well.
 
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jjohnwm said:
There are at least two species of "sailfin" mollies, Poecilia velifera and P. latipinna. Velifera is apparently much larger, up to 6 inches or more, and is the more southerly species. Latipinna is smaller, although I've still had females up to about 5 inches. It's found much further north which is why I like it, as it does well outside in the summer, and is fine overwintering in my basement with little or no added heating required.

I've heard that they are easily acclimated to brackish or pure salt water, but I've never played with that. Several of my homes over the years have had hard or very hard, high-pH water and they always did well in that. The one time that I tried keeping them in neutral, soft water they didn't last long.

I find them to be very peaceful, and multiple males can get along much better than multiple male
Swordtails. They are good algae eaters, including hair algae, and they don't seem to be very interested in eating their fry to any great extent.

The ones I keep are wild-form, descended from wild-caught fish from Florida. They are outside now, sharing a large stock tank with a group of American Flagfish. Both species have similar diets and requirements and do well together. Their stock tank is one of the sunnier ones I have, it grows a ton of algae and yet is usually among the cleanest thanks to their constant nibbling on it.

I don't know but I tend to suspect that most of the mollies purchased at your LFS are probably hybrids of P. velifera and P. sphenops, with maybe other relatives tossed into the mix as well.
Click to expand...

Thank you for the detailed information! I know for sure the mollies at the LFS are color morphs and probably hybrids.
 
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I''ve snorkled with sailfin mollies in the cenotes of Mexico that easily reach over 7", and live at depths , and hold territories of over 10ft, where constant water changes change 100% of the water .volume every hour. Most aquarists barely come close to such close to such purity, so as such , barely attain those amazing sizes.
It may all depends of where they were born, as far as salitity tolerance, and lately many I catch come from far inland, and may have varying tolerence.
They are are voracious alge eaters.
The Panamanian mollies I catch these days are much smaller, I believe predation takes a larger toll than in Mexican cenotes
IMG_6539.jpegIMG_6412.jpeg
IMG_0660.jpeg
 
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I agree w all that was said, I keep 2 strains of latipinna both that I collected in south Florida, strains can vary greatly in size, shape and color. The melanistic strain I have are small only around 2” and don’t sport the big dorsals in the males, there are spots I know of that the fish get much larger and the males have huge dorsals. I have them in freshwater without any issues. I saw hide velifera in the wild like the size that Duane mentioned, I’m currently working with them also, if you want pure fish don”t count on lfs, they are almost guaranteed hybrids.
 
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jjohnwm said:
There are at least two species of "sailfin" mollies, Poecilia velifera and P. latipinna. Velifera is apparently much larger, up to 6 inches or more, and is the more southerly species. Latipinna is smaller, although I've still had females up to about 5 inches. It's found much further north which is why I like it, as it does well outside in the summer, and is fine overwintering in my basement with little or no added heating required.

I've heard that they are easily acclimated to brackish or pure salt water, but I've never played with that. Several of my homes over the years have had hard or very hard, high-pH water and they always did well in that. The one time that I tried keeping them in neutral, soft water they didn't last long.

I find them to be very peaceful, and multiple males can get along much better than multiple male
Swordtails. They are good algae eaters, including hair algae, and they don't seem to be very interested in eating their fry to any great extent.

The ones I keep are wild-form, descended from wild-caught fish from Florida. They are outside now, sharing a large stock tank with a group of American Flagfish. Both species have similar diets and requirements and do well together. Their stock tank is one of the sunnier ones I have, it grows a ton of algae and yet is usually among the cleanest thanks to their constant nibbling on it.

I don't know but I tend to suspect that most of the mollies purchased at your LFS are probably hybrids of P. velifera and P. sphenops, with maybe other relatives tossed into the mix as well.
Click to expand...
Not to sidetrack the thread, but bloody hell what is that new title you’ve be rocking mate. Sausage finger spam slayer???
 
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Friller2009 said:
Not to sidetrack the thread, but bloody hell what is that new title you’ve be rocking mate. Sausage finger spam slayer???
Click to expand...

I have absolutely no idea what that's about, but I believe that esoxlucius esoxlucius was involved with C Chicxulub in concocting it...and after I single-handedly saved the forum from an invasion of bots! Esox finagled some kind of royal title for himself at the same time... "Beret-wearing Bot Sympathizer" or something like that...

I'm telling ya, I don't get no respect! :)
 
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  • Wow
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