Salamanders and axolotls are quiet, soft-bodied animals with long tails and short legs. They both move slowly, eat insects and worms, and spend their time in cool, damp places. And because they look so similar, you might think they could live in the same tank. But before you try it, there’s something important you should know.
Salamanders and axolotls should not be kept together. Even though they’re related, they have very different needs. Their behaviors don’t match, and living in the same space can cause injury, stress, or even death.
Salamanders and Axolotls are Related, But Very Different
Axolotls are actually a type of salamander. But unlike most salamanders, they don’t go through metamorphosis.
That means they never grow lungs or leave the water.
They stay in their larval form forever, with feathery gills and a fully aquatic lifestyle. This condition is called neoteny.
Other salamanders follow a different path. They hatch in water but eventually develop lungs and move onto land.
Even species that like water still need access to damp soil or a hiding place above the waterline.
That’s the first big difference, and it’s a deal-breaker when it comes to sharing a tank.
Axolotls need water all the time. Salamanders can drown if they’re left in deep water without a place to rest.
If you try to keep them in the same setup, one of them won’t survive for long.
Different Tank Needs
Axolotls must live in fully aquatic tanks. They need cool, clean water with a gentle current.
The temperature should stay between 60°F and 68°F (about 16°C to 20°C), and the tank should be deep enough for them to swim comfortably.
They also need soft substrate or a bare bottom, since gravel can cause dangerous blockages if swallowed.
They don’t need land. In fact, they can’t survive out of the water. Their skin will dry out fast, and they don’t have lungs to help them breathe air.
Most salamanders are just the opposite. Once they grow up, they leave the water and live in moist environments.
They need damp moss or soil to dig in, plenty of hiding spots, and a land area where they can stay dry when they want to. Their tanks should stay humid, but not fully aquatic.
If you try to create a compromise, half land and half water, it won’t work.
The water will be too shallow for the axolotl and too wet for the salamander. One or both animals will end up stressed, sick, or worse.
Risk of Injury or Death
Even if you could somehow create a tank with both land and water, there’s still a bigger problem. Axolotls and salamanders don’t make good roommates.
Axolotls have poor eyesight and rely on movement to find food. That means they may bite anything that swims near them, including other animals.
They don’t do it out of aggression, but their bite can still cause harm.
They may grab a leg or tail by accident, and their teeth can leave deep marks.
Some salamanders move quickly and may react to the bites with panic or aggression. Others may freeze, which makes them even more likely to be bitten again.
In some cases, the axolotl might see a smaller salamander as food. And in other cases, the salamander may go after the axolotl if it’s small or injured.
Both animals can be cannibalistic, especially if one is larger. Hunger, stress, or competition for food can turn even peaceful amphibians into predators.
Disease and Water Safety
Another danger is disease. Both salamanders and axolotls are vulnerable to skin infections, parasites, and fungal problems.
Because they absorb water directly through their skin, they’re very sensitive to poor water quality. If one carries a disease, it can easily spread to the other.
Many amphibians carry pathogens without showing signs. That means your salamander or axolotl might look healthy but still pass something on.
In a shared tank, they drink the same water, walk through the same space, and breathe the same air. One infection can affect them both very quickly.
Even if they both seem healthy, they may react differently to stress or bacteria. A tankmate might carry something that doesn’t bother it, but could kill the other.
Clean water matters more with axolotls because they live in it full-time. But salamanders can still be harmed by bacteria in damp substrate or dirty pools.
If you try to share tools or tank water between species, the risk of spreading illness goes up.
What Happens If You Try It Anyway?
Sometimes people try it just to see. And at first, things might look fine. The animals might ignore each other. They might eat and move normally for a while. But that doesn’t mean the setup is working.
Amphibians don’t show stress the way mammals do. They don’t cry or yell.
But if one stops eating, hides all the time, or starts losing weight, that’s a sign something is wrong.
A sick amphibian can go downhill fast, and you might not notice until it’s too late.
Even if no one gets sick or injured, the tank won’t meet both animals’ needs.
One of them will end up in the wrong environment, too dry, too deep, too cold, or too polluted. And over time, that will take a toll.
You might end up losing one or both animals. And by then, the damage can’t be undone.
What You Should Do Instead
If you like both salamanders and axolotls, the best solution is to give each one its own enclosure. That way, you can meet their individual needs without stress or risk.
You can set up the axolotl tank with cool, clean water, gentle flow, and soft substrate. No land area needed. Keep it low-light and well-filtered.
The salamander tank can have moist soil, moss, bark hides, and shallow water for soaking. No filter required, just high humidity and a stable, cool temperature.
This setup keeps them both safe and healthy. You can even place the tanks side by side if you want to enjoy them together.
Just be careful not to share tools or mix water between tanks, since that can still spread illness.
Conclusion
Salamanders and axolotls may look alike, but they don’t live alike. One needs land. The other needs water.
One hides under moss. The other floats with gills. Their needs are different, their habits are different, and their risks are different too.
Trying to house them together might sound like a fun experiment, but it’s not safe, and it’s not fair to either animal.
Even if they seem calm at first, injuries and illness can happen fast. You won’t always see the signs until it’s too late.
If you want both, keep them apart. Separate tanks mean safer animals, simpler care, and less stress.
You’ll be able to give each one the exact environment it needs, and that’s the best way to keep them happy and healthy for years to come.
Hi, my name is Ezra Mushala, i have been interested animals all my life. I am the main author and editor here at snakeinformer.com.