Many people like axolotls because their colors and different morphs are very unique. There are so many types in the world that it feels like one could collect them all like Pokémon cards! However, if you are considering keeping more than one axolotl in the same tank, especially if one is male and one is female, there are some important things you should know beforehand.
It is possible to keep them in one tank, but timing makes a big difference. If you have not yet managed to make a plan for breeding axolotls or managing their life cycle, then mixing male and female may not be the best idea right now.
I have seen many excited owners sometimes face unexpected surprises, so always make a plan first and don’t rush just by watching others.
Can You Keep a Male and Female Axolotls Together?
When axolotls reach their breeding age, many owners are confused about whether it is safe to keep males and females together. In the wild, they usually keep their distance from each other, so the chances of mating are low.
However, when kept close together in an aquarium, breeding can happen very quickly and frequently, sometimes even two or more times a year. Male axolotls will breed only when in the mood, but this can be quite risky for the female.
Repeated breeding puts stress on the female, and if she is already weak, her health may deteriorate, and sometimes even death can occur. Her nutritional needs also increase after each breeding. Therefore, thinking that simply pairing them up will keep everything safe is not correct, proper planning is essential.
I am saying this from my experience, everything depends on the axolotl’s health, stress level, and how quickly it is affected. The concept of overbreeding is different for everyone, and often by the time you realize there’s a problem, it’s already too late.
That’s why it’s often recommended to keep males and females separately, only bringing them together when you actually intend to breed, and even then not more than once or twice a year.
A little care can make a big difference, and your axolotls will remain healthy and happy.
Axolotls Can Accidentally Hurt Each Other
In the wild, axolotls stay hidden and wait for prey. As soon as a fish or small animal comes close to their head, they quickly grab it in their mouth and swallow it. Their eyesight is not very strong, so they mostly rely on their lateral line system and smell to find food.
However, when they are in a tank, they often mistake plants, rocks, fingers, or other axolotls for food as well. I have seen that during feeding time, sometimes one axolotl comes very close to another and gets nipped.
If you place male and female axolotls together without planning, they may accidentally breed, which can put extra pressure on their health and safety. Therefore, if you are also wondering how to sex an axolotl, that is, how to differentiate between male and female, this step should be clear beforehand before mixing them in the same tank.
Small axolotls later abandon this behavior, but if an adult axolotl is hungry, it can hurt its tank mate. To minimize the risk, always feed them properly, keep enough decoration in the tank to break their line of sight, and only keep axolotls of the same size together.
The larger axolotl can also try to eat the smaller one. Despite doing all this, the risk is not completely eliminated; it is just reduced. Therefore, always have an emergency plan ready, such as setting up a hospital tank where you can keep the injured axolotl separate until it recovers.
A breeder box is also useful when you need to separate an axolotl, especially when limb regrowth is happening. If this is the case, it is essential to keep nitrates low in the tank to prevent infection.
Opposite-Sex Axolotls Will Definitely Breed
If you keep a male and female axolotl in the same tank, as soon as both mature, breeding is almost certain, it’s just a matter of time. The problem is that many people do not know the sex of their juvenile axolotls when they buy them.
Clear signs, that is, sexual characteristics, usually appear after 6 to 8 months, and sometimes it can take up to 18 months to be sure. That is why learning how to sex an axolotl in advance is very important, or alternatively, buy adult axolotls that are already sexed.
In any case, you should have an extra tank ready, so that if necessary, they can be separated.When axolotls start breeding, the real problems begin afterward. A female can lay eggs every few months, but if she is bred repeatedly, her body can weaken, and even lead to death sometimes.
In the worst case, if the male is not kept permanently separate, he can overbreed the female to the point of killing her.
Some people use tank dividers, but the problem is that spermatophores can pass through small spaces, netting, or holes in the water flow, so this method is also not 100% safe. The safest thing is to keep males and females separate until you plan to breed.
Even if you do breed them, the work doesn’t end there. A female can lay up to a thousand eggs, and caring for baby axolotls requires a lot of effort, it’s not cheap, it takes time, and you need space. If you don’t have the resources, many babies can die.
And one more important thing, if you got both axolotls from the same shop or breeder, then there is a chance that they are related. This increases the risk of accidental breeding, because inbred babies can inherit deadly recessive traits that significantly affect their health and lifespan.
Breeding such offspring is considered unethical. If such a situation arises, definitely read: What To Do If Your Axolotls Accidentally Breed.
How Big Can the Size Difference Be for Axolotls Living Together?
When you keep more than one axolotl in a tank, especially if there are male and female axolotls together, it is very important for their sizes to match. A good rule of thumb is that if one axolotl is more than 4 inches bigger than another, do not mix them.
If the mouth of the larger axolotl can easily fit onto the body of the smaller axolotl, the risk of cannibalism increases significantly, especially among young axolotls.I have personally seen some people keep axolotls of different sizes in the same aquarium, and some say ‘there won’t be any problem,’ but often problems arise later.
It is safest to compare their sizes first, and if there is more than a 1-inch difference, keep them separate. This way, axolotls live more peacefully, even if there are occasional exceptions.
How Big Should Axolotls Be to Live Together?
Most owners follow a simple rule – do not keep axolotls in the same tank until they reach at least 5-6 inches. At this size, their appetite is not as strong, so they tend to bite each other less.
Smaller axolotls often nip at each other, which can lead to the loss of gills, toes, or sometimes even an entire limb. To avoid this problem, it is crucial that they always have food available, especially if you are keeping them together at an early age.
In my experience, feeding live blackworms keeps axolotls busy, they hunt, eat happily, and the water stays clean, unlike with dead or processed food. When axolotls are fed properly, they grow quickly, and there’s no worry about separating them later when they grow in size.
Tips for Keeping Multiple Axolotls in One Tank
When axolotls are kept together, they naturally develop their own small social structure or hierarchy. Some nipping or playful jumping on each other is common, and usually, there is no need for tension.
However, if this happens frequently or becomes excessive, injury can occur. The best way to prevent this is to keep them comfortable and stress-free.A simple rule is to provide one hide for each axolotl unless your tank is heavily planted or has a lot of rocks. These hides protect axolotls from extra light and give them a safe place to relax.
If you want to make the tank interesting, then add hammocks, decor, or special items for the fish tank where axolotls can crawl. This makes the tank look natural and the axolotls feel like this is their community.
Always feed them good food, because hungry axolotls can become little troublemakers. Some people say that axolotls live more peacefully in odd numbers. And the most important thing is space, overcrowding is not good at all.
Whenever you set up the tank, focus not only on the water but also on the floor space and surface area. This way, your axolotls will remain healthy, happy, and chill.
Conclusion
Keeping male and female axolotls together sounds easy, but in reality, it carries a lot of responsibility. The risks of accidental breeding, injuries, size differences, feeding setups, and the tank environment—all of these affect their health.They can cohabitate under the right conditions, but it’s not just about the tank’s space or decoration. Planning, understanding axolotls’ biology, and having a plan to separate them if necessary is very important. If you aren’t ready to handle eggs, babies, or stress-related health issues, it’s best to keep them apart and only introduce them when you are completely prepared.
FAQs
Why can’t male and female axolotls live together?
At first, I thought it was okay to keep male and female axolotls together, but later I found out it’s not that safe. During feeding time, they often mistake each other for food, and as soon as breeding starts, the female gets a lot of pressure. Repeatedly laying eggs can harm her health, and it could even lead to death. That’s why, until you can handle breeding, keep axolotls of the same gender together.
Can an axolotl be kept in pairs?
Axolotls prefer to live alone, but if the tank is large and both axolotls are of the same species, then keeping them together is completely fine. However, remember one thing: never add fish to their tank. Axolotls have a somewhat opportunistic and predatory nature, so if any fish is in the tank, there’s a chance they will quickly make a meal out of it. Therefore, it’s best to keep axolotls only with other axolotls.
Should I separate my axolotls?
If your axolotls are fighting with each other, the best option is to separate them. Axolotls don’t have any bonding scene anyway, they don’t care. So no matter how much time you keep them separate, it won’t harm them.
