Can axolotls live with pictus catfish?

Verdict

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

Axolotl60–66°F · pH 6.5–8

Pictus catfish72–79°F · pH 6–7.5

What to watch

Deal breakerAxolotls are coldwater animals (60–66°F); pictus catfish need 72–79°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.

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	Pictus catfish
Temperature	60–66 °F	72–79 °F
pH	6.5–8	6–7.5
Adult size	10.0 in	5.0 in
Minimum tank	20 gal	55 gal
Temperament	Peaceful	Semi-aggressive
Swims at	Bottom	Bottom
Group	Alone or in pairs	Groups of 3+
Diet	Carnivore	Carnivore

Better tank mates for pictus catfish

All pictus catfish tank mates

Questions

Can axolotls live with pictus catfish?

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

What temperature suits both axolotls and pictus catfish?

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

What size tank do axolotls and pictus catfish need together?

At least 55 gal, set by the pictus catfish. Add space for each extra fish.