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Compatibility

Compatibility brief

Can Dwarf Gourami live with Molly?

Dwarf Gourami

Dwarf Gourami

Trichogaster lalius

peaceful~8cm
Molly

Molly

Poecilia sphenops

peaceful~10cm
VerdictCAUTION

Caution. Check the issues below before buying.

Dwarf Gourami + Molly: Caution advised. Water chemistry mismatch. Dwarf gouramis prefer soft slightly acidic water; mollies need hard alkaline. Both survive in mid-range water but neither thrives, and the molly's activity can wear on the gourami's surface time. Outcomes still depend on your tank shape, maintenance routine, and individual fish.

Compatibility score

65/100

Profile confidence: medium

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

Min tank

80L

Combined minimum footprint reference for these two species: about 80L (larger active fish often want more length).

Temperature
Range in °C24–28°C shared
Dwarf GouramiMollyShared window
pH
Range7.5–7.5 shared
Dwarf GouramiMollyShared window

Assessment details

  1. Caution advised

    Top issue

    Water chemistry mismatch. Dwarf gouramis prefer soft slightly acidic water; mollies need hard alkaline. Both survive in mid-range water but neither thrives, and the molly's activity can wear on the gourami's surface time.

  2. Compatible temperaments

    Both Dwarf Gourami and Molly share a peaceful temperament.

  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

    Dwarf Gourami 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.

“Water chemistry mismatch”

Caution advised
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 Dwarf Gourami + 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

Other tank mates for Dwarf Gourami

Dwarf Gourami + Molly — common questions

Can Dwarf Gourami live with Molly?
Yes, if you plan for it. The verdict is CAUTION, which means the pairing works when specific conditions are met, not by default. The assessment details on this page list what to set up first.
What tank size do you need for Dwarf Gourami and Molly together?
Plan around 80 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?
Narrow pH overlap. That is the first thing to plan around. The matching entry under assessment details on this page explains the reasoning and the numbers behind it.