Can mollies live with zebra plecos?

Verdict

Yes, with care

Yes, with care. Mollies and zebra plecos 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 pleco79–88°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 79–82°F.
They use different parts of the tank: mollies the top, zebra plecos 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 pleco
Temperature	72–82 °F	79–88 °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+	Alone or in pairs
Diet	Omnivore	Carnivore

Better tank mates for mollies

All molly tank mates

Better tank mates for zebra plecos

All zebra pleco tank mates

Questions

Can mollies live with zebra plecos?

Yes, with care. Mollies and zebra plecos 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 plecos?

79–82 °F. Mollies need 72–82 °F, zebra plecos need 79–88 °F.

What size tank do mollies and zebra plecos need together?

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