TankmateChecker

Can axolotls live with pencilfish?

Verdict

No

No. Axolotls and pencilfish should not share a tank. Axolotls are coldwater animals (60–66°F); pencilfish need 75–82°F. No temperature suits both.

Axolotl

Axolotl60–66°F · pH 6.5–8

Pencilfish

Pencilfish75–82°F · pH 5–7.5

What to watch

Deal breakerAxolotls are coldwater animals (60–66°F); pencilfish need 75–82°F. No temperature suits both.
Deal breakerAt 10 inches an axolotl can swallow a 2-inch pencilfish 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.
They use different parts of the tank: axolotls the bottom, pencilfish 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	Pencilfish
Temperature	60–66 °F	75–82 °F
pH	6.5–8	5–7.5
Adult size	10.0 in	2.0 in
Minimum tank	20 gal	15 gal
Temperament	Peaceful	Peaceful
Swims at	Bottom	Middle
Group	Alone or in pairs	Groups of 6+
Diet	Carnivore	Omnivore

Better tank mates for pencilfish

All pencilfish tank mates

Questions

Can axolotls live with pencilfish?

No. Axolotls and pencilfish should not share a tank. Axolotls are coldwater animals (60–66°F); pencilfish need 75–82°F. No temperature suits both.

What temperature suits both axolotls and pencilfish?

None. Axolotls need 60–66 °F and pencilfish need 75–82 °F, so the ranges do not meet.

What size tank do axolotls and pencilfish need together?

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