Mollinesia velifera

The sailfin molly, or Mollinesia velifera, is a gorgeous freshwater fish that enthralls aquarium enthusiasts with its graceful swimming and striking appearance. This fish, which is native to the brackish and freshwater habitats of Central America, is well-known for having a large dorsal fin that resembles a sail that males use to entice mates and establish dominance within their group.

These fish thrive in a variety of water conditions, which makes them not only stunning but also highly adaptive. They are therefore a well-liked option for both inexperienced and seasoned aquarium keepers. Being gregarious animals, mollies thrive in social settings where they can interact and behave as they naturally would.

Mollinesia velifera is relatively easy to care for, but there are a few important things to remember. For these fish to remain healthy and lively, a large tank, consistent water parameters, and a varied diet are necessary. Sailfin mollies can add vibrancy and beauty to any aquarium with the correct care.

History and description

There are several species of mollies; Mollies sphenops was the first to be identified and studied. Data on them were included by zoologist Achille Valenciennes in his 22-volume work "Natural Science of Fishes" back in 1846. Regarding velifera, it was initially found in a tiny freshwater lake on the Yucatan Peninsula. Famous ichthyologist and taxonomist Charles Tate Regan identified two species of mollies, free and sail, or velifera, at the end of the 19th century after studying specimens from the British Museum of Natural History.

Sailfish were once only found on the Yucatan Peninsula and were considered an endemic species. But as time passed, their natural habitat grew, and it now encompasses Colombia and Mexico. Numerous rivers that empty into the Caribbean Sea, including estuaries with highly brackish water, have been home to Velifera.

Additionally, the sailfin molly has successfully acclimated to the waters of Australia, New Zealand, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East. However, experts surmise that humans had a hand in this as these fish became invasive species after escaping their aquariums.

Velifera thrive in brackish, freshwater, and marine reservoirs in their natural habitat. The largest and most colorful specimens—much more spectacular than their freshwater counterparts—are found, surprisingly, in reservoirs with higher salinities.

At the start of the 20th century, the sailfin molly made its way to Europe, where it was placed under the poeciliidae genus. The largest member of the family is Velilifera. Individuals can reach lengths of up to 200 mm in the wild; aquarium "sailboats" pale in comparison. Typically, females are no longer than 140 mm, while males are typically 10–12 mm longer.

The velifera was lavishly rewarded by nature with an incredible natural color: its body is covered in grayish-silver scales and adorned with a profusion of tiny, iridescent spots. The fish’s chest has an opulent, golden-yellow hue.

The reason the fish was given the nicknames "sailing molly," "high-fin," or "sailfish" can be explained by looking at its dorsal fin. Its dimensions are nearly the same as the length of the velifera’s whole body, and the fin’s edge is bright red in color. However, only men possess such a magnificent "accessory." In addition to having a more subdued dorsal fin, females also benefit from a slightly larger body.

The sailing moly’s body is tall and elongated. The caudal fin of fish with natural shapes is rounded. If velifera’s tail resembles a lyre, then selective intervention is necessary for it to survive. The lyre-shaped fins frequently have tips that are so long they touch. However, many aquarists acknowledge that fish with rounded tails appear more harmonious and natural.

Furthermore, livebearer fish enthusiasts frequently select "round-tailed" specimens for personal reasons. Thus, it is thought that they mature faster than artificially bred varieties and grow to greater sizes while still being able to bear children.

Color variations of velifera mollies

Sailfin moles are only found in three stable color varieties—natural, marble, and albino—and are pure. Although representatives of other "species relatives" did not take part in the work, the latter forms are the result of selection.

The scales of Albino velifera are bluish-white, and their color is yellowish-orange. Red eyes are another characteristic that sets albinos apart. Because of a laborious intraspecific selection process, albino sailors showed up in a range of colors, from pale yellow to vivid red, nearly red tones.

The marble leders have a brilliant white "outfit" and are still in production, going by the brand name "snowflakes." The striking fins and dark eyes pop against the white scale background. Brilliant blue tide, the spinal and tail fins are incredible. Straightened, they resemble the most delicate handcrafted lace.

For the "marble" sailboats to shimmer and "play," the aquarist needs to supply the reservoir with top-notch upper lighting. They will resemble bits of white marble or a snowball sparkling in the sun in well-lit areas. Marble mollinosia was discovered during the intraspecies selection process. The lightest-colored wild individuals were carefully chosen by experts, who then crossed them.

Sexual dimorphism

The sailfin molly’s anal fin is used to identify males from females. In fact, this is the primary sexual, or dimorphic, difference found in many viviparous fish. It is pointed on males and rounded on females.

The male "sailfish" also has a plush dorsal fin and is smaller than the female counterparts. Its height frequently surpasses the fish’s body width. But women don’t have this beauty.

Conditions of maintenance

When we consider the sailfin molly’s requirements overall, we find that it is a very modest and unassuming aquarium habitant. To ensure that the fish feels comfortable, stays healthy, and lives a long life, it is important to consider that a warm-water fish and its natural habitat differ slightly from standard aquarium conditions. It is advisable to give the following details extra consideration.

Lighting

Because Velifera is highly photophilic, you will need to add more artificial lighting to the container. The aquarium should also receive natural light for a minimum of two to three hours each day.

The presence of a lid

Due to their hyperactivity and playfulness, these fish frequently find themselves outside of their natural aquatic habitat. During play, they may jump out of the aquarium or notice potential prey. Reputable lids for tanks are recommended by seasoned aquarists to prevent these tragic mishaps.

Aquarium vegetation

Velifers are cautious and kind to plants, just like other pecilia. Furthermore, it is highly probable that the locals lack plant food if they started chowing down on young shoots out of the blue. Thickets of floating plants, which function as a haven for young fish as well as aesthetics, are a must in the "sailfish" aquarium.

The remaining plants are positioned around the periphery of the tank to allow its lively and nimble occupants to swim freely. For this, vallismerina, cryptocoryne, and Japanese arrowhead are appropriate. Mollies adore eating the filamentous algae that often covers these plants.

Aquarium size

The size of the tank will determine how gorgeous and stately the males grow, as well as how high and opulent their dorsal fins will be, so this factor deserves special consideration. Determine the area such that each 10 mm of the fish’s body contains at least one liter of water.

Water purity and oxygen saturation

The aquatic environment’s quality and the existence of organic matter both affect sailing mollies highly. Since these inhabitants frequently perish from an oxygen shortage, it is advised to change the aquarium’s water once a week by adding 25% more water than before. Additionally, make sure the aquarium is equipped with an aeration device. Furthermore, "sailings" feel better in hard water, so it’s important to keep an eye on this indicator.

If there are velifers in the aquarium, is it still necessary to add salt to the water? Yes, some owners do sprinkle on some salt. However, this problem is usually handled on an individual basis. Therefore, if the fish were found in freshwater, there would be no need to add salt to the aquatic environment, and the plants and other inhabitants would not benefit from the salty environment.

Rather, it is advised to perform "molly" procedures on a periodic basis, which are like short-term maintenance in salt baths. The duration of the event is 10–15 minutes, and the solution’s strength is 3–4%. Salt baths are also a great way to prevent a lot of different diseases. If your sea sailboat has no neighbors, you can add 2 g of table or sea salt per 1 l of water.

Regarding the ideal water parameters, velifers find the following indicators to be the most comfortable:

• optimal temperature – +24 – +26 ° C, a deviation of 2 degrees in one direction or another is allowed;
• hardness – 15-35 ° dH;
• hydrogen index – 0-8.5 pH.

It is advised to utilize tiny pebbles as the substrate.

Who do sailfish mollies get along with?

These fish get along well with innocuous aquarium residents because, like the rest of the genus Pecilia, they are very peaceful residents. They are peaceful, non-aggressive, and non-aggressive. Sailfish also favor waters with high pH and hardness, which reduces the range of potential neighbors.

As schooling fish, sailfish mollies are accustomed to following hierarchical canons and are at ease in a group of their own kind. There is no formation of stable couples among them. Big men occupy the highest rung of the hierarchy. Even though they "monitor" the team’s order, they do not act aggressively toward other students or inflict significant harm on them.

Maintaining an equal number of males and females in the school is advised.

In terms of appearance, it is more appealing than a family with more girls. In this instance as well, competition between the sexes occurs naturally, as it does in the wild.

Male fish have fully opened fins during courtship, which adds to their allure. The "bride" swims off with an unperturbed expression, as if this breathtaking sight doesn’t bother her in the slightest. They swirl around her quickly.

For sailfin mollies, other hard-water-loving pecilia fish make great companions. You can add swordtails, pecilia, guppies, and other kinds of mollies to them. Characins and velifers are compatible: neon, tetras, and tetras. But it’s important to remember that "haracins," which can make "sailfish" ill, prefer environments with soft water.

Velifera mollies get along well with the aquarium industry representatives listed below:

• small fish from the carp family: danios, cherry barbs, rasboras;
• rainbowfish, which also like hard water;
• labyrinth fish: gourami and laliuses;
• peaceful cichlids: angelfish, apistograms.

Sailfish rob their neighbors of their opulent fins, so you should avoid pairing them with unpleasant fish as neighbors. Barbs from Sumatra fall into this group. It is possible to classify American and African cichlids as dangerous for velifers. Mollies will not be able to repel them because they are too petty and territorial.

Features of reproduction of sailfish mollies

Because the fish are viviparous, the eggs develop inside the female and give birth to live fry. From the time of fertilization to the birth of nearly a hundred 6–8 mm babies, about 40–50 days pass.

Starter food such as brine shrimp and cyclops nauplii and newborn daphnia can be given to the newborn offspring. You should transition to larger, more nutrient-dense diets gradually. Bloodworms and crushed tubifex worms are used in the absence of microfeeds. The fry’s eye diameter, or roughly 0.1–0.2 mm, is the maximum particle size that should be present.

For the first four to five weeks, the young should be fed four to six times a day. The infants develop unevenly, and big individuals stand out in the mass right away. Culling is required right from the start, eliminating any young animals that exhibit developmental defects.

When given proper care, the fish generally respond well. After six months, you can obtain robust, well-developed individuals that can grow in 18 to 24 months under adverse conditions. Velifers that maintain their quality reach sexual maturity more quickly and have longer periods of reproductive activity.

When kept under optimal conditions, sailfin mollies reach adulthood in 6–8 months, which is quite late compared to livebearers. However, they have a longer lifespan; some specimens reach 4.5–5 years of age.

Mollies are not related to many live-bearing fish, and they do not have a "habit" of eating their own fry if they are guilty of "cannibalism." However, seasoned aquarium keepers still suggest setting up a separate tank with aquarium water for the fry in order to provide the most comfortable surroundings and a proper feeding schedule. Its specifications should be the same as the standard ones, with the exception that the first few weeks should be spent slightly heated—by a few degrees.

It’s easy to raise fries if you follow the standard operating procedures:

• feed the offspring well and regularly;
• change the water weekly;
• ensure round-the-clock filtration;
• siphon off impurities from the bottom (read more about how to properly siphon the soil in the aquarium);
• wash the filter material.

The raised offspring should be housed in a roomy container. The fry develop more slowly in a small tank, leading to the growth of many "stretched" individuals. The condition of the aquatic environment must be continuously monitored because sailfish are extremely vulnerable to calcium deficiency, which is absorbed through the water.

How and what to feed mollies velifera

These aquarium inhabitants should have a varied and comprehensive diet. Juveniles should eat more monotonous food, while adults should have a more varied menu. Velifers enjoy eating nearly any live food, but their favorites are tubifex, corethra, and bloodworms. The latter should be thoroughly rinsed under running water before feeding the fish, and it should be kept in water for two weeks, changing it frequently.

It is advised to switch up your diet from regular bloodworms to estuary bloodworms, if at all possible. Such bloodworms live in the brackish water of estuaries in their natural habitat; the water is rich in minerals and best for "sailfish."

These aquarium inhabitants must consume plant foods in their diet. You can feed them rolled oats, semolina, and wolffia. Boiling water is used to pre-scald the latter product. In addition, the water gets murky due to the rolled oats and semolina, which detracts from the aquarium’s aesthetic appeal. This type of food is typically provided to the fish in a rearing aquarium because there is no soil and the leftovers are simple to remove from the bottom.

In an attractively decorated aquarium, it is preferable to feed the fish premade food that won’t contaminate the water. Aquarists frequently give their velifers boiling water mixed with chopped greens. However, fish "try it with their teeth" and spit it out, preferring more appetizing and tasty food, despite the benefits of such food.

It is crucial to remember that sailfin mollies have very particular dietary preferences. If they are not trained to eat cereals and plant fiber right away, they will eventually reject these foods. Velifers completely lose interest in plant food as they get older.

A mature fish needs about 3% of its own weight in food per day. For juvenile fish, there are three feedings per day, and for adult fish, there are one or two feedings.

Growing young animals eat a combination of bloodworms, rolled oat flakes, and live daphnia and cyclops every day. There is a 5.5–6 hour gap between two feedings. Over the next few days, you can feed your pets brine shrimp that have been finely chopped and soaked in boiling water, as well as steamed semolina.

Food with plant and animal origins may be combined at the aquarium owner’s discretion. The food is varied and of excellent quality, which is the main feature. Fish that are adults will gain from fasting days, which occur once or twice a week when they are not fed. However, it is not advised to set up such brief fasts for juvenile fish.

Accurately calculating portion sizes is just as important as following a feeding schedule and correctly constructing a diet. Since both overfeeding and underfeeding can seriously harm aquarium occupants’ health, it is important to strike a balance.

Benefits of daphnia

The food on the Molly menu is valuable and includes plankton animal components like cyclops and daphnia:

1. They contain a whole complex of components useful for the "fish" body.
2. Daphnia is especially appreciated, caught in spring from reservoirs, the water of which is actively "blooming". Such crustaceans are compared with the "sandwich" consisting of animals and plant products.
3. The microelements contained in the body of Daphnia are necessary for fish to produce pigment, which ensures their unusual staining.
4. Khitin of crustaceans, characterized by special rigidity, is considered valuable ballast material – it helps the removal of toxins from the Gelifer body, this also applies to the salts of heavy metals.

Regular feeding of Daphnia will prolong the life cycle of sailing mollies and stabilize their reproductive activity. Furthermore, fish that eat this food have a beneficial effect on their immune systems, making them more resilient to a variety of illnesses and parasites.

Nourishing additives

It is advised to supplement the bloodworms, corethra, and particularly the tubifex that you feed the "sailfish" with multivitamins. Typically, aquarists purchase feed in the form of pills or granules, crush it into a powder, and then sprinkle it over every serving of moist food. Such food should be infusion at room temperature for 50–60 minutes prior to serving. After that, the food needs to be poured into a container and rinsed under cool running water.

Because live food has low levels of vitamins D and E, experts recommend adding these nutrients to food by adding 1 drop of fat-soluble vitamin solutions for every 10 g of product. Artificial diets made in the country are frequently deficient in vitamins A, D, and E. One drop of a natural trivitamin preparation is added to each amount of dry food that can fit in a matchbox.

You can breed velifers and even start breeding work if you prepare a varied and balanced diet in addition to raising gorgeous, healthy fish.

Also read:

• newts in an aquarium;
• rainbow crab;
• red-eared turtle.

The lively and resilient freshwater fish Mollinesia velifera, popularly called the Sailfin Molly, is a fascinating addition to any aquarium. This species is a great choice for both novice and expert aquarists because of its eye-catching sail-like dorsal fin and lively behavior. It is also relatively easy to care for. To make sure these fish flourish and show off their full beauty in your tank, it’s important to understand their natural habitat, food, and social needs.

Velifera diseases and treatment features

Fish are less likely to get sick when they have a balanced diet, live in a healthy habitat, and get along with their neighbors.

The hydrochemical makeup of water can alter sailing mollies greatly; a drop in pH and dGH can have a depressing effect on fish organs and systems. In such circumstances, bacterial or fungal infections may arise.

Normalizing and stabilizing the aquatic environment’s parameters can help to solve the issue. Usually, medication treatment is necessary as the disease worsens. However, it is imperative to consider certain aspects:

• mollies do not tolerate copper-containing products well;
• you need to focus on the dosages indicated in the instructions, exceeding them can lead to the death of aquarium inhabitants;
• the use of organic dyes for the treatment of velifers – methylene blue, malachite green oxalate, as well as antibiotics, is permissible, but with mandatory adherence to the dose;
• when using white streptocide tablets, it is recommended to be extremely careful – if the fish takes particles of the product for food and swallows them, it will initially lose its color and then die.

When a compressor diffuser supplies the tank with a finely dispersed water-air mixture, it can be dangerous. Gas embolism is a condition that can occur in mollies, where air bubbles from the water enter the circulatory system and cause the fish to die. Controlling the air supply and making sure the aquarium’s machinery is in good operating order are essential to preventing this.

From birth, sailfish possess a robust immune system and are highly resistant to numerous illnesses. Thus, velifers do not become ill when they live in a well-equipped container with healthy neighbors.

However, the possibility of pathogenic microorganisms entering the aquatic environment through external sources, such as live food, plants, or new occupants, never goes away.

For this reason, if there are even slight indications of damage, you should not plant vegetation or feed fish dubious materials. It is advised that all "new arrivals" be housed in a quarantine tank to prevent any potential issues.

When compared to other fish, like swordtails and guppies, Molliesia velifera is not the easiest to maintain. But it has two major benefits: a submissive nature and amazing outward beauty. Even a novice aquarist can become the proud owner of a stunning velifera if they follow the basic guidelines.

Photo of molliesia velifera

Characteristic	Description
Scientific Name	Mollinesia velifera
Common Name	Sailfin Molly
Size	Up to 15 cm
Temperament	Peaceful, social
Water Temperature	24-28°C
Diet	Omnivore
Tank Size	At least 80 liters

The sailfin molly, or Mollinesia velifera, is a colorful and resilient fish that enhances the beauty of any aquarium. Large, flowing dorsal fins and a range of colors give them a striking appearance that makes them a popular choice for aquarists of all skill levels. Because of their calm disposition, they get along well with a variety of tankmates and add to the harmony of an aquarium.

Since Mollinesia velifera prefer slightly brackish water and warmer temperatures, maintaining them requires some attention to both water quality and temperature. Giving these fish a well-balanced diet and a beautifully planted tank will allow them to reach their maximum potential. Their environment will be regularly monitored to guarantee their continued health and vibrancy.

Mollinesia velifera is generally a great addition to the majority of community tanks. They are a rewarding species to keep because of their striking appearance, calm demeanor, and comparatively low maintenance needs. These fish will add color and life to your aquarium for many years to come if the proper conditions are met.