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Freshwater fishBlack Sailfin Molly (Pair)
Black Sailfin Molly (Pair)
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Black sailfin mollies are the classic sailfin, with the solid black male and female contrasting with lighter gravel and green plants. Male sailfins feature a bright gold fringe on the dorsal sailfin that gets more pronounced as the male ages. Each order contains one male and one female molly, and males always display their dorsal fins more with a female around.
Quick Facts
| Scientific Name | Poecilia latipinna / P. velifera (aquarium-bred) |
| Origin | Southeastern U.S. and Mexico (wild ancestors); aquarium-bred |
| Care Level | Easy to moderate |
| Temperament | Peaceful (males can chase females and rival males) |
| Adult Size | Up to 4–5" |
| Lifespan | 3–5 years |
| Diet | Omnivore (needs plant matter) |
| Water Temperature | 75–82°F |
| pH | 7.5–8.5 (hard water) |
| Group Size | Sold as a pair (1 male + 1 female) |
| Shipping Size | Approx. 2" |
Care Guide
Tank setup: Give sailfins hard, alkaline water with plants, open swimming space and good filtration. Aquarium salt is optional; they also do well in brackish tanks.
Feeding: Mollies graze on algae, so feed a quality flake that includes vegetable matter once or twice a day. They also enjoy algae wafers and frozen brine shrimp.
Tankmates: Mollies get along with most peaceful community fish that like similar hard water, such as platies, swordtails, guppies, danios, rainbowfish, corydoras and plecos. Avoid fin-nippers and soft-water specialists. Keeping more females than males keeps any one female from being harassed.
Good to know: Male sailfins raise their tall dorsal fin to show off to females and rival males. Their sails grow fuller as they mature, so juveniles may not show a full sail yet.
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