{"product_id":"male-sailfin-molly-poecilia-latipinna","title":"Male Sailfin Molly | Poecilia latipinna","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Sailfin Molly is a sociable, hardy livebearer, and mature males carry the magnificent tall \"sail\" dorsal fin the species is named for, flashing it in display. Easygoing and full of personality, it thrives in harder, mineral-rich water and grazes algae happily. Males reach around 10–15 cm including that spectacular fin.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eNative to the coastal fresh and brackish waters of the south-eastern United States and Mexico, the Sailfin Molly lives in slow streams, marshes, ditches and estuaries. The water is typically hard, alkaline and mineral-rich, often with a touch of salt, and thick with algae and vegetation for grazing.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA robust, deep-bodied livebearer available in wild silver-olive as well as many aquarium colour forms. Males are the show-stoppers, sporting a large, high dorsal fin edged and spotted with iridescence, which they raise to court females and impress rivals. Males reach roughly 10–15 cm; females are plainer and finned normally.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003ePeaceful and community-friendly, though males can spar and chase females persistently, so keep more females than males. It mixes well with other hard-water fish that enjoy similar conditions.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAn omnivore with a strong grazing habit. Provide a vegetable- or spirulina-rich flake or pellet and algae wafers as the staple, with occasional frozen or live foods. Plenty of plant matter and natural algae grazing keeps it healthy.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eEasy to keep, but it does best in hard, alkaline, mineral-rich water — soft or acidic conditions cause problems over time. Some keepers add a little aquarium salt, though it is not essential in suitably hard water. Provide good filtration, aeration and algae-covered surfaces to graze.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA prolific livebearer. Females give birth to fully-formed, free-swimming fry every four to six weeks. Provide dense planting or a separate nursery, as adults will eat the young; the fry are large enough to take crushed flake and baby brine shrimp immediately.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePoecilia latipinna\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSailfin Molly (male)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSouth-eastern USA \u0026amp; Mexico (coastal fresh\/brackish)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAround 10–15 cm (males, including fin)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifespan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3–5 years\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePeaceful; males spar and chase\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBeginner\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMinimum Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e75 litres\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e100 litres or more\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOmnivore (algae\/vegetable-based foods)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e22–28 °C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e7.5–8.5\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e15–30 dGH (hard)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSalinity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable (freshwater; tolerates slightly brackish)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSuitable For\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBeginners; hard-water and brackish community tanks\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlant Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGenerally — grazes soft algae; may nibble tender plants\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eOther livebearers such as platies, swordtails and other mollies, plus hard-water species like rainbowfish and, in brackish setups, gobies and other salt-tolerant fish. Keep more females than males.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eFin-nippers that target the male's sail, and soft-water species needing very different conditions. Avoid keeping several males with too few females.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm)","offer_id":55232789643555,"sku":"AA3695","price":16.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm)","offer_id":55232789676323,"sku":null,"price":21.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/Sailfin_Molly_Male_6343c5fa-5dfa-4972-9d58-48cf4d65a3c9.jpg?v=1781697970","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/male-sailfin-molly-poecilia-latipinna","provider":"Nicks Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","version":"1.0","type":"link"}