Can axolotls live with gold barbs?

Verdict

No. Axolotls and gold barbs should not share a tank. Axolotls are coldwater animals (60–66°F); gold barbs need 64–75°F. They overlap only at 64–66°F, the edge of both ranges.

Axolotl60–66°F · pH 6.5–8

Gold barb64–75°F · pH 6–8

What to watch

Deal breakerAxolotls are coldwater animals (60–66°F); gold barbs need 64–75°F. They overlap only at 64–66°F, the edge of both ranges.
Deal breakerFish nibble at axolotl gills, and axolotls swallow small fish. Keep axolotls on their own.

What works

pH 6.5–8 suits both.
They use different parts of the tank: axolotls the bottom, gold barbs the mid.

Water side by side

The green band is the temperature range both can live in.

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	Gold barb
Temperature	60–66 °F	64–75 °F
pH	6.5–8	6–8
Adult size	10.0 in	3.0 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 gold barbs

All gold barb tank mates

Questions

Can axolotls live with gold barbs?

No. Axolotls and gold barbs should not share a tank. Axolotls are coldwater animals (60–66°F); gold barbs need 64–75°F. They overlap only at 64–66°F, the edge of both ranges.

What temperature suits both axolotls and gold barbs?

64–66 °F. Axolotls need 60–66 °F, gold barbs need 64–75 °F.

What size tank do axolotls and gold barbs need together?

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