Can mollies live with zebra loaches?

Verdict

Yes, with care

Yes, with care. Mollies and zebra loaches 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

Zebra loach73–79°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 73–79°F.
They use different parts of the tank: mollies the top, zebra loaches 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	Zebra loach
Temperature	72–82 °F	73–79 °F
pH	7.5–8.5	6–7.5
Adult size	4.0 in	3.5 in
Minimum tank	20 gal	30 gal
Temperament	Peaceful	Peaceful
Swims at	Top	Bottom
Group	Groups of 3+	Groups of 5+
Diet	Omnivore	Omnivore

Better tank mates for mollies

All molly tank mates

Better tank mates for zebra loaches

All zebra loach tank mates

Questions

Can mollies live with zebra loaches?

Yes, with care. Mollies and zebra loaches 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 zebra loaches?

73–79 °F. Mollies need 72–82 °F, zebra loaches need 73–79 °F.

What size tank do mollies and zebra loaches need together?

At least 30 gal, set by the zebra loach. Add space for each extra fish.