Can mollies live with odessa barbs?

Verdict

Yes, with care

Yes, with care. Mollies and odessa barbs 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

Odessa barb70–79°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 72–79°F.
They use different parts of the tank: mollies the top, odessa barbs 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	Odessa barb
Temperature	72–82 °F	70–79 °F
pH	7.5–8.5	6–7.5
Adult size	4.0 in	3.0 in
Minimum tank	20 gal	30 gal
Temperament	Peaceful	Peaceful
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 odessa barbs

All odessa barb tank mates

Questions

Can mollies live with odessa barbs?

Yes, with care. Mollies and odessa barbs 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 odessa barbs?

72–79 °F. Mollies need 72–82 °F, odessa barbs need 70–79 °F.

What size tank do mollies and odessa barbs need together?

At least 30 gal, set by the odessa barb. Add space for each extra fish.