Tank mates for mollies

We checked mollies against all 149 other species in our database for water temperature, pH, size, fin nipping, predation and aggression.

Good tank mates for mollies include betta fish, nerite snail, guppy, dwarf gourami, bristlenose pleco and bronze corydoras. Avoid cherry shrimp, common goldfish and fancy goldfish: molly eats small shrimp like cherry shrimp.

Mollies: 24–27°C (75–81°F), pH 7.5–8.5, adult size 10 cm (3.9 in), minimum tank 29 gallons (110 L). Full molly care guide.

Check a full stocking plan

Good Compatible tank mates (72)

Shared water conditions and no known conflict. Still add fish slowly and watch them.

Caution Possible, with care (55)

These can work in the right setup, but there is a real risk. Read the reason first.

  • Neon tetra · 15+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
    • One prefers soft water and the other hard water (GH 15–30 vs 1–10 dGH).
  • Panda corydoras · 15+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
  • Tiger barb · 29+ gal
    • Tiger barb nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like mollies.
  • Zebra danio · 20+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
  • Amano shrimp · 10+ gal
    • Molly hunts shrimp. Larger amano shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
  • Blood parrot cichlid · 55+ gal
    • Blood parrot cichlid defends its patch of the tank and may chase mollies, which use the same area.
  • Boesemani rainbowfish · 29+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 26–27°C).
  • Cardinal tetra · 15+ gal
    • Their preferred pH ranges don't quite overlap (7.5–8.5 vs 4.5–7).
    • One prefers soft water and the other hard water (GH 15–30 vs 1–8 dGH).
  • Celestial pearl danio · 10+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
  • Chili rasbora · 10+ gal
    • Their preferred pH ranges don't quite overlap (7.5–8.5 vs 5.5–7).
    • One prefers soft water and the other hard water (GH 15–30 vs 1–10 dGH).
  • Clown loach · 180+ gal
    • Their preferred pH ranges don't quite overlap (7.5–8.5 vs 6–7).
  • Denison barb · 75+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
  • Ember tetra · 10+ gal
    • Their preferred pH ranges don't quite overlap (7.5–8.5 vs 5.5–7).
    • One prefers soft water and the other hard water (GH 15–30 vs 1–10 dGH).
  • German blue ram · 20+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 27–27°C).
    • Their preferred pH ranges don't quite overlap (7.5–8.5 vs 5–7).
    • One prefers soft water and the other hard water (GH 15–30 vs 1–8 dGH).
  • Ghost shrimp · 10+ gal
    • Molly hunts shrimp. Larger ghost shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
  • Hillstream loach · 20+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–24°C).
    • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
  • Kuhli loach · 20+ gal
    • Their preferred pH ranges don't quite overlap (7.5–8.5 vs 5.5–7).
    • One prefers soft water and the other hard water (GH 15–30 vs 2–10 dGH).
  • Peppered corydoras · 20+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
  • Pictus catfish · 75+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
    • Their preferred pH ranges don't quite overlap (7.5–8.5 vs 6–7).
  • Pygmy corydoras · 10+ gal
    • Their preferred pH ranges don't quite overlap (7.5–8.5 vs 6.4–7.4).
    • One prefers soft water and the other hard water (GH 15–30 vs 2–10 dGH).
  • Rosy barb · 29+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–24°C).
    • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
  • Rummy-nose tetra · 29+ gal
    • Their preferred pH ranges don't quite overlap (7.5–8.5 vs 5.5–7).
  • Senegal bichir · 90+ gal
    • Senegal bichir may eat mollies, especially young or small ones.
    • Senegal bichir is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller mollies.
  • Agassiz's dwarf cichlid · 20+ gal
    • Their preferred pH ranges don't quite overlap (7.5–8.5 vs 5–7).
    • One prefers soft water and the other hard water (GH 15–30 vs 1–10 dGH).
  • Bamboo shrimp · 20+ gal
    • One prefers soft water and the other hard water (GH 15–30 vs 6–10 dGH).
    • Molly hunts shrimp. Larger bamboo shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
  • Bleeding heart tetra · 29+ gal
    • Their preferred pH ranges don't quite overlap (7.5–8.5 vs 5.5–7.2).
  • Bolivian ram · 29+ gal
    • One prefers soft water and the other hard water (GH 15–30 vs 2–10 dGH).
  • Buenos Aires tetra · 29+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
    • Buenos Aires tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like mollies.
  • Clown killifish · 10+ gal
    • Their preferred pH ranges don't quite overlap (7.5–8.5 vs 5.5–7).
    • One prefers soft water and the other hard water (GH 15–30 vs 2–8 dGH).
  • Cockatoo cichlid · 20+ gal
    • One prefers soft water and the other hard water (GH 15–30 vs 2–10 dGH).
  • Diamond tetra · 20+ gal
    • Their preferred pH ranges don't quite overlap (7.5–8.5 vs 6–7).
  • Dwarf orange crayfish · 10+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–24°C).
    • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
    • Molly may attack small crustaceans like dwarf orange crayfish, especially after they molt.
  • Gardneri killifish · 10+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
    • One prefers soft water and the other hard water (GH 15–30 vs 3–10 dGH).
  • Giant danio · 55+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
  • Glass catfish · 29+ gal
    • Their preferred pH ranges don't quite overlap (7.5–8.5 vs 6–7).
    • One prefers soft water and the other hard water (GH 15–30 vs 2–10 dGH).
  • Gold barb · 29+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–24°C).
    • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
  • Kubotai rasbora · 15+ gal
    • Their preferred pH ranges don't quite overlap (7.5–8.5 vs 6–7).
    • One prefers soft water and the other hard water (GH 15–30 vs 2–10 dGH).
  • Lambchop rasbora · 15+ gal
    • One prefers soft water and the other hard water (GH 15–30 vs 2–10 dGH).
  • Marbled hatchetfish · 20+ gal
    • Their preferred pH ranges don't quite overlap (7.5–8.5 vs 5–7).
    • One prefers soft water and the other hard water (GH 15–30 vs 2–10 dGH).
  • Odessa barb · 20+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
  • Panda garra · 29+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
  • Paradise fish · 20+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–24°C).
    • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
  • Peacock gudgeon · 15+ gal
    • One prefers soft water and the other hard water (GH 15–30 vs 5–10 dGH).
  • Rubber lip pleco · 29+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
  • Scissortail rasbora · 55+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
  • Severum · 55+ gal
    • Their preferred pH ranges don't quite overlap (7.5–8.5 vs 6–7).
    • One prefers soft water and the other hard water (GH 15–30 vs 2–10 dGH).
    • Severum defends its patch of the tank and may chase mollies, which use the same area.
  • Thai micro crab · 5+ gal
    • Molly may attack small crustaceans like Thai micro crabs, especially after they molt.
  • Turquoise rainbowfish · 29+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
  • Vampire shrimp · 20+ gal
    • Molly hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
  • Zebra loach · 29+ gal
    • One prefers soft water and the other hard water (GH 15–30 vs 2–10 dGH).
  • Zebra pleco · 20+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 26–27°C).
  • Checkerboard barb · 20+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
  • Glowlight danio · 20+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–24°C).
  • Pearl danio · 20+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
  • Variatus platy · 15+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
    • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.

Avoid Bad tank mates (22)

  • Cherry shrimp: Molly eats small shrimp like cherry shrimp.
  • Common goldfish: They need different temperatures: Molly 24–27°C (75–81°F), common goldfish 15–22°C (59–72°F).
  • Fancy goldfish: They need different temperatures: Molly 24–27°C (75–81°F), fancy goldfish 18–23°C (64–73°F).
  • Oscar: Oscar can eat mollies: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Chinese algae eater: Chinese algae eater is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful mollies.
  • Convict cichlid: Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful mollies.
  • Discus: They need different temperatures: Molly 24–27°C (75–81°F), discus 28–30°C (82–86°F).
  • Dojo loach: They need different temperatures: Molly 24–27°C (75–81°F), dojo loach 18–23°C (64–73°F).
  • Electric yellow cichlid: Electric yellow cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Mollies don't belong in that setup.
  • Jack Dempsey: Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful mollies.
  • Pea puffer: Pea puffer is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful mollies. Pea puffer is best kept in a species-only tank.
  • Peacock cichlid: Peacock cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Mollies don't belong in that setup.
  • Red zebra cichlid: Red zebra cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful mollies. Red zebra cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Mollies don't belong in that setup.
  • White cloud mountain minnow: They need different temperatures: Molly 24–27°C (75–81°F), white cloud mountain minnow 16–22°C (61–72°F).
  • Crystal red shrimp: They need very different water: pH 7.5–8.5 vs 6–6.8. Molly eats small shrimp like crystal red shrimp.
  • Demasoni cichlid: Demasoni cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful mollies. Demasoni cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Mollies don't belong in that setup.
  • Frontosa: Frontosa can eat mollies: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Frontosa is a Lake Tanganyika cichlid. It needs a Lake Tanganyika tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 8–9), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Mollies don't belong in that setup.
  • Green terror: Green terror is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful mollies.
  • Jewel cichlid: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful mollies.
  • Shell dweller cichlid: Shell dweller cichlid is a Lake Tanganyika cichlid. It needs a Lake Tanganyika tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–9), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Mollies don't belong in that setup.
  • Dwarf rasbora: They need very different water: pH 7.5–8.5 vs 5–6.5.
  • Green neon tetra: They need very different water: pH 7.5–8.5 vs 5–6.5.

Frequently asked questions

What fish can live with mollies?

Good tank mates for mollies include betta fish, nerite snail, guppy, dwarf gourami, bristlenose pleco and bronze corydoras. They need similar water and won't fight with or eat mollies.

Can mollies live with angelfish?

Yes. They share similar water needs (24–27°C (75–81°F)) and peaceful temperaments.

Can mollies live with bettas?

Yes. They share similar water needs (24–27°C (75–81°F)) and peaceful temperaments.

Can mollies live with bristlenose plecos?

Yes. They share similar water needs (24–26°C (75–79°F)) and peaceful temperaments.

Can mollies live with bronze corydoras?

Yes. They share similar water needs (24–26°C (75–79°F)) and peaceful temperaments.

Popular questions

How we decide: we compare each pair's comfortable temperature, pH and hardness ranges, adult sizes, mouth size (who can eat whom), fin nipping, aggression and territory. Read the full method. Data last reviewed 2026-10-13.