What are the best tank mates for Molly?

Top engine-approved picks: Figure-8 Puffer, Sailfin Molly, Even-spotted Synodontis, Swordtail, Cuckoo Catfish. Each shares a workable temperature and pH band with Molly and clears the temperament and predation checks in a spacious reference tank.

What fish should you avoid keeping with Molly?

The engine red-flags Adonis Pleco, African Butterfly Cichlid, African Butterflyfish among others — for incompatible water, temperament conflict or predation risk. The avoid list above states the specific reason for each pairing.

Molly care guide

Molly tank mates

Every recommendation below is computed, not copied: the AquaSage engine paired Molly (10 cm / 3.9 in, peaceful) with 271 fish and invertebrates in a spacious reference tank and scored each pair for water-parameter overlap, temperament, predation and husbandry. A species makes the green list only when every check passes at 24–28 °C (75.2–82.4 °F).

Verdicts by the AquaSage engine v0.1.2 in a 450 L reference tank. Read the full methodology →

Best tank mates for Molly

Figure-8 Puffer

8 cm · 22–28°C

Sailfin Molly

12.5 cm · 20–28°C

Even-spotted Synodontis

13.5 cm · 23–28°C

Swordtail

14 cm · 22–28°C

Cuckoo Catfish

15 cm · 22–27°C

Similis Shell Dweller

5 cm · 23–28°C

Endler's Livebearer

4.5 cm · 22–29°C

Blue Dolphin Cichlid

25 cm · 24–28°C

Star Sapphire

25 cm · 23–28°C

Possible with care

Acei Cichlid— Setup needs adjustments for some species
Agassiz's Cory— Everyone is close on pH — one fish sits just outside its favourite
Assassin Snail— pH is a compromise for someone here
Auratus Cichlid— Some tension — cover and space are doing the work
Banjo Catfish— pH is a compromise for someone here
Betta (Siamese Fighting Fish)— Everyone is close on pH — one fish sits just outside its favourite
Bladder Snail— pH is a compromise for someone here
Blood Parrot Cichlid— Everyone is close on pH — one fish sits just outside its favourite
Bloodfin Tetra— Everyone is close on pH — one fish sits just outside its favourite
Blue Acara— Everyone is close on pH — one fish sits just outside its favourite
Boesemani Rainbowfish— pH is a compromise for someone here
Borleyi (Redfin Hap)— pH is a compromise for someone here
Brevis Shell Dweller— pH is a compromise for someone here
Brichardi (Fairy Cichlid)— Everyone is close on pH — one fish sits just outside its favourite
Bristlenose Pleco— pH is a compromise for someone here
Bronze Corydoras— pH is a compromise for someone here
Buenos Aires Tetra— Everyone is close on pH — one fish sits just outside its favourite
Buffalohead Cichlid— Everyone is close on pH — one fish sits just outside its favourite
Bumblebee Cichlid— Some tension — cover and space are doing the work
Bumblebee Goby— Hardness (GH) is a compromise for someone here
Calvus Cichlid— Everyone is close on pH — one fish sits just outside its favourite
Celebes Rainbowfish— Carbonate hardness (KH) is a compromise for someone here
Chinese Algae Eater— Everyone is close on pH — one fish sits just outside its favourite
Cobalt Blue Zebra— Some tension — cover and space are doing the work
Colombian Ramshorn Snail— Setup needs adjustments for some species
Compressiceps Cichlid— Everyone is close on pH — one fish sits just outside its favourite
Convict Cichlid— pH is a compromise for someone here
Cylindricus Cichlid— pH is a compromise for someone here
Cyprichromis— Everyone is close on pH — one fish sits just outside its favourite
Demasoni Cichlid— Some tension — cover and space are doing the work
Dogtooth Cichlid— pH is a compromise for someone here
Duboisi Tropheus— Everyone is close on pH — one fish sits just outside its favourite
Dwarf Orange Crayfish— Everyone is close on temperature — one fish sits just outside its favourite
Dwarf Pea Puffer— pH is a compromise for someone here
Dwarf Petricola Catfish— pH is a compromise for someone here
Electric Blue Ahli— Setup needs adjustments for some species
Electric Yellow Lab— Setup needs adjustments for some species
Ellioti Cichlid— Hardness (GH) is a compromise for someone here
Elongate Mbuna— Some tension — cover and space are doing the work
Emerald Cory— Everyone is close on pH — one fish sits just outside its favourite
Firemouth Cichlid— Everyone is close on pH — one fish sits just outside its favourite
Five-bar Cichlid— pH is a compromise for someone here
Flame Tetra— Everyone is close on temperature — one fish sits just outside its favourite
Forktail Rainbowfish— pH is a compromise for someone here
Freshwater Clam— Everyone is close on temperature — one fish sits just outside its favourite
Goby Cichlid— Everyone is close on pH — one fish sits just outside its favourite
Gold Barb— Everyone is close on temperature — one fish sits just outside its favourite
Golden Julie— pH is a compromise for someone here
Golden Wonder Killifish— pH is a compromise for someone here
Green Spotted Pufferfish— Hardness (GH) is a compromise for someone here
Guppy— pH is a compromise for someone here
Hongi Cichlid— Some tension — cover and space are doing the work
Jack Dempsey— Everyone is close on pH — one fish sits just outside its favourite
Japanese Trapdoor Snail— Everyone is close on temperature — one fish sits just outside its favourite
Jewel Cichlid— pH is a compromise for someone here
Johanni Cichlid— Some tension — cover and space are doing the work
Kenyi Cichlid— Some tension — cover and space are doing the work
Kissing Gourami— Everyone is close on pH — one fish sits just outside its favourite
Least Killifish— Everyone is close on temperature — one fish sits just outside its favourite
Lemon Cichlid— pH is a compromise for someone here
Leopard Danio— Everyone is close on temperature — one fish sits just outside its favourite
Livingstoni— Setup needs adjustments for some species
Malaysian Trumpet Snail— pH is a compromise for someone here
Marlieri Cichlid— pH is a compromise for someone here
Masked Julie— Everyone is close on pH — one fish sits just outside its favourite
Medaka Ricefish— Temperature is a compromise for someone here
Multifasciatus Shell Dweller— pH is a compromise for someone here
Mystery Snail— Everyone is close on temperature — one fish sits just outside its favourite
Ocellatus Shell Dweller— pH is a compromise for someone here
Odessa Barb— Everyone is close on temperature — one fish sits just outside its favourite
Paradise Fish— Everyone is close on temperature — one fish sits just outside its favourite
Paraguay Eartheater— Everyone is close on temperature — one fish sits just outside its favourite
Peacock Cichlid— Setup needs adjustments for some species
Pearl Danio— Everyone is close on temperature — one fish sits just outside its favourite
Penguin Tetra— Everyone is close on pH — one fish sits just outside its favourite
Pictus Catfish— Everyone is close on temperature — one fish sits just outside its favourite
Platy— Everyone is close on temperature — one fish sits just outside its favourite
Powder Blue Cichlid— pH is a compromise for someone here
Rainbow Cichlid— pH is a compromise for someone here
Ramshorn Snail— Everyone is close on temperature — one fish sits just outside its favourite
Red Empress— Setup needs adjustments for some species
Red Rainbowfish— Hardness (GH) is a compromise for someone here
Red Zebra Cichlid— Some tension — cover and space are doing the work
Redhead Cichlid— Setup needs adjustments for some species
Regan's Julie— Everyone is close on pH — one fish sits just outside its favourite
Rubber Lip Pleco— Everyone is close on temperature — one fish sits just outside its favourite
Rusty Cichlid— Setup needs adjustments for some species
Salvini Cichlid— pH is a compromise for someone here
Sand-sifting Xenotilapia— Everyone is close on pH — one fish sits just outside its favourite
Saulosi Cichlid— Setup needs adjustments for some species
Silver Moony— Approaching capacity
Silver Tip Tetra— Everyone is close on pH — one fish sits just outside its favourite
Spotted Hoplo— Everyone is close on pH — one fish sits just outside its favourite
Sunshine Peacock— Setup needs adjustments for some species
T-Bar Cichlid— pH is a compromise for someone here
Taiwan Reef Cichlid— Hardness (GH) is a compromise for someone here
Threadfin Petrochromis— Everyone is close on pH — one fish sits just outside its favourite
Three-spot Gourami— Everyone is close on pH — one fish sits just outside its favourite
Tiger Barb— Everyone is close on pH — one fish sits just outside its favourite
Tropheus— Everyone is close on pH — one fish sits just outside its favourite
Turquoise Rainbowfish— Hardness (GH) is a compromise for someone here
Vampire Shrimp— pH is a compromise for someone here
Venezuelan Cory— Everyone is close on pH — one fish sits just outside its favourite
Venustus (Giraffe Cichlid)— One swimming zone is overcrowded
Wrestling Halfbeak— Hardness (GH) is a compromise for someone here
X-ray Tetra— Everyone is close on pH — one fish sits just outside its favourite
Zebra Danio— Everyone is close on temperature — one fish sits just outside its favourite
Zebra Mbuna— pH is a compromise for someone here

Avoid with Molly

Adonis Pleco— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
African Butterfly Cichlid— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
African Butterflyfish— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
Agassiz's Dwarf Cichlid— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
Altum Angelfish— No pH value suits every species here
Amano Shrimp— Only one carbonate hardness (KH) value suits everyone — no margin
Angelfish— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
Bala Shark— Only one hardness (GH) value suits everyone — no margin
Bamboo Shrimp— Only one hardness (GH) value suits everyone — no margin
Black Moor Goldfish— No temperature suits every species here
Black Neon Tetra— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
Black Phantom Tetra— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
Black Ruby Barb— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
Black Skirt Tetra— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
Blackline Rasbora— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
Bleeding Heart Tetra— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
Blue Tiger Shrimp— No hardness (GH) value suits every species here
Blue Velvet Shrimp— No hardness (GH) value suits every species here
Bolivian Ram— Only one hardness (GH) value suits everyone — no margin
Borneo Sucker— Only one temperature suits everyone — no margin
Brichard's Teleogramma— No hardness (GH) value suits every species here
Butterfly Hillstream Loach— Only one temperature suits everyone — no margin
Cardinal Tetra— No pH value suits every species here
Celestial Pearl Danio— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
Checkerboard Cichlid— No pH value suits every species here
Checkered Barb— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
Cherry Barb— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
Cherry Shrimp— No hardness (GH) value suits every species here
Chili Rasbora— No pH value suits every species here
Chocolate Cichlid— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
Chocolate Gourami— No pH value suits every species here
Clown Killifish— No pH value suits every species here
Clown Loach— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
Clown Pleco— Only one hardness (GH) value suits everyone — no margin
Cochu's Blue Tetra— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
Comet Goldfish— No temperature suits every species here
Common Goldfish— No temperature suits every species here
Common Pleco— Tank is too small for some species
Congo Dwarf Cichlid— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
Congo Tetra— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
Crystal Red Shrimp— No pH value suits every species here
Demon Eartheater— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
Denison Barb— Only one carbonate hardness (KH) value suits everyone — no margin
Diamond Tetra— No pH value suits every species here
Discus— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
Doctor Fish— Only one hardness (GH) value suits everyone — no margin
Dojo (Weather) Loach— No hardness (GH) value suits every species here
Dwarf Chain Loach— Only one hardness (GH) value suits everyone — no margin
Dwarf Flag Cichlid— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
Dwarf Gourami— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
Dwarf Neon Rainbowfish— Only one hardness (GH) value suits everyone — no margin
Dwarf Rasbora— No pH value suits every species here
Elephantnose Fish— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
Ember Tetra— No pH value suits every species here
Emperor Tetra— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
Endlicheri Bichir— Tank is too small for some species
Fantail Goldfish— No temperature suits every species here
Featherfin Squeaker— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
Festivum (Flag Cichlid)— No hardness (GH) value suits every species here
Frontosa— Tank is too small for some species
German Blue Ram— No pH value suits every species here
Ghost Shrimp— Only one hardness (GH) value suits everyone — no margin
Glass Catfish— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
Glowlight Danio— No hardness (GH) value suits every species here
Glowlight Tetra— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
Golden Dwarf Cichlid— Only one hardness (GH) value suits everyone — no margin
Golden Pencilfish— Only one hardness (GH) value suits everyone — no margin
Golden Tetra— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
Green Discus— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
Green Neon Tetra— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
Green Terror— A predator will eat a tankmate
Harlequin Rasbora— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
Head-and-Tail-Light Tetra— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
Heckel Discus— No pH value suits every species here
Honey Gourami— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
Iridescent Shark— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
Jaguar Cichlid— Tank is too small for some species
Julii Cory— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
Keyhole Cichlid— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
Koi— No temperature suits every species here
Kribensis— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
Kuhli Loach— No pH value suits every species here
Lambchop Rasbora— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
Lemon Tetra— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
Little Corydoras— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
Macmasteri Dwarf Cichlid— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
Maingano Cichlid— Only one carbonate hardness (KH) value suits everyone — no margin
Malawi Eyebiter— A predator will eat a tankmate
Malawi Hawk— Tank is too small for some species
Marble Hatchetfish— No pH value suits every species here
Moonlight Gourami— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
Neon Tetra— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
Nerite Snail— Only one hardness (GH) value suits everyone — no margin
Oranda Goldfish— No temperature suits every species here
Ornate Bichir— Tank is too small for some species
Oscar— Tank is too small for some species
Otocinclus— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
Panda Corydoras— No pH value suits every species here
Peaceful Betta— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
Peacock Bass— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
Pearl Gourami— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
Peppered Corydoras— Only one hardness (GH) value suits everyone — no margin
Pike Cichlid— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
Polka Dot Loach— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
Port Cichlid— Only one hardness (GH) value suits everyone — no margin
Purple Emperor Tetra— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
Pygmy Corydoras— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
Rabbit Snail— Only one hardness (GH) value suits everyone — no margin
Rainbow Shark— Only one hardness (GH) value suits everyone — no margin
Ranchu Goldfish— No temperature suits every species here
Red Devil— A predator will eat a tankmate
Red Terror— Tank is too small for some species
Red Whiptail Catfish— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
Red-Tail Shark— Only one hardness (GH) value suits everyone — no margin
Reticulated Flying Fox— Only one temperature suits everyone — no margin
Reticulated Hillstream Loach— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
Rostratus— Tank is too small for some species
Rosy Barb— Only one temperature suits everyone — no margin
Rosy Red Minnow— No temperature suits every species here
Rosy Tetra— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
Royal Pleco— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
Rummynose Tetra— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
Ryukin Goldfish— No temperature suits every species here
Sailfin Pleco— Tank is too small for some species
Salt and Pepper Cory— No hardness (GH) value suits every species here
Scarlet Badis— Only one hardness (GH) value suits everyone — no margin
Scissortail Rasbora— No hardness (GH) value suits every species here
Serpae Tetra— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
Severum— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
Shubunkin Goldfish— No temperature suits every species here
Siamese Algae Eater— Only one hardness (GH) value suits everyone — no margin
Silver Arowana— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
Skunk Cory— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
Sparkling Gourami— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
Sterbai Corydoras— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
Strawberry Rasbora— No pH value suits every species here
Striped Kribensis— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
Striped Raphael Catfish— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
Sulawesi Cardinal Shrimp— No hardness (GH) value suits every species here
Sveni Eartheater— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
Telescope Goldfish— No temperature suits every species here
Texas Cichlid— Only one hardness (GH) value suits everyone — no margin
Thai Micro Crab— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
Thick-lipped Gourami— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
Threadfin Acara— Only one hardness (GH) value suits everyone — no margin
Threadfin Rainbowfish— No hardness (GH) value suits every species here
Uaru (Triangle Cichlid)— No pH value suits every species here
Umbrella Dwarf Cichlid— Only one hardness (GH) value suits everyone — no margin
Upside-down Catfish— Only one hardness (GH) value suits everyone — no margin
White Cloud Mountain Minnow— Only one temperature suits everyone — no margin
Wolf Cichlid— Tank is too small for some species
Yoyo Loach— No hardness (GH) value suits every species here
Zebra Pleco— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin

Frequently asked questions

What are the best tank mates for Molly?: Top engine-approved picks: Figure-8 Puffer, Sailfin Molly, Even-spotted Synodontis, Swordtail, Cuckoo Catfish. Each shares a workable temperature and pH band with Molly and clears the temperament and predation checks in a spacious reference tank.
What fish should you avoid keeping with Molly?: The engine red-flags Adonis Pleco, African Butterfly Cichlid, African Butterflyfish among others — for incompatible water, temperament conflict or predation risk. The avoid list above states the specific reason for each pairing.

Plan a Molly tank in the calculator