Can axolotls live with firemouth cichlids?

Verdict

No. Axolotls and firemouth cichlids should not share a tank. Axolotls are coldwater animals (60–66°F); firemouth cichlids need 75–86°F. No temperature suits both.

Axolotl60–66°F · pH 6.5–8

Firemouth cichlid75–86°F · pH 6.5–8

What to watch

Deal breakerAxolotls are coldwater animals (60–66°F); firemouth cichlids need 75–86°F. No temperature suits both.
Deal breakerFish nibble at axolotl gills, and axolotls swallow small fish. Keep axolotls on their own.

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	Firemouth cichlid
Temperature	60–66 °F	75–86 °F
pH	6.5–8	6.5–8
Adult size	10.0 in	6.0 in
Minimum tank	20 gal	30 gal
Temperament	Peaceful	Semi-aggressive
Swims at	Bottom	Bottom
Group	Alone or in pairs	Alone or in pairs
Diet	Carnivore	Omnivore

Better tank mates for firemouth cichlids

All firemouth cichlid tank mates

Questions

Can axolotls live with firemouth cichlids?

No. Axolotls and firemouth cichlids should not share a tank. Axolotls are coldwater animals (60–66°F); firemouth cichlids need 75–86°F. No temperature suits both.

What temperature suits both axolotls and firemouth cichlids?

None. Axolotls need 60–66 °F and firemouth cichlids need 75–86 °F, so the ranges do not meet.

What size tank do axolotls and firemouth cichlids need together?

At least 30 gal, set by the firemouth cichlid. Add space for each extra fish.