Can axolotls live with chili rasboras?

Verdict

No. Axolotls and chili rasboras should not share a tank. Axolotls are coldwater animals (60–66°F); chili rasboras need 75–82°F. No temperature suits both.

Axolotl60–66°F · pH 6.5–8

Chili rasbora75–82°F · pH 4–7

What to watch

Deal breakerAxolotls are coldwater animals (60–66°F); chili rasboras need 75–82°F. No temperature suits both.
Deal breakerAt 10 inches an axolotl can swallow a 0.8-inch chili rasbora whole.
Deal breakerFish nibble at axolotl gills, and axolotls swallow small fish. Keep axolotls on their own.

What works

pH 6.5–7 suits both.
They use different parts of the tank: axolotls the bottom, chili rasboras 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	Chili rasbora
Temperature	60–66 °F	75–82 °F
pH	6.5–8	4–7
Adult size	10.0 in	0.8 in
Minimum tank	20 gal	5 gal
Temperament	Peaceful	Peaceful
Swims at	Bottom	Middle
Group	Alone or in pairs	Groups of 8+
Diet	Carnivore	Carnivore

Better tank mates for chili rasboras

All chili rasbora tank mates

Questions

Can axolotls live with chili rasboras?

No. Axolotls and chili rasboras should not share a tank. Axolotls are coldwater animals (60–66°F); chili rasboras need 75–82°F. No temperature suits both.

What temperature suits both axolotls and chili rasboras?

None. Axolotls need 60–66 °F and chili rasboras need 75–82 °F, so the ranges do not meet.

What size tank do axolotls and chili rasboras need together?

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