Species profile
Molly
Poecilia sphenops
ai-generated confidence: medium
AI-generated aquarium-care values from common hobby consensus; salinity use varies by strain and should be reviewed.
Care table
| Water type | freshwater |
|---|---|
| Care level | easy to moderate |
| Minimum tank | 30 US gal / 114 L |
| Minimum group size | 3 |
| Adult size | 10 cm |
| Temperature | 24-28 C |
| pH | 7.2-8.5 |
| Hardness | 12-30 dGH |
| Salinity | 0-5 ppt |
| Temperament | peaceful livebearer |
| Aggression notes | Best in mineral-rich water; some populations tolerate lightly brackish conditions. Males may pester females. |
| Diet | omnivore with plant matter |
| Swim zone | middle/top |
| Activity level | active |
| Bioload | medium |
| Reef safe | Not applicable or not reviewed |
| Plant safe | Yes |
| Invert safe | Yes |
| Compatibility tags | freshwater, livebearer, hard-water, brackish-tolerant, active-swimmer |
| Avoid with tags | soft-acidic-specialist, timid-nano-fish, large-predator |
Tank mate compatibility
Generated same-water-type pair checks for Molly.
- Can Molly and Angelfish live together? not recommended
- Can Molly and Betta live together? compatible
- Can Molly and Bristlenose pleco live together? compatible
- Can Molly and Bronze cory live together? caution
- Can Molly and Cardinal tetra live together? not recommended
- Can Molly and Cherry shrimp live together? caution
- Can Molly and Chili rasbora live together? not recommended
- Can Molly and Ember tetra live together? not recommended
- Can Molly and Guppy live together? caution
- Can Molly and Harlequin rasbora live together? caution
- Can Molly and Honey gourami live together? caution
- Can Molly and Kuhli loach live together? not recommended
- Can Molly and Neon tetra live together? not recommended
- Can Molly and Otocinclus live together? caution
- Can Molly and Pearl gourami live together? caution
- Can Molly and Peppered cory live together? caution
- Can Molly and Platy live together? caution
- Can Molly and Pygmy cory live together? not recommended
- Can Molly and Swordtail live together? caution
- Can Molly and Tiger barb live together? caution
- Can Molly and Zebra danio live together? caution
Sources and attribution
Source links are verification references for taxonomy and identifiers. Aquarium-care values are AI-generated from common hobby consensus and need expert review before launch-quality advice.
- Wikidata search - Taxonomy/identifier verification lead only.
- GBIF species search - Taxonomy verification lead only.