Edit Poecilia velifera
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Name
Scientific name
Poecilia velifera
Described by
Authority Regan, Year 1914
Family
Poeciliidae
Common names
Giant Sailfin Molly
Photograph credits
All 1 credited
Summary
The giant sailfin molly, Poecilia velifera, is a livebearer endemic to southeastern Mexico, with introduced populations in several other co…
Size and aquarium
Maximum size
150mm, standard length
Aquarium size
Minimum length 91 cm, Minimum depth 38 cm, Minimum height 30 cm
Water
Water conditions
Temperature 22–28°C, pH 7–8.5
Hardness
15–35dGH
Conductivity
Not recorded
Behaviour
Temperament
Peaceful
Social needs
Not recorded
Community suitability
Not recorded
Where it lives
Countries, regions, rivers and lakes
Not recorded
Writing
Etymology
Poecilia: from the Greek poikilo, meaning ‘variable, variegated’.
Distribution
Endemic to southeastern Mexico but has been introduced into several other countries, including Colombia, Israel, Singapore and Taiwan.
Habitat
Not written yet
Aquarium size
91 ∗ 38 ∗ 30 cm
Maintenance
Ideally a heavily-planted setup with some floating cover and areas of open water. The aquarium should be as large as possible as in small aquariums the develop…
Water conditions
Temperature: 22 – 28 °C pH: 7.0-8.5 Hardness: 15-35 dH
Diet
Omnivorous by nature, feeding on a variety of zoobenthos and detritus in the wild. Most foods will be accepted whether live, frozen or dried. However some vege…
Behaviour and compatibility
A peaceful fish in a community aquarium but should only be kept with other species that can tolerate hard water. Good choices include other livebearers such as…
Sexual dimorphism
The male is slightly smaller and possesses both a gonopodium and a large, long sail-like dorsal fin.
Reproduction
Relatively difficult compared to some livebearers. It is recommended to maintain this species in trios of 2 females to a single male as males can be quite vigo…
Notes
Another popular molly in the hobby, and another that has been selectively bred to produce several different varieties, such as albino, black, red etc. Some of …
References
References
No references