Can mollies live with bamboo shrimp?

Verdict

Yes, with care

Yes, with care. Mollies and bamboo shrimp can share a tank, but watch one thing. Water chemistry is a squeeze. The only pH that suits both is around 7.5.

Molly72–82°F · pH 7.5–8.5

Bamboo shrimp72–82°F · pH 6.5–7.5

What to watch

Watch outWater chemistry is a squeeze. The only pH that suits both is around 7.5.
Watch outMollies will eat baby shrimp and may chase adults. Dense plants or moss give bamboo shrimp somewhere to hide.

What works

Both are fine at 72–82°F.
They use different parts of the tank: mollies the top, bamboo shrimp the bottom.

Water side by side

The green band is the temperature range both can live in.

The green band is the pH both tolerate.

Size to scale

Adult length in an aquarium. A fish can swallow anything that fits in its mouth, roughly a third to half its own length for predators.

Care at a glance

	Molly	Bamboo shrimp
Temperature	72–82 °F	72–82 °F
pH	7.5–8.5	6.5–7.5
Adult size	4.0 in	3.0 in
Minimum tank	20 gal	20 gal
Temperament	Peaceful	Peaceful
Swims at	Top	Bottom
Group	Groups of 3+	Alone or in pairs
Diet	Omnivore	Omnivore

Better tank mates for mollies

All molly tank mates

Better tank mates for bamboo shrimp

All bamboo shrimp tank mates

Questions

Can mollies live with bamboo shrimp?

Yes, with care. Mollies and bamboo shrimp can share a tank, but watch one thing. Water chemistry is a squeeze. The only pH that suits both is around 7.5.

What temperature suits both mollies and bamboo shrimp?

72–82 °F. Mollies need 72–82 °F, bamboo shrimp need 72–82 °F.

What size tank do mollies and bamboo shrimp need together?

At least 20 gal, set by the molly. Add space for each extra fish.