Can axolotls live with black skirt tetras?

Verdict

No. Axolotls and black skirt tetras should not share a tank. Axolotls are coldwater animals (60–66°F); black skirt tetras need 70–80°F. No temperature suits both.

Axolotl60–66°F · pH 6.5–8

Black skirt tetra70–80°F · pH 6–7.5

What to watch

Deal breakerAxolotls are coldwater animals (60–66°F); black skirt tetras need 70–80°F. No temperature suits both.
Deal breakerFish nibble at axolotl gills, and axolotls swallow small fish. Keep axolotls on their own.
Watch outA grown axolotl may treat small black skirt tetras as food, especially at night.
Watch outBlack skirt tetras nip at slow fish. Axolotls cannot get away.

What works

pH 6.5–7.5 suits both.
They use different parts of the tank: axolotls the bottom, black skirt tetras the mid.

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 skirt tetra
Temperature	60–66 °F	70–80 °F
pH	6.5–8	6–7.5
Adult size	10.0 in	2.5 in
Minimum tank	20 gal	15 gal
Temperament	Peaceful	Semi-aggressive
Swims at	Bottom	Middle
Group	Alone or in pairs	Groups of 6+
Diet	Carnivore	Omnivore

Better tank mates for black skirt tetras

All black skirt tetra tank mates

Questions

Can axolotls live with black skirt tetras?

No. Axolotls and black skirt tetras should not share a tank. Axolotls are coldwater animals (60–66°F); black skirt tetras need 70–80°F. No temperature suits both.

What temperature suits both axolotls and black skirt tetras?

None. Axolotls need 60–66 °F and black skirt tetras need 70–80 °F, so the ranges do not meet.

What size tank do axolotls and black skirt tetras need together?

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