Skip to main content
Compatibility

Compatibility brief

Can Angelfish live with Molly?

Angelfish

Angelfish

Pterophyllum scalare

semi-aggressive~20cm
Molly

Molly

Poecilia sphenops

peaceful~10cm
VerdictRISKY

Risky. This mix is commonly discouraged for typical setups.

Angelfish + Molly: Known incompatible pairing. Soft-leaning cichlid vs hard-water livebearer: the honest chemistry overlap is a single point, and the temperament gap stacks on top. Plan out of this pairing rather than manage it. Real tanks add variables Fishori cannot model; treat this as a high-risk read, not certainty.

Compatibility score

25/100

Profile confidence: medium

Order of checkstank volume vs adults → predation mouth gap → temperament / fin nipping → shared water windows.

Min tank

150L

Combined minimum footprint reference for these two species: about 150L (larger active fish often want more length).

Temperature
Range in °C24–30°C shared
AngelfishMollyShared window
pH
Range7.5–7.5 shared
AngelfishMollyShared window
Temperament / behaviour

Angels want softer Amazon-leaning water; most mollies do better hard and alkaline, and the honest overlap is a single point around pH 7.5. That is a chemistry clash, not a compromise band — one species lives outside its comfort zone permanently. Add the temperament gap (a territorial cichlid over busy livebearers) and the pairing carries more stacked risks than a community plan should. Keepers who force “community tap water” see molly stress or angel dullness long before an obvious fight.

Assessment details

  1. Known incompatible pairing

    Top issue

    Soft-leaning cichlid vs hard-water livebearer: the honest chemistry overlap is a single point, and the temperament gap stacks on top. Plan out of this pairing rather than manage it.

  2. Temperament difference

    Angelfish is semi-aggressive, while Molly is peaceful. Expect chasing or stress unless the tank is large and heavily structured — monitor closely.

  3. Compatible temperature range

    Both fish can comfortably share similar water temperatures.

  4. Narrow pH overlap

    These fish can share water but their ideal pH ranges overlap only slightly. Aim to keep pH stable in the shared range.

  5. Hardness preference mismatch

    Angelfish prefers soft water and Molly prefers hard water. One of them lives outside its comfort band long-term — pick the tank's water for the more sensitive species.

“Known incompatible pairing”

Known incompatible pairing

Next steps

Concrete changes, not "research more" filler.

  • •Keep them apart: mollies in a hard livebearer tank, angels in softer water. If you already own both, a long tank with a stable pH around 7.5 is survival, not suitability — treat rehoming one side as the real fix.
  • •Provide plenty of hiding spots and visual breaks so Molly can escape if harassed.

Try instead

  • →Build a species-only tank for the larger fish, or restock with fish too large to be eaten at adult sizes.
Sources from both profiles
Only URLs that exist on the species records are shown. We do not fabricate citations.

Try this next

Build the full stocking list with Angelfish + Molly

Compare another pairOpen tank builder

Plan further

Check each species’ mates list, size the glass, then verify the full stock in the builder. Methodology explains how verdicts are produced.

Individual fish vary in personality. Fishori uses conservative hobby rules. Observe any new introduction closely, feed thoughtfully, and keep a quarantine or backup plan. This is not veterinary advice.

Profile data confidence: high. Checked against several solid care sources that mostly agree.

Full tank-mate guides

Related pair checks

Angelfish + Molly — common questions

Can Angelfish live with Molly?
For most keepers, no — the verdict is RISKY. Preferred water chemistry barely touches (soft-side cichlid vs hard-water livebearer), and the temperament gap stacks on top. This is a pairing to plan out of, not manage through.
What tank size do you need for Angelfish and Molly together?
Plan around 150 litres as the working minimum. That figure comes from each species' published minimum and their group needs, and it assumes adult sizes, not shop sizes.
What's the main risk?
Known incompatible pairing. That is the check that fails outright for this pair. The matching entry under assessment details on this page explains the reasoning and the numbers behind it.
What should you check before buying?
Provide plenty of hiding spots and visual breaks so Molly can escape if harassed.