Can axolotls live with rainbow sharks?

Verdict

No. Axolotls and rainbow sharks should not share a tank. Axolotls are coldwater animals (60–66°F); rainbow sharks need 72–80°F. No temperature suits both.

Axolotl60–66°F · pH 6.5–8

Rainbow shark72–80°F · pH 6.5–7.5

What to watch

Deal breakerAxolotls are coldwater animals (60–66°F); rainbow sharks need 72–80°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	Rainbow shark
Temperature	60–66 °F	72–80 °F
pH	6.5–8	6.5–7.5
Adult size	10.0 in	6.0 in
Minimum tank	20 gal	55 gal
Temperament	Peaceful	Semi-aggressive
Swims at	Bottom	Bottom
Group	Alone or in pairs	One per tank
Diet	Carnivore	Omnivore

Better tank mates for rainbow sharks

All rainbow shark tank mates

Questions

Can axolotls live with rainbow sharks?

No. Axolotls and rainbow sharks should not share a tank. Axolotls are coldwater animals (60–66°F); rainbow sharks need 72–80°F. No temperature suits both.

What temperature suits both axolotls and rainbow sharks?

None. Axolotls need 60–66 °F and rainbow sharks need 72–80 °F, so the ranges do not meet.

What size tank do axolotls and rainbow sharks need together?

At least 55 gal, set by the rainbow shark. Add space for each extra fish.