Can axolotls live with cherry barbs?

Verdict

No. Axolotls and cherry barbs should not share a tank. Axolotls are coldwater animals (60–66°F); cherry barbs need 73–81°F. No temperature suits both.

Axolotl60–66°F · pH 6.5–8

Cherry barb73–81°F · pH 6–7.5

What to watch

Deal breakerAxolotls are coldwater animals (60–66°F); cherry barbs need 73–81°F. No temperature suits both.
Deal breakerAt 10 inches an axolotl can swallow a 2-inch cherry barb whole.
Deal breakerFish nibble at axolotl gills, and axolotls swallow small fish. Keep axolotls on their own.

What works

pH 6.5–7.5 suits both.
They use different parts of the tank: axolotls the bottom, cherry barbs 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	Cherry barb
Temperature	60–66 °F	73–81 °F
pH	6.5–8	6–7.5
Adult size	10.0 in	2.0 in
Minimum tank	20 gal	20 gal
Temperament	Peaceful	Peaceful
Swims at	Bottom	Middle
Group	Alone or in pairs	Groups of 6+
Diet	Carnivore	Omnivore

Better tank mates for cherry barbs

All cherry barb tank mates

Questions

Can axolotls live with cherry barbs?

No. Axolotls and cherry barbs should not share a tank. Axolotls are coldwater animals (60–66°F); cherry barbs need 73–81°F. No temperature suits both.

What temperature suits both axolotls and cherry barbs?

None. Axolotls need 60–66 °F and cherry barbs need 73–81 °F, so the ranges do not meet.

What size tank do axolotls and cherry barbs need together?

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