Poecilia velifera

Alternative names

 * Name of this fish depends on its colour and fin shape.


 * For example: Green Sailfin (wild), Red Sailfin, Black Sailfin, Silver Sailfin, Dalmatian Sailfin, Gold or Golden Sailfin (Albino), Mexican Sailfin, Yucatan, Veiltail and Lyretail.

Synonyms

 * (Regan, 1914).

Sexing

 * Male has the large dorsal fin with small round light spots for display purposes and a gonopodium fin. Female is larger and rounder bellied.

Tank compatibility

 * A generally peaceful fish but males will chase females of both this species of Molly and other livebearers. Best kept with robust but not aggressive tank mates. They should be kept in the ratio of 1 male to 2-3 females. Ideally should not be kept with long-finned fish as Mollies can fin-nip.

Diet

 * Eats vegetables mainly, including algae. Will eat a wide range of food including flake and pellets, shrimp, bloodworm and brine shrimp.

Feeding regime

 * Feed once or twice a day.

Environment Specifics

 * These fish require a large spacious tank with plenty of open swimming space and hiding places. They do best at lower-end brackish rather than freshwater. Keep them in salt-free water can lead to the Shimmies.

Behaviour

 * Generally peaceful fish, males will chase females. Are known to eat their own fry.

Identification

 * Looks very like Poecilia latipinna. But the male of P. velifera has a larger dorsal fin with pearly spots. One of the most attractive and largest of the Mollies commonly available.

Special Notes

 * This fish breeds with other Molly species and so there are lots of hybrid versions of this fish which have different dorsal and caudal shaped fins, varieties of colour forms, as well as different lengths of body.