Sailfin Golden Molly Poecilia Sphenops 3cm
Image for illustration purposes only. Exact colours, patterns, and size may vary between individuals.
Delivered alive, guaranteed
Live fish delivery is £20 per order, delivered Thursday, Friday or Saturday, arriving before 1:00pm on the day you choose at checkout. Packed by aquatic specialists and shipped overnight with a dedicated livestock courier, every fish is covered by our Live Arrival Guarantee with automatic refunds. See How Live Fish Delivery Works for full details.
When will my fish arrive?
| Order placed | Delivery day |
|---|---|
| Up to Monday 11:00am | Thursday (that week) |
| Monday after 11:00am – Tuesday 11:00am | Friday (that week) |
| Tuesday after 11:00am – Wednesday 11:00am | Saturday (that week) |
| Wednesday after 11:00am – Sunday (any time) | Thursday (following week) |
Overview
The Sailfin Golden Molly is a bright golden-yellow molly whose males develop a tall, sail-like dorsal fin that they spread in display. It is an active, sociable grazer derived from Central American sailfin and short-finned molly stock and makes a bold splash of colour. Best for beginners and improvers with hard, alkaline water and a little space.
- Adult Size: Around 10–12 cm (4–5 in); males slightly larger with taller fins
- Lifespan: 3–5 years
Origin
- Native to: Mexico and Central America; gold sailfin form is captive bred
- Habitat: Coastal lagoons, slow streams and brackish estuaries
Feeding
- Diet: Omnivorous, with a strong vegetable component
- Preferred Foods: Quality flake, spirulina flake, blanched spinach, cucumber, brine shrimp, daphnia
- Feeding Habits: Feed small amounts twice daily; greens or algae wafers most days
Tank Mates
- Best with: Platies, swordtails, rainbowfish, Corydoras, larger hard-water community fish, other mollies
- Avoid: Fin-nippers, large cichlids, soft-water species
Aggression & Behaviour
- Temperament: Peaceful
- Territoriality: Low; males display and chase rivals and females
Experience Level
- Difficulty: Beginner to Intermediate
- Challenges: Needs hard, alkaline, clean water; sailfins are less forgiving than short-finned mollies
Water Parameters
- Water Type: Freshwater, hard and alkaline; thrives brackish
- Temperature: 22–28°C (72–82°F)
- pH: 7.0–8.5
- Hardness: 15–30 dGH
- Flow: Slow to moderate
- Tank Size: Minimum 100 litres for a group; larger is better as fish mature, ideally with plants and open swimming space
Final Notes
Sailfin types grow larger than standard mollies and the male dorsal fin only develops fully in hard, alkaline water with room to swim. Keep two females per male as males pursue mates constantly; broods of 20 to 60 fry arrive every four to eight weeks. A little marine salt is well tolerated. Given space, greens and stable water they are a spectacular, easy-going centrepiece for a hard-water community.
Please Note
The livestock that is sold on our online site is not held in store at our Birchwood Aquatic Centre shop. Species sold at the Birchwood Aquatic Centre physical store may differ from ones available to order to your door.
Frequently Asked Questions
In insulated boxes designed for live transport, packed by aquatic specialists,
overnight with a licensed live-animal courier, arriving before 1pm.
It is covered by our Live Arrival Guarantee.
Photograph it within 4 hours of delivery, email info@birchwoodaquaticcentre.co.uk with your order number, and the refund is processed automatically. The cover continues for 7 days after arrival.
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. You pick your day at checkout; please choose a day someone is home.
Yes. One basket, one checkout; the fish arrive with the specialist courier and the rest of your order ships as normal.
We can deliver to UK mainland only for live fish.
Follow the five-minute acclimatisation steps in our When Your Fish Arrive guide: float the bags, add tank water gradually, net the fish in, lights low, feed tomorrow.