TankmateChecker

Can axolotls live with killifish?

Verdict

No

No. Axolotls and killifish should not share a tank. Axolotls are coldwater animals (60–66°F); killifish need 70–77°F. No temperature suits both.

Axolotl

Axolotl60–66°F · pH 6.5–8

Killifish

Killifish70–77°F · pH 5.5–7

What to watch

Deal breakerAxolotls are coldwater animals (60–66°F); killifish need 70–77°F. No temperature suits both.
Deal breakerFish nibble at axolotl gills, and axolotls swallow small fish. Keep axolotls on their own.
Watch outA grown axolotl may treat small killifish as food, especially at night.

What works

pH 6.5–7 suits both.
They use different parts of the tank: axolotls the bottom, killifish the top.

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	Killifish
Temperature	60–66 °F	70–77 °F
pH	6.5–8	5.5–7
Adult size	10.0 in	2.5 in
Minimum tank	20 gal	10 gal
Temperament	Peaceful	Peaceful
Swims at	Bottom	Top
Group	Alone or in pairs	Alone or in pairs
Diet	Carnivore	Carnivore

Better tank mates for killifish

All killifish tank mates

Questions

Can axolotls live with killifish?

No. Axolotls and killifish should not share a tank. Axolotls are coldwater animals (60–66°F); killifish need 70–77°F. No temperature suits both.

What temperature suits both axolotls and killifish?

None. Axolotls need 60–66 °F and killifish need 70–77 °F, so the ranges do not meet.

What size tank do axolotls and killifish need together?

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