TankmateChecker

Can axolotls live with platies?

Verdict

No

No. Axolotls and platies should not share a tank. Axolotls are coldwater animals (60–66°F); platies need 70–80°F. No temperature suits both.

Axolotl

Axolotl60–66°F · pH 6.5–8

Platy

Platy70–80°F · pH 7–8.2

What to watch

Deal breakerAxolotls are coldwater animals (60–66°F); platies need 70–80°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 platies as food, especially at night.

What works

pH 7–8 suits both.
They use different parts of the tank: axolotls the bottom, platies 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	Platy
Temperature	60–66 °F	70–80 °F
pH	6.5–8	7–8.2
Adult size	10.0 in	2.5 in
Minimum tank	20 gal	10 gal
Temperament	Peaceful	Peaceful
Swims at	Bottom	Middle
Group	Alone or in pairs	Groups of 3+
Diet	Carnivore	Omnivore

Better tank mates for platies

All platy tank mates

Questions

Can axolotls live with platies?

No. Axolotls and platies should not share a tank. Axolotls are coldwater animals (60–66°F); platies need 70–80°F. No temperature suits both.

What temperature suits both axolotls and platies?

None. Axolotls need 60–66 °F and platies need 70–80 °F, so the ranges do not meet.

What size tank do axolotls and platies need together?

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