How big do sailfin mollies grow?

What is the history of the sailfin molly?

The sailfin molly was originally described in 1821 as Mollienesia latipinna by the naturalist Charles Alexandre Lesueur, who based his description upon specimens from freshwater ponds in the vicinity of New Orleans, Louisiana.

Is the sailfin molly an introduced species?

Summary of Invasiveness The sailfin molly, P. latipinna, is a small popular ornamental fish that occurs as an introduced species in the aquatic habitats of at least 15 countries. P. latipinna has successfully colonized aqua…

What is a sailfin Mollie food chain?

Sailfin mollies are members of the lower end of the food chain. As such, they are prey for various animals, including aquatic insects, other fishes, reptiles, amphibians, birds and mammals.

How long does it take for sailfin mollies to develop?

Sailfin Mollies are available in several color varieties. Although these fish breed readily, young raised in tanks may only develop the “sail fin” in a large enough aquarium. They may also be slightly smaller reaching only 3.5 inches in length. But raised in a back yard pond, astounding, jeweled sail fins will appear at about 5 months.

Are Molly fish good for beginners?

A Molly Fish is the ideal choice for aquarists of any skill level for many reasons. There are several types of Molly Fish, all of whom are freshwater fish, and they can be found in a wide variety of colors. That rainbow of colors is one of the many reasons that Molly Fish are so appealing to any hobbyist.

Is the sailfin Mollie the most difficult to keep?

The sailfin mollie is arguably one of the most exotic fish available of any genus. However, mollies are perhaps the most difficult of all of the common live-bearers to keep as they are the most delicate of the live-bearers.

How long does it take for a fish to grow sail fins?

But raised in a back yard pond, astounding, jeweled sail fins will appear at about 5 months. Only males have the “sail fin” and in the wild, can grow up to 6 inches long

Why is the ASA fish called a flying fish?

As is typical of other members of its family, this species has the ability to jump out of the water and glide on hypertrophied fins in order to evade predators. It is considered a “two-winged” flying fish, meaning that it only has enlarged pectoral fins, as opposed to “four-winged” flying fish, which have both enlarged pectoral and pelvic fins.

What happened to Sailfish in the Arabian Gulf?

Sailfish in some areas are reliant on coral reefs as areas for feeding and breeding. As witnessed in the Arabian gulf, the disappearance of coral reefs in a sailfish’s habitat can in some cases precede the disappearance of the species from that area. ^ “A compendium of fossil marine animal genera”.

Why do sailfish attack sardines?

When a sardine school is approached by a sailfish, the sardines usually turn away and flee in the opposite direction. As a result, the sailfish usually attacks sardine schools from behind, putting at risk those fish that are the rear of the school because of their reduced swimming speeds.

Are sailfin mollies easy to care for?

Sailfin mollies feature beautifully flowing fins and because of their long fins, they should not be kept with fin-nippers. Therefore, choose tank mates carefully if you want to avoid injuries. They’re easy to breed and care for, which explains why they’re often recommended for beginners.

How many Molly fish in a 30-gallon tank?

If our tank is 30-gallons, purchase up to 6 Molly Fish. However, most fish would be happier if their owners followed the “10-gallons per fish” rule of thumb. Alternatively, most expert fish hobbyists will recommend purchasing the largest tank that you can afford (and have room for) and then figuring out how many inhabitants you can have.

Are sailfin mollies hard to care for?

The Sailfin Mollies are among the most dramatic of all livebearers. They are also the largest and most difficult to maintain. Mollies normally inhabit brackish (salt/fresh water estuaries) environments, and do best in captivity in hard, alkaline water with added salt.

Do sailfish attack sardines from the rear?

Description. When a sardine school is approached by a sailfish, the sardines usually turn away and flee in the opposite direction. As a result, the sailfish usually attacks sardine schools from behind, putting at risk those fish that are the rear of the school because of their reduced swimming speeds.

What gives Flying Fish the ability to leap above the ocean?

Numerous morphological features give flying fish the ability to leap above the surface of the ocean. One such feature is fully broadened neural arches, which act as insertion sites for connective tissues and ligaments in a fish’s skeleton.

Why are flying fish called Exocoetidae?

Early Mediterranean sailors thought these flying fish returned to the shore at night to sleep, and therefore called this family of marine fish Exocoetidae (in Latin, “ex-” means “out of” and “koitos” means bed), according to Steve N.G. Howell’s book ” The Amazing World of Flyingfish ” (Princeton University Press, 2014).

Are sailfins compatible with other fish in a reef aquarium?

Despite the reputation the rest of the Tang family seems to have, the Sailfins are considered to be compatible with pretty much all other living beings found in reef aquariums when there is a mixture of different fish and life forms.

Why do fish move differently?

That suggests that individual differences among fish helped shape their collective actions. The fish could be picking up on visual cues from other fish, and perhaps relying on information from sensory organs that detect movement and other changes in the water.

Do sailfish benefit from attacks of their conspecifics?

Given that injured fish are easier to catch, sailfish benefit from the attacks of their conspecifics but only up to a particular group size. A mathematical model showed that sailfish in groups of up to 70 individuals should gain benefits in this way.

How do sailfish attack fish?

Sailfish have been reported to use their bills for hitting schooling fish by tapping (short-range movement) or slashing (horizontal large-range movement) at them. The sail is normally kept folded down when swimming and only raised when the sailfish attack their prey.

Why is it called a flying fish?

Exocoetidae, commonly called Flying Fish, is a family of fishes aptly named for their ability to emerge out of the water and glide for long distances with their outstretched pectoral fins. Their streamlined torpedo shape helps them gather enough underwater speed to break the surface, and their large, wing-like fins get them airborne.

Can fish fly Exocoetidae?

The marine fish commonly called “flying fish” (Exocoetidae) do not fly. They glide. However, the freshwater hatchetfishes (Gasteropelecidae) have modified winglike pectoral fins and a deeply keeled chest equipped with specialized muscles.

How big do Sailfish tangs get?

The maximum size a Sailfish Tang can grow to is 15.7 inches (40 cm) in length. They certainly are reef compatible. Once they reach a large enough size, you can introduce them to a predator tank or even introduce a predator fish to their tank.

Can you put two sailfin tangs together?

Like most fish in the surgeonfish family, sailfin tangs are a fish that do not play well with other sailfin tangs. They are very territorial, so if you put two of them together they will fight. Because of the razor or spur by the tail, when they fight they will cut each other up. Do not put more than one in a tank.

Is a sailfin tang fish a good beginner fish?

These incredible fish, who are often mistakenly named a Desjardin’s Sailfin Tang, are not only as stunning as saltwater fish get, but they are relatively low maintenance for a Tang species and are perfect for someone looking into Tang ownership and beginner hobbyists alike.