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Gold Sailfin Molly
Poecilia latipinna
Animalia›Chordata›Actinopterygii
Variety of Molly · gold sailfin
📍 Southeast United States
A variety of the sailfin molly combining a golden-yellow or orange body coloration with the impressive, tall dorsal fin characteristic of Poecilia latipinna males. It is a striking fish that does best in hard, alkaline water and benefits from a spacious tank of at least 30 gallons to support the active males.
Care Guide
Diet
Gold Sailfin Mollies are omnivorous and should be fed high-quality flake foods, pellets, and vegetable matter daily in small portions once daily. Supplement with blanched vegetables like spinach and zucchini, and occasional frozen foods such as brine shrimp or bloodworms to maintain color vibrancy and overall health.
Behavior
These are active, peaceful fish that spend most of their time in mid-water zones, though they will explore all tank levels. Males display their impressive dorsal fins as a courtship and dominance behavior, and they are generally social but can become territorial with other males if space is limited. They are livebearers that reproduce readily in established tanks.
Breeding
Gold Sailfin Mollies breed readily in captivity without special conditioning, as they are livebearers that produce live fry rather than eggs. Females give birth to 20-100+ fry every 4-6 weeks when kept with males; provide dense vegetation or breeding boxes to protect fry from predation. Breeding is easy and often occurs spontaneously, making population control important in established tanks.
Tank Mates
Similar peaceful temperament, compatible water parameters, and both are livebearers with comparable care needs
Fellow livebearer with identical water preferences and peaceful behavior; excellent community tank companion
Peaceful algae eater that occupies different tank zone; appreciates hard water similar to mollies
Excellent algae control without breeding uncontrollably; thrives in hard, alkaline water preferred by mollies
Peaceful schooling fish that occupies mid-water zone; prefers slightly softer water but adaptable to molly tanks
Common Diseases
Fin Rot
Frayed, discolored, or deteriorating fins; often starts at fin edges and progresses toward the body
Perform 25-30% water changes, improve water quality, maintain temperature at 76-78°F, and treat with aquarium salt (1 teaspoon per 5 gallons) or antibacterial medication if severe
Ich (Ichthyophthirius multifiliis)
Small white spots covering body and fins, excessive scratching against objects, labored breathing, lethargy
Raise temperature gradually to 82-86°F, perform daily 25% water changes, treat with aquarium salt or commercial ich medication; maintain treatment for 10-14 days
Molly Disease (Livebearer Fungus)
Fuzzy white or grayish growth on body or fins, lethargy, loss of appetite, fin clamping
Improve water quality with frequent changes, increase aeration, treat with antifungal medication or salt baths; isolate affected fish if possible
Constipation/Bloating
Swollen abdomen, loss of appetite, reduced activity, difficulty swimming
Reduce feeding frequency, offer blanched peas or fasting days; ensure varied diet with adequate vegetable matter and proper feeding portions
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Varieties
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Water it likes
- ph
- 7.0–8.5
- ammonia
- 0 ppm
- nitrate
- <20 ppm
- temperature
- 70–82°F (21–28°C)