Can mollies live with pygmy corys?

Verdict

Yes, with care

Yes, with care. Mollies and pygmy corys 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

Pygmy cory72–79°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, pygmy corys 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	Pygmy cory
Temperature	72–82 °F	72–79 °F
pH	7.5–8.5	6–7.5
Adult size	4.0 in	1.0 in
Minimum tank	20 gal	10 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 pygmy corys

All pygmy cory tank mates

Questions

Can mollies live with pygmy corys?

Yes, with care. Mollies and pygmy corys 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 pygmy corys?

72–79 °F. Mollies need 72–82 °F, pygmy corys need 72–79 °F.

What size tank do mollies and pygmy corys need together?

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