Can axolotls live with jack dempseys?

Verdict

No. Axolotls and jack dempseys should not share a tank. Axolotls are coldwater animals (60–66°F); jack dempseys need 72–86°F. No temperature suits both.

Axolotl60–66°F · pH 6.5–8

Jack Dempsey72–86°F · pH 6.5–7.5

What to watch

Deal breakerAxolotls are coldwater animals (60–66°F); jack dempseys need 72–86°F. No temperature suits both.
Deal breakerFish nibble at axolotl gills, and axolotls swallow small fish. Keep axolotls on their own.

What works

pH 6.5–7.5 suits both.
They use different parts of the tank: axolotls the bottom, jack dempseys 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	Jack Dempsey
Temperature	60–66 °F	72–86 °F
pH	6.5–8	6.5–7.5
Adult size	10.0 in	10.0 in
Minimum tank	20 gal	55 gal
Temperament	Peaceful	Aggressive
Swims at	Bottom	Middle
Group	Alone or in pairs	Alone or in pairs
Diet	Carnivore	Carnivore

Better tank mates for jack dempseys

CrayfishYes

All jack dempsey tank mates

Questions

Can axolotls live with jack dempseys?

No. Axolotls and jack dempseys should not share a tank. Axolotls are coldwater animals (60–66°F); jack dempseys need 72–86°F. No temperature suits both.

What temperature suits both axolotls and jack dempseys?

None. Axolotls need 60–66 °F and jack dempseys need 72–86 °F, so the ranges do not meet.

What size tank do axolotls and jack dempseys need together?

At least 55 gal, set by the jack dempsey. Add space for each extra fish.