Can mollies live with black skirt tetras?

Verdict

Yes, with care

Yes, with care. Mollies and black skirt tetras 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

Black skirt tetra70–80°F · pH 6–7.5

What to watch

Watch outWater chemistry is a squeeze. The only pH that suits both is around 7.5.

What works

Both are fine at 72–80°F.
They use different parts of the tank: mollies the top, black skirt tetras the mid.

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	Black skirt tetra
Temperature	72–82 °F	70–80 °F
pH	7.5–8.5	6–7.5
Adult size	4.0 in	2.5 in
Minimum tank	20 gal	15 gal
Temperament	Peaceful	Semi-aggressive
Swims at	Top	Middle
Group	Groups of 3+	Groups of 6+
Diet	Omnivore	Omnivore

Better tank mates for mollies

All molly tank mates

Better tank mates for black skirt tetras

All black skirt tetra tank mates

Questions

Can mollies live with black skirt tetras?

Yes, with care. Mollies and black skirt tetras 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 black skirt tetras?

72–80 °F. Mollies need 72–82 °F, black skirt tetras need 70–80 °F.

What size tank do mollies and black skirt tetras need together?

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