Sailfin Molly tank mates
A large livebearer at 12 cm that needs very hard alkaline water or a salt supplement. More demanding and larger than regular mollies.
Lists below are built from this species record (safest, best with, risky, unsafe) — each link opens a pair-level check, not a guarantee.
Best tank mates (on file)
Merged from conservative safest and best with fields — de-duplicated by species.
The Sailfin Molly profile lists Boesemani Rainbowfish as both safe and a recommended pairing. Boesemani Rainbowfish schools in groups of 6 or more, so plan room for the whole group rather than one fish.
The Sailfin Molly profile lists Corydoras Catfish as both safe and a recommended pairing. Corydoras Catfish schools in groups of 6 or more, so plan room for the whole group rather than one fish. Water parameters barely overlap between the two, so check the temperature and pH ranges on both profiles before stocking. Corydoras Catfish swims in the bottom zone while Sailfin Molly stays in the middle, so the two will not crowd the same water column.
The Sailfin Molly profile lists Molly as both safe and a recommended pairing. Molly is a peaceful beginner-care species with a 80L minimum. Run the pair checker for your specific tank before stocking.
The Sailfin Molly profile lists Platy as both safe and a recommended pairing. Platy is a peaceful beginner-care species with a 60L minimum. Run the pair checker for your specific tank before stocking.
Risky or situational
From risky tank mates and broad avoid with (excluding “unsafe” below). May work with species-only setups, more water, or mature systems — read the pair page.
None on file beyond the safe list.
Fish to avoid with Sailfin Molly
From the unsafe list — predation, aggression, or space rules on this profile.
Betta conflicts with Sailfin Molly on temperament, predation, or footprint. The juvenile size in a shop tank is not the figure that matters here.
Jack Dempsey reaches 25cm and is flagged predatory. Sailfin Molly at 12cm is prey-sized for it. Jack Dempsey is rated aggressive and Sailfin Molly is rated peaceful. No community-style planning carries that gap.
Oscar reaches 35cm and is flagged predatory. Sailfin Molly at 12cm is prey-sized for it. Oscar needs at least 300L, far above the 120L minimum for Sailfin Molly. The tank that houses one stresses the other. Oscar is rated aggressive and Sailfin Molly is rated peaceful. No community-style planning carries that gap.
Tank size and groups
- Published minimum for Sailfin Molly: 120L — group minimum 3 .
- Compatibility changes when the tank is too short for turning, too little for a real school, or too warm for one species and not the other — that is why pair checks include tank context, not only temperament.
- Nearest litre hub to this minimum: 120L hub.
Easier alternatives to consider
Conservative beginner-peaceful picks from the library — not replacements for reading, but a shorter on-ramp than this species for a first tank.
Plan before you buy
Pair checks for every mix, then multi-species stocking in the builder.
Filtration & heating
A 120L minimum tank for Sailfin Molly needs a filter rated for at least 480L/hr turnover and a heater maintaining 22–30°C.
Similar fish (same category)
- Molly — min 80L
- Swordtail — min 80L
- Platy — min 60L
- Endler's Livebearer — min 40L
- Guppy — min 40L
Related (care + temperament)
Other species that list Sailfin Molly
Reverse lookup: these profiles reference Sailfin Molly under safe or “best with” lists.