Axolotls are one of the most fascinating creatures on Earth. They’re cute, they’re unusual and they’re absolutely incredible animals. However, as with any pet or animal, there are some things you need to know before deciding whether or not an axolotl is right for you.
One thing that potential owners often ask about is whether or not it’s possible to keep both axolotls and betta fish in the same tank.
If you’ve been wondering this yourself, don’t worry! We’ll give you all of the information necessary to make this decision for yourself below:
| Takeaways |
|---|
| – Keeping axolotls and betta fish together can be challenging due to their different temperature and habitat requirements. |
| – Betta fish prefer warmer water, while axolotls thrive in cooler water. Maintaining suitable water conditions for both species can be difficult. |
| – Axolotls have delicate external gills that can be damaged by nipping from betta fish. |
| – Betta fish can be territorial and may exhibit aggressive behavior towards axolotls, causing stress or injury. |
| – It is recommended to research and consult with experts before attempting to house axolotls and betta fish together. |
Can You Put Axolotls With Betta Fish?
Put simply: no. The differences between an axolotl and a betta are quite numerous and significant, so it would be best if they were kept in separate containers.
An axolotl is an aquatic salamander that lives its life entirely underwater. They can grow up to 18 inches long and require a tank of at least 20 gallons with plenty of plants for hiding places and food.
Betta fish (as their name suggests) come from Thailand they’re tropical fish who live in small bodies of water such as rice paddies or ornamental ponds, where they can grow up to 6 inches long (but only half of that when fully grown).
As you might expect given these differences, their physical needs differ significantly an axolotl needs cool water with a pH balance around 7-8; Bettas prefer warmer temperatures between 76-82 degrees Fahrenheit (24-28 Celsius).
These different requirements mean that placing them together in a tank would be both unhealthy for both species involved as well as difficult in terms of maintenance requirements alone!
If you’re wondering whether axolotls can live peacefully with other fish, including betta fish, you’ll find valuable insights in our article on keeping axolotls with fish. Learn from the experiences of owners who have successfully maintained a harmonious aquatic community.
Can You Put Axolotls With Betta Fish In A Tank?
So you want to put your pet axolotl with your betta fish, but you’re not sure if it’s a good idea. Well, here are some things to keep in mind when considering this question:
Axolotls are amphibians. Bettas are fish. Axolotls and bettas have very different needs when it comes to living conditions, so putting them together could potentially cause problems for either species.
Axolotls need space; bettas don’t need much room at all! An adult axolotl can grow up to 8 inches long, which means that their tank should be at least 10 gallons (38 liters).
A female betta is only about 2 inches long when fully grown that means she’ll need less than a gallon of water!
The bigger tank size also allows for more oxygenation levels, meaning your axolotl will be able to breathe better too because its gills won’t dry out or become damaged by being exposed too often due lack of aeration in smaller tanks (especially during winter months).
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Can axolotls and betta fish coexist? | Possible challenges due to different requirements. |
| Do axolotls and betta fish have similar temperature preferences? | Axolotls prefer cooler water, while betta fish prefer warmer water. |
| Are axolotls and betta fish compatible in terms of behavior? | Betta fish can be territorial and may exhibit aggression towards axolotls. |
| Can axolotls and betta fish share the same diet? | Axolotls and betta fish have different dietary needs. |
| What are the potential risks of housing axolotls and betta fish together? | Nipping of axolotl’s delicate gills and territorial behavior of betta fish. |
Do Axolotls Get Along With Betta Fish?
Axolotls are not compatible with bettas because bettas are more aggressive than axolotls. Betta fish are carnivores, while axolotls are herbivores.
Bettas will eat the fry of an axolotl and vice versa, which means that these two pets should not be kept together in the same tank. If you want to keep an amphibian, try a frog instead!
Curious about the compatibility of axolotls and turtles? Our vet answer in the article keeping axolotls with turtles provides expert insights. Discover the factors to consider when creating a habitat that accommodates both axolotls and turtles.
Will Axolotls Eat The Fry Of A Betta Fish?
Axolotls are very voracious eaters and will consume just about anything that fits in their mouths. For this reason, you should never have an axolotl in a tank with another fish. The axolotl will eat it, even if it’s another type of amphibian or reptile like a frog or snake.
Axolotls are omnivores and will eat both plant matter and meat when given the opportunity to do so. They’re particularly fond of smaller fish but will also take in insects, worms, crustaceans and other types of small aquatic life if they become available to them.
Can You Keep Axolotls And Bettas Together In The Same Tank?
Keeping axolotls and bettas together in the same tank is not recommended.
The venom that axolotls have makes them a danger to any fish in their tank, including bettas. There have been reports of people keeping axolotls with bettas before, but most of these cases involve an aquarium that isn’t big enough for both animals or one where the two species are kept separately (one on each side).
Axolotls are also known to eat smaller fish like guppies, so you may want to consider what else you might be putting into your tank before deciding if they’re right for it.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Can axolotls and bettas coexist in the same tank? | Yes, but caution and proper setup are required. |
| Do axolotls and bettas have similar water temperature needs? | No, bettas prefer warmer water while axolotls thrive in cooler water. |
| Are axolotls and bettas compatible in terms of behavior? | Not always, bettas can be aggressive and may nip at axolotls. |
| Can axolotls and bettas share the same diet? | No, their dietary needs are different. |
| What are the potential risks of keeping them together? | Injury to axolotls’ delicate gills and stress from aggressive behavior. |
Is It Ok To Put Axolotls And Bettas Together In A Tank?
Axolotls and bettas are both aquatic creatures, but they have different needs when it comes to living conditions. Axolotl care requirements vary depending on the species you have and their age (if you’re looking to buy one), so make sure that your axolotl’s tank has all of the items required for its welfare before bringing them home!
If you’re interested in keeping both an axolotl and a betta fish together in a tank, there are some things to consider.
While they may not be compatible at first glance because they need different types of water and foods (axolotls can’t eat pellets like other aquarium fish), if properly cared for then there shouldn’t be any problems. However, this will require extra work on your part as well as space for two large tanks instead of just one big one so make sure it’s worth spending all this time!
Interested in adding plecos to your axolotl tank? Check out our vet answer in the article keeping plecos with axolotls. Find out the considerations and precautions necessary to maintain a healthy and compatible environment for both species.
What Are Some Good Fish To Keep With An Axolotl?
Keep in mind that the axolotl is a bottom feeder, so it will eat whatever food falls to the bottom of your tank. You can also place some fancy goldfish flakes on top of a rock in your aquarium and let them fall into the water for your axolotl to enjoy.
Axolotls will also eat any leftover food from betta fish because they are omnivores they need protein and fat in their diet as well as plant matter, so they’ll take advantage of any opportunity to get more nutrients!
What Other Kinds Of Pets Can You Keep With An Axolotl?
In addition to bettas, axolotls make good companions for many other kinds of fish. They can be kept in tanks with any kind of fish that aren’t prone to nipping or aggressive behavior.
Some examples include goldfish, tetras and barbs (like the popular cherry barb). If you want to get really creative, you can even mix different types of freshwater fish together in one tank.
You can also keep axolotls with some types of turtles and frogs as well as snakes and lizards and I wouldn’t be surprised if there were some birds that would enjoy hanging out with your pet axolotl too!
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What other pets can coexist with an axolotl? | Certain fish species, such as white cloud mountain minnows or ghost shrimp, can be compatible tank mates for axolotls. |
| Can you keep axolotls with turtles? | Yes, some turtle species like musk turtles can coexist peacefully with axolotls. |
| Are there any invertebrates that can live with axolotls? | Snails, such as mystery snails or nerite snails, are suitable tank mates for axolotls. |
| Can axolotls share a tank with certain amphibians? | Some amphibians, like African dwarf frogs, can be kept in the same tank as axolotls. |
| What about other axolotls? | Axolotls can live together as long as they have sufficient space and food resources. |
Are Axolotls Compatible With Bettas?
There are a few reasons why you should not keep axolotls with bettas. Bettas are omnivores and axolotls are carnivores. If your betta gets hungry, he may try to eat your axolotl.
Axolotls do not have the same kind of teeth that most other reptiles have; they only have one row of teeth in their upper jaw and two rows in their lower jaws.
Bettas also get very aggressive when they feel threatened or stressed out. This may cause them to attack an axolotl if they feel like they’re being threatened by it (even though there is no real reason for this).
If you’re contemplating keeping multiple axolotls together, our vet answer in the article keeping axolotls together offers valuable insights. Learn about the dynamics, tank requirements, and potential challenges associated with housing multiple axolotls.
Are Axolotls Poisonous?
No, axolotls are not poisonous in any way. They do not have any poison glands, they are not venomous and they do not secrete any toxic substances.
In fact, axolotls are very safe to keep as pets because they can’t even bite you (they don’t have teeth). So if you want an aquatic pet that won’t harm either you or your family members or pets, then an axolotl is a good choice!
Is It Safe To Put An Axolotl In A Tank With A Betta Fish?
When you’re considering adding an axolotl to a tank with another animal, you should consider several factors. First, it’s important to make sure that the tank is big enough for both animals they will need room to swim freely without running into each other or getting stuck on some rocks or decorations in the aquarium.
You should also check the water quality of your tank regularly so that there aren’t any toxins present in the water, which could harm either animal.
Additionally, keep an eye on how many fish are in your tank at once; if there are too many fish crammed into one small space (or if they’re all overfed), this may cause stress among them and lead to fighting or other territorial behavior between them.
Considering axolotls as pets? Dive into our owner’s experience in the article axolotls as pets to gain valuable insights. Discover the unique characteristics, care needs, and responsibilities involved in providing a suitable habitat for axolotls.
Conclusion
So, can axolotls live with bettas? As you can see from the above discussion, there are a lot of factors to consider before making this decision.
There are some people who have kept these two types of fish together in captivity with good results, but others who have had problems because their tank wasn’t large enough or there weren’t enough hiding places for the axolotls.
The best thing we can recommend is that if you want to try it out yourself then go ahead and do so! Just keep an eye on things so they don’t get too stressed out and keep everything clean so they stay healthy.
Further Reading
Here are some additional resources for further reading on the topic:
Can You Put Axolotl and Betta Fish in the Same Tank?: Discover the compatibility of axolotls and betta fish and learn about the considerations when housing them together.
Axolotl Tank Mates: What Can Live with Axolotls?: Explore various tank mate options for axolotls and understand the factors to consider when introducing other species to their habitat.
Can Betta Fish Live with Axolotl?: Find out whether it is possible to keep betta fish with axolotls and learn about the potential challenges and precautions involved.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about keeping axolotls and betta fish together:
Are axolotls and betta fish compatible in the same tank?
Axolotls and betta fish have different temperature and habitat requirements, making it challenging to keep them together without proper precautions.
Can axolotls and betta fish share the same water conditions?
Axolotls prefer cooler water temperatures and require specific water parameters, while betta fish thrive in warmer water. Maintaining suitable water conditions for both species can be difficult.
Do axolotls and betta fish have compatible diets?
Axolotls are carnivorous and primarily eat live or frozen food, while betta fish are omnivorous and consume a mix of pellets, flakes, and live/frozen food. Ensuring a balanced diet for both species can be a challenge.
What are the potential risks of housing axolotls and betta fish together?
Axolotls have delicate external gills, which betta fish may nip at or damage. Additionally, betta fish can be territorial and may exhibit aggressive behavior towards axolotls, causing stress or injury.
Are there any alternative options to keep axolotls and betta fish together?
Some aquarists have successfully kept axolotls and betta fish in separate divided tanks within the same larger aquarium setup, allowing for visual interaction while maintaining separate habitats.
I am Dr Hellen James a veterinarian, pet lover, and writer. I have many years of experience caring for pets, including dogs, cats, birds, and fish (and even axolotls!). I love spending time with the animals in my life, especially when they are sick or need love.