Can axolotls live with black ghost knives?

Verdict

No. Axolotls and black ghost knives should not share a tank. Axolotls are coldwater animals (60–66°F); black ghost knives need 73–82°F. No temperature suits both.

Axolotl60–66°F · pH 6.5–8

Black ghost knife73–82°F · pH 6–8

What to watch

Deal breakerAxolotls are coldwater animals (60–66°F); black ghost knives need 73–82°F. No temperature suits both.
Deal breakerFish nibble at axolotl gills, and axolotls swallow small fish. Keep axolotls on their own.
Watch outBlack ghost knives grow to 15 inches and need 125 gallons, far more than a tank set up for axolotls.

What works

pH 6.5–8 suits both.

Water side by side

The ranges do not meet, so one of them would always be too warm or too cold.

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

	Axolotl	Black ghost knife
Temperature	60–66 °F	73–82 °F
pH	6.5–8	6–8
Adult size	10.0 in	15.0 in
Minimum tank	20 gal	125 gal
Temperament	Peaceful	Semi-aggressive
Swims at	Bottom	Bottom
Group	Alone or in pairs	One per tank
Diet	Carnivore	Carnivore

Better tank mates for black ghost knives

All black ghost knife tank mates

Questions

Can axolotls live with black ghost knives?

No. Axolotls and black ghost knives should not share a tank. Axolotls are coldwater animals (60–66°F); black ghost knives need 73–82°F. No temperature suits both.

What temperature suits both axolotls and black ghost knives?

None. Axolotls need 60–66 °F and black ghost knives need 73–82 °F, so the ranges do not meet.

What size tank do axolotls and black ghost knives need together?

At least 125 gal, set by the black ghost knife. Add space for each extra fish.