Can axolotls live with rosy barbs?

Verdict

No. Axolotls and rosy barbs should not share a tank. Axolotls are coldwater animals (60–66°F); rosy barbs need 64–77°F. They overlap only at 64–66°F, the edge of both ranges.

Axolotl60–66°F · pH 6.5–8

Rosy barb64–77°F · pH 6–7.5

What to watch

Deal breakerAxolotls are coldwater animals (60–66°F); rosy barbs need 64–77°F. They overlap only at 64–66°F, the edge of both ranges.
Deal breakerFish nibble at axolotl gills, and axolotls swallow small fish. Keep axolotls on their own.
Watch outRosy barbs nip at slow fish. Axolotls cannot get away.

What works

pH 6.5–7.5 suits both.
They use different parts of the tank: axolotls the bottom, rosy barbs the mid.

Water side by side

The green band is the temperature range both can live in.

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	Rosy barb
Temperature	60–66 °F	64–77 °F
pH	6.5–8	6–7.5
Adult size	10.0 in	4.0 in
Minimum tank	20 gal	30 gal
Temperament	Peaceful	Semi-aggressive
Swims at	Bottom	Middle
Group	Alone or in pairs	Groups of 6+
Diet	Carnivore	Omnivore

Better tank mates for rosy barbs

All rosy barb tank mates

Questions

Can axolotls live with rosy barbs?

No. Axolotls and rosy barbs should not share a tank. Axolotls are coldwater animals (60–66°F); rosy barbs need 64–77°F. They overlap only at 64–66°F, the edge of both ranges.

What temperature suits both axolotls and rosy barbs?

64–66 °F. Axolotls need 60–66 °F, rosy barbs need 64–77 °F.

What size tank do axolotls and rosy barbs need together?

At least 30 gal, set by the rosy barb. Add space for each extra fish.