Gold Molly
Poecilia sphenops
The Gold Molly (Poecilia sphenops) is a peaceful fish that's easy to keep. Give it a tank of at least 30 litres (8 US gallons), water held at 75-82°F, and a pH of 7-8.5.
Captive lifespan reflects typical experience in a home aquarium, not maximum recorded age; genetics, sourcing, and care vary.
Natural distribution
Central America / Mexico
- Central America & Mexico
Regional colours match the stocking calculator's origin map.
Gold Molly Tank Setup
A tank of at least 30 litres (8 US gallons) at 75-82°F and pH 7-8.5 suits them well. Livebearers breed quickly, so plan for the fry and keep an eye on your male-to-female ratio.
What Do Gold Mollies Eat?
They're not fussy eaters - feed a varied diet, rotating good-quality dry, frozen, and gel foods rather than the same thing every day, and match the food size to their mouths.
Gold Molly Tank Mates
Prefers hard alkaline water; add aquarium salt for best health. Livebearer - keep more females than males to reduce harassment. May hybridise with other molly varieties. The Gold Molly is peaceful, which is the first thing to weigh up when you choose tank mates. Good matches come down to the whole stocking list working together - temperature, tank size, and temperament - not any single label. Before you buy, run your full stocking list through our stocking calculator. It weighs temperament, adult size, and water needs together, which a single species page can't do on its own.
Are Gold Mollies Good for Beginners?
Reasonable early choice after cycling. Buy after the tank has stable ammonia and nitrite readings, not the same weekend you fill it.
Gold Molly - frequently asked questions
What size tank do Gold Mollies need?
Gold Mollies need a tank of at least 30 litres (8 US gallons). A bigger tank is always easier to keep stable, and gives them more room to settle in and behave naturally.
What water parameters do Gold Mollies need?
Keep them at 75-82°F with a pH of 7-8.5, steady rather than chased to an exact figure. In a cycled tank, ammonia and nitrite should both read 0 ppm, with nitrate kept low through regular water changes.
What do Gold Mollies eat?
Gold Mollies are omnivores and aren't fussy eaters. Feed a varied mix of good-quality dry, frozen, and gel foods, and match the food size to their mouths. Feed small amounts once or twice a day, and remove anything they don't eat.
Are Gold Mollies good for beginners?
Yes - Gold Mollies are a reasonable beginner fish once the tank is cycled and parameters are stable. Add them after ammonia and nitrite read 0 ppm, not the same day you fill the tank.
Building a community? Run the full list through the stocking calculator before you add anything else.
Great tank mates
Chosen from temperament, overlapping temperature/pH bands, plausible minimum tank footprints, and size versus yours in App-aquatic data. Hobby nuance always wins - verify stocking and temperament before purchasing.
Fish to avoid mixing with Gold Mollies
These well-known species are commonly sold alongside this fish but are not recommended tank mates - verify before purchasing.
- OscarPredator - Oscar will eat or injure smaller tank mates
- Pea PufferPredator - Pea Puffer will eat or injure smaller tank mates
- Betta (Male)Predator - Betta (Male) will eat or injure smaller tank mates
