Molly
Poecilia sphenops
Photo: (c) James-LaFontaine, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC BY 4.0
- Tank length
- 90 cm35 in
- Start with
- 3
- Temperature
- 18–28 °C64–82 °F
- pH
- 7–8.2
- Adult size
- 5.2 cm2 in
- Lifespan
- 5–10 yrs
Hard alkaline freshwater is more suitable than soft water.Hard alkaline freshwater is more suitable than soft water.
Tank sizes
Good tankmates
Avoid with
- Brilliant rasbora
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Firemouth cichlid
No shared water hardness rangeNo shared water hardness range
- Garnet tetra
No shared water hardness rangeNo shared water hardness range
Lambchop rasboraNo shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Tiger danio
No shared water hardness rangeNo shared water hardness range
- African knifefish
African knifefish may eat MollyAfrican knifefish may eat Molly
- African pike
African pike may eat MollyAfrican pike may eat Molly
- Alligator gar
Alligator gar may eat MollyAlligator gar may eat Molly
- Altum angelfish
No shared water hardness rangeNo shared water hardness range
- Amazon leaffish
No shared water hardness rangeNo shared water hardness range
- Antenna ray
Antenna ray may eat MollyAntenna ray may eat Molly
- Arapaima
Arapaima may eat MollyArapaima may eat Molly
Data used by the planner
| Temperature | 18–28 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04; agrees with FishBase (fishbase.se), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
|---|---|---|
| pH | 7–8.2 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04; agrees with FishBase (fishbase.se), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
| Hardness (dGH) | 11–30 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04; agrees with FishBase (fishbase.se), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
| Origin | Central and northern South America | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Beginner friendly | Yes | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Care level | easy | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Activity | active | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Swimming level | middle | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Temperament | peaceful | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Nips fins | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Long fins | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Territorial | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Lives in groups | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Minimum group | 1 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Diet | omnivore | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Lifespan (years) | 5–10 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Months to adult size | 12 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Safe with plants | Yes | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Minimum tank length | 90 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |