As pets, axolotls are gentle and calm, it is necessary to keep species compatible and comfortable with each other in a tank.
In a tank, combining species with different temperaments and behaviors is impossible. So, Can Axolotl Live with Cichlids?
People must be aware of axolotl behavior, temperament, and requirements. So, they can include species that can coexist with axolotls.
The species you’re introducing to the tank must all have the same habitat, temperament, and dietary requirements.
The reader will learn about axolotl habits and if they can coexist with cichlids in this article. The article will also teach readers about the species with which axolotls can live.
So, read the article to learn about diverse species’ behavior and habitats.
Contents
Can Axolotl Live with Cichlids?
No, axolotls and cichlids cannot live together. Because their behavior, temperament, and habitat are all different, they require different tank conditions to survive.
Cichlids always nip at the gills, which might be dangerous for axolotls. Axolotl gills can be injured by nipping, making them vulnerable to bacterial and fungal infections.
Axolotls can regrow their gills, but repetitive nips can cause gill stalk loss. As a result, axolotls and cichlids should not be kept together.
Risks When Keeping Axolotl with Cichlids
Axolotls and cichlids have varied nutritional needs.
Cichlids will die if the parameters for the axolotl are modified, and the axolotl will die if the parameters for cichlids are shifted. It is impossible to keep an axolotl and a cichlid in the same aquarium.
When axolotls try to eat the cichlid, the cichlid’s fin might penetrate the axolotl’s skin and jaws. Furthermore, cichlid gill nipping can cause stress in axolotls, making them vulnerable to health problems.
Axolotls and cichlids require the following living conditions:
| Facts | Axolotl | Cichlids |
| Temperament | Aggressive | Relatively less aggressive |
| Temperature | 75–85°F (24–29°C) | 60-64°F ̣(16-18°C) |
| Ideal PH level | 7.4-7.6 | 7.8–8.6 |
| Hardness | 7-14dGH | 12–30dGH |
| Lighting | Not necessary | Lighting is necessary to promote the plants’ growth and the beautiful appearance of cichlids. |
| Heater | They can live in cooler environments | It is necessary to maintain tropical conditions to keep cichlids healthy. |
What Fish Can Live with Axolotls?
Axolotls cannot live with all marine species and fish. Because they are not social, they enjoy a healthy existence alone in the tank.
Guppy fish, small shrimps, and snails are among the few species axolotls can coexist with.
The greatest choice is to keep an axolotl alongside other axolotls. Small axolotls should not be kept with fully adult axolotls.
Axolotls can be combined with guppy fish. Guppies do not harm axolotls because they are small. On the other hand, axolotls and guppies have the same conditions for living a healthy life.
Axolotls can also be combined with small snails. Axolotls may eat small snails, which are beneficial for them. You can add adult snails because the axolotl cannot swallow them.
Shrimps can also be added to the axolotl tank. They are hunters, but due to their small size, they cannot harm axolotls.
Shrimps consume snails and worms in the tank instead of axolotl food. Axolotls and shrimps both require the same water characteristics, including PH and temperature.
Axolotl: A Complete Pet Owner’s Guide
- Brown, Lolly (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 132 Pages - 09/07/2013 (Publication Date) - Pack & Post Plus, LLC (Publisher)
Last update on 2022-12-29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Conclusion:
Cichlids and axolotls cannot coexist in the same tank because they require different environmental conditions to thrive.
Shrimps, tiny snails, and guppies are examples of species that share similar habitats and requirements with axolotls. So, examine the attitude and behavior of any species before adding it to the axolotl aquarium.