Can axolotls live with zebra danios?

Verdict

No. Axolotls and zebra danios should not share a tank. Axolotls are coldwater animals (60–66°F); zebra danios need 65–77°F. They overlap only at 65–66°F, the edge of both ranges.

Axolotl60–66°F · pH 6.5–8

Zebra danio65–77°F · pH 6.5–8

What to watch

Deal breakerAxolotls are coldwater animals (60–66°F); zebra danios need 65–77°F. They overlap only at 65–66°F, the edge of both ranges.
Deal breakerAt 10 inches an axolotl can swallow a 2-inch zebra danio whole.
Deal breakerFish nibble at axolotl gills, and axolotls swallow small fish. Keep axolotls on their own.

What works

pH 6.5–8 suits both.
They use different parts of the tank: axolotls the bottom, zebra danios the top.

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	Zebra danio
Temperature	60–66 °F	65–77 °F
pH	6.5–8	6.5–8
Adult size	10.0 in	2.0 in
Minimum tank	20 gal	10 gal
Temperament	Peaceful	Peaceful
Swims at	Bottom	Top
Group	Alone or in pairs	Groups of 6+
Diet	Carnivore	Omnivore

Better tank mates for zebra danios

All zebra danio tank mates

Questions

Can axolotls live with zebra danios?

No. Axolotls and zebra danios should not share a tank. Axolotls are coldwater animals (60–66°F); zebra danios need 65–77°F. They overlap only at 65–66°F, the edge of both ranges.

What temperature suits both axolotls and zebra danios?

65–66 °F. Axolotls need 60–66 °F, zebra danios need 65–77 °F.

What size tank do axolotls and zebra danios need together?

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