TankmateChecker

Can axolotls live with swordtails?

Verdict

No

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

Axolotl

Axolotl60–66°F · pH 6.5–8

Swordtail

Swordtail72–79°F · pH 7–8.3

What to watch

Deal breakerAxolotls are coldwater animals (60–66°F); swordtails 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 7–8 suits both.
They use different parts of the tank: axolotls the bottom, swordtails 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	Swordtail
Temperature	60–66 °F	72–79 °F
pH	6.5–8	7–8.3
Adult size	10.0 in	5.0 in
Minimum tank	20 gal	30 gal
Temperament	Peaceful	Semi-aggressive
Swims at	Bottom	Middle
Group	Alone or in pairs	Groups of 3+
Diet	Carnivore	Omnivore

Better tank mates for swordtails

All swordtail tank mates

Questions

Can axolotls live with swordtails?

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

What temperature suits both axolotls and swordtails?

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

What size tank do axolotls and swordtails need together?

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