Dwarf molly
Poecilia chica
- Adult size
- 3 cm1 in
- Start with
- 3
- Tank length
- 12 cm5 in
- Lifespan
- 2–3 yrs
- Temperature
- 23–26 °C73–79 °F
- pH
- 6.5–7.5
- Hardness
- 10–20 dGH
- Diet
- omnivore
A small, rarely seen molly; keep a group with more females than males and offer plenty of algae and plant matter.A small, rarely seen molly; keep a group with more females than males and offer plenty of algae and plant matter.
Tank sizes
Good tankmates
Avoid with
- Acei cichlid
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- African clawed frog
African clawed frog may eat Dwarf mollyAfrican clawed frog may eat Dwarf molly
- Brevis shell dweller
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Caudopunctatus
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Irian Jaya rainbowfish
No shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
- Multies
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Pindani
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Rusty cichlid
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Saulosi cichlid
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Similis shell dweller
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Abei puffer
Abei puffer may eat Dwarf mollyAbei puffer may eat Dwarf molly
- Afra cichlid
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
Sources
| temperature | 23–26 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04; agrees with FishBase (fishbase.se), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium |
|---|---|---|
| ph | 6.5–7.5 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04; agrees with FishBase (fishbase.se), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium |
| gh | 10–20 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04; agrees with FishBase (fishbase.se), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium |
| origin | Pacific slope of Jalisco, Mexico | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| notes | A small, rarely seen molly; keep a group with more females than males and offer | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| beginner friendly | false | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| care level | moderate | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| color palette | #B8B8A8, #E0A030 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| activity | moderate | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| swim zone | top | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| temperament | peaceful | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| fin nipper | false | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| long finned | false | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| territorial | false | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| schooling | false | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| social min | 3 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| schooling min | 1 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| diet | omnivore | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| lifespan years | 2–3 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| growth to adult months | 5 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| length weight | {"a":0.013,"b":3} | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| planted safe | true | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| body shape | livebearer | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |