Can Axolotls Live with Frogs?

Abdul Wasay Khatri | Administrator

Last updated: 8 January, 2026

No, axolotls should not live with frogs. These two amphibians have fundamentally incompatible needs and behaviors that make cohabitation dangerous for both species. Axolotls are fully aquatic salamanders that remain underwater their entire lives, while most frogs require both water and land areas. More critically, axolotls are carnivorous predators with poor eyesight that may attack frogs, and many frog species produce skin toxins that can poison axolotls.

Why Axolotls and Frogs Don’t Mix

The biological differences between these animals create multiple safety concerns. Axolotls hunt by detecting movement and will attempt to eat anything that fits in their mouths, including smaller frogs or tadpoles. Their feeding response is aggressive and indiscriminate. Even if the frog is too large to eat, axolotls may bite at legs or other body parts, causing serious injury.

Temperature requirements also conflict significantly. Axolotls thrive in cool water between 60-64°F (16-18°C), while most aquatic frogs prefer warmer conditions of 75-80°F (24-27°C). This temperature gap makes it impossible to maintain ideal conditions for both species simultaneously.

Additionally, many frog species secrete defensive toxins through their skin as protection against predators. These chemicals, harmless in a frog-only environment, can contaminate the water and poison axolotls, leading to illness or death. African Dwarf Frogs, a popular aquarium species, are less toxic but still incompatible due to dietary and behavioral differences.

Important Considerations for Tank Mates

If you’re looking for compatible tank mates for your axolotl, your options are extremely limited. Axolotls do best when housed alone or only with other axolotls of similar size. They may nip at fins, gills, or limbs of tank mates, and their slow movement makes them vulnerable to faster, more aggressive fish.

The habitat requirements are another crucial factor. Axolotls need a fully aquatic setup with no basking areas, while frogs typically require land platforms or completely terrestrial spaces depending on the species. Creating a paludarium that accommodates both would still leave you with the predator-prey and toxicity issues.

Quick FAQ

Can baby axolotls live with tadpoles?
No, this is even more dangerous. Axolotl larvae will eat tadpoles, and as both grow, the same incompatibility issues emerge.

What about African Dwarf Frogs specifically?
Still not recommended. While less toxic than other species, they have different temperature needs and may stress the axolotl or become prey.

Are there any amphibians that can live with axolotls?
No amphibians make suitable tank mates. Axolotls are best kept in species-only tanks.

What animals CAN live with axolotls?
Very few small freshwater shrimp or snails occasionally work, though axolotls may eat them. Most experts recommend keeping axolotls alone.

Will a large frog be safe from an axolotl?
Size doesn’t eliminate the toxicity risk, temperature incompatibility, or potential for the axolotl to bite at the frog’s appendages.

Abdul Wasay Khatri
Administrator
Abdul Wasay is the founder and lead author of Axolotl Portal, a trusted site for axolotl care. He spent almost nine months learning about axolotls, including their tanks, feeding, water care, and common health problems. His knowledge comes from trusted vets, research, and real experience from long term axolotl owners. All Posts by