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Freshwater fishDalmatian Sailfin Molly
Dalmatian Sailfin Molly
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The Dalmatian sailfin molly is best kept with two females to one male, so the male does not "harass" the female to a stressful level. A purchase of a single molly or a small school avoids this situation, but if you really want an active pair, we offer that too.
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 | Keep more females than males |
| 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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