TankmateChecker

Can axolotls live with otocinclus?

Verdict

No

No. Axolotls and otocinclus should not share a tank. Axolotls are coldwater animals (60–66°F); otocinclus need 72–79°F. No temperature suits both.

Axolotl

Axolotl60–66°F · pH 6.5–8

Otocinclus

Otocinclus72–79°F · pH 6–7.5

What to watch

Deal breakerAxolotls are coldwater animals (60–66°F); otocinclus need 72–79°F. No temperature suits both.
Deal breakerAt 10 inches an axolotl can swallow a 2-inch otocinclus whole.
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.

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	Otocinclus
Temperature	60–66 °F	72–79 °F
pH	6.5–8	6–7.5
Adult size	10.0 in	2.0 in
Minimum tank	20 gal	20 gal
Temperament	Peaceful	Peaceful
Swims at	Bottom	Bottom
Group	Alone or in pairs	Groups of 6+
Diet	Carnivore	Herbivore

Better tank mates for otocinclus

All otocinclus tank mates

Questions

Can axolotls live with otocinclus?

No. Axolotls and otocinclus should not share a tank. Axolotls are coldwater animals (60–66°F); otocinclus need 72–79°F. No temperature suits both.

What temperature suits both axolotls and otocinclus?

None. Axolotls need 60–66 °F and otocinclus need 72–79 °F, so the ranges do not meet.

What size tank do axolotls and otocinclus need together?

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