Can axolotls live with tinfoil barbs?

Verdict

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

Axolotl60–66°F · pH 6.5–8

Tinfoil barb72–80°F · pH 6.5–7.5

What to watch

Deal breakerAxolotls are coldwater animals (60–66°F); tinfoil barbs need 72–80°F. No temperature suits both.
Deal breakerFish nibble at axolotl gills, and axolotls swallow small fish. Keep axolotls on their own.
Watch outTinfoil barbs nip at slow fish. Axolotls cannot get away.
Watch outTinfoil barbs grow to 12 inches and need 125 gallons, far more than a tank set up for axolotls.

What works

pH 6.5–7.5 suits both.
They use different parts of the tank: axolotls the bottom, tinfoil barbs 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	Tinfoil barb
Temperature	60–66 °F	72–80 °F
pH	6.5–8	6.5–7.5
Adult size	10.0 in	12.0 in
Minimum tank	20 gal	125 gal
Temperament	Peaceful	Peaceful
Swims at	Bottom	Middle
Group	Alone or in pairs	Groups of 5+
Diet	Carnivore	Omnivore

Better tank mates for tinfoil barbs

All tinfoil barb tank mates

Questions

Can axolotls live with tinfoil barbs?

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

What temperature suits both axolotls and tinfoil barbs?

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

What size tank do axolotls and tinfoil barbs need together?

At least 125 gal, set by the tinfoil barb. Add space for each extra fish.