There are many betta fish tank mates or companions that can live with male or female bettas under the right conditions. This is known as a community tank and can house more than two kinds of species.
Throughout history, the betta fish or Siamese fighting fish was continuously bred for its territorial aggression. This fighting instinct has never gone away, even for those bred in captivity.
For this reason, some betta fish are so territorial they may never be able to cohabit with other tank mates. At the other end of the spectrum, some bettas are so calm they could actually be picked on or stressed by other fish. Each betta fish has a unique personality and temperament.
If either of these is the case, it’s okay for your betta to live alone than under constant stress.
What About Other Bettas?
- Males cannot share the same habitat without a divider.
- Males and females cannot be housed together.
- Females can coexist together in a sorority.
Betta Fish With Other Fish
Many betta keepers decide to explore other fish that can live with bettas because their fish appears bored, or because they want to liven up their tank. While companions aren’t required, they can add extra viewing pleasure and experience in the hobby.
Keeping betta fish with other kinds of fish can be tricky unless you know what you’re getting yourself into. During any new introductions, always have an exile tank ready in case you have to quickly remove your betta to safety. You should also monitor the introduction closely for at least 72-hours to assess compatibility.
Tank Size
In order to thrive, betta fish should have 5-gallons of water for their habitat. Adding certain tank mates starts to detract from the necessary environment. Some companions will need more than 5-gallons to thrive on their own, without the addition of a betta.
Increased cohabitants mean increased bioload or a number of inhabitants creating waste. As waste breaks down it turns into contaminants like ammonia which can increase the pH of your tank’s water. This can make your fish sick. Therefore, a filter is necessary for a community tank.
10 Best Betta Tank Mates
Listed below are each of the fish companions that can live with bettas along with some specific information about the species itself. Each recommended tankmate requires a similar water pH level of around 7.0-8.0 and tropical temperatures in the range of 72-81 degrees fahrenheit.
1. Mystery Snails
Scientific Name: Pomacea Bridgesii
Color: Golden, Blue or Dark Brownish
Level: Beginner
Tank Size: 5-Gallons or More
Snails don’t get enough credit for being as cool as they are! They are one of my favorite tank mates for male or female bettas alike. Mystery snails are a great addition because they feed on uneaten food and clean up algae, helping with aquarium cleanliness. Plus, they don’t reproduce asexually like some snails which can cause an invasion.
Mystery snails are plant-safe and do well with bettas because of their docile nature. Sometimes a betta will be curious or even nip at a mystery snail, but they have a hard shell they can retreat into if needed. Adults can grow to around 2 inches in size, with an average lifespan of one year. You’ll love watching them navigate around the tank, using their siphon for air at the surface, and watching their tentacles meander around.
2. Ghost Shrimp
Scientific Name: Thalassinidea
Color: Transparent
Level: Beginner
Tank Size: 10-Gallons or More
The ghost shrimp or glass shrimp is appropriately named for its see-through appearance and is an invertebre. Ghost shrimp are virtually invisible in tanks without close inspection by the naked eye. They make fantastic betta fish companions. Recommended introduction is in a group of 2-4, with 6 or more leading to potential breeding.
Ghost shrimp are easy to care for, inexpensive, and they are scavengers who will scour your tank looking for excess food to eat off the substrate. They can grow up to 1.5 inches in length and live for 1 to 1.5 years with proper care. These translucent critters are really fun to watch, love moss balls and other live plants and help keep your tank clean.
3. Feeder Guppies
Scientific Name: Poecilia Reticulata
Color: Females are grey, while males have spots and brighter hues of color
Level: Beginner
Tank Size: 8-gallons or More
Feeder guppies are bred for food for larger fish and don’t have the bright coloring or long fins like the fancy guppy. This makes them an ideal fish to live with a betta. Guppies are also content living on their own, so adding one as a tank mate is easier than schooling fish.
Enjoying the same pH and temperature range, feeder guppies are also very resilient fish. Their temperament is relatively docile, so you won’t have to worry about them nipping at your betta.
4. Cory Catfish
Scientific Name: Corydoras
Color: Bronze
Level: Beginner
Tank Size: 10-Gallons or More
Corydoras (cory/cories) catfish are good additions to a community betta tank. They are easy to care for and enjoy the same water conditions as bettas. Corydoras live on the bottom, feeding, and can live alone or in schools (4 or more recommended) depending on the size of your tank. They range from 1.0-2.5 inches in length.
The average lifespan for cory catfish in captivity is 2-3 years and their temperament is non-aggressive. This makes them a perfect companion for betta fish. For the most part, they are very active and can liven up a tank. If you want to be extra cautious, you may even look at the pygmy corydoras which are duller in color and only grow up to 1 inch.
5. Harlequin Rasbora
Scientific Name: Trigonostigma heteromorpha
Color: Orange to Pink Body, Distinct Black Triangle, and Red Hue Fins
Level: Beginner
Tank Size: 10-Gallons or More
The rasbora is a shoaling fish that prefers to live with a school of 5 to 6 in a tank. They’re great tank mates for a betta as long as your tank is 10-gallons or more. This will give them plenty of space for necessary activity. Rasboras also love tasty brine shrimp just like the betta.
If you decide to introduce your betta into a tank with the harlequin rasbora, you can expect rasbora’s to grow to around 1.5 inches in length and live on average 5 years. This species is also very peaceful, adding an additional quality to coexistence with the betta splenden.
6. African Dwarf Frog
Scientific Name: Hymenochirus Boettgeri
Color: Grey or Brown and Spotted
Level: Beginner
Tank Size: 10-Gallons or More
African dwarf frogs are excellent betta tank mates too because of their peaceful personalities. They are also relatively easy to care for. Dwarf frogs can grow up to 2.5 inches in length and live on average 5 years. Males tend to be slightly smaller than females and the species also enjoys at least 2 per tank.
They are very active and like to explore their surroundings. The frogs come to the surface to get air since they have lungs and not gills. If you’re lucky you’ll even witness them shed their skin, (every 1-2 weeks) which is a speedy process that ends with the frog eating it. As for eating, you’ll also love watching them stuff their mouths with food using their little webbed feet!
7. Neon Tetras
Scientific Name: Paracheirodon Innesi
Color: Neon Silver-Blue with a Red Neon Stripe
Level: Beginner-Advanced
Tank Size: 10-Gallons or More
Despite advising betta fish owners to avoid tank mates with bright colors, the neon tetra can do well with betta fish because of their speed. In your community tank you will need to add more than one, as neon tetras prefer to school in packs of 6 to 10. A long narrow tank is recommended for plenty of horizontal swimming space.
Typical lifespan is 5 years in captivity, and they can grow up to 4 centimeters in length. In prolonged periods of darkness, you may witness their red stripe fade or disappear completely. Neon tetras are fascinating to watch as they swim together and navigate about the tank looking for food or safety. Neon tetras also like heavily planted tanks with lots of places to hide, just like the betta.
8. Ember Tetras
Scientific Name: Hyphessobrycon Amandae
Color: Orange-Red
Level: Beginner-Advanced
Tank Size: 10-Gallons or More
Embers are another species of the tetra and will even school with neon tetras. They grow to just under 1 inch and require groups of 4-6 tetras for adequate schooling. Much like the betta fish, they also prefer heavily planted tanks and tasty brine shrimp.
With average lifespans around 4 years, they will also bring years of joy to a community tank. They prefer the middle of a tank, whereas betta fish tend to prefer the top-half, helping with compatibility and territory issues. They are both, however, surface feeders.
9. Clown Plecos
Scientific Name: Panaque Maccus, Dwarf Loricariid
Color: Light Brown to Black Body with Orange to White Stripe Coloration
Level: Beginner-Advanced
Tank Size: 15-Gallons or More
Another algae eater that can be compatible with the betta is the clown pleco. Make sure to avoid the Common Pleco however, because it has the ability to grow up to two feet long! The Clown Pleco is the dwarf member of the species making it a suitable tank mate at a maximum length of around 4 inches.
It’s a hardy and easy to care for fish, enjoying an average lifespan around 10 years in captivity. They like to explore and have tough skin in the event a betta fish does get curious.
10. Kuhli Loach
Scientific Name: Pangio Kuhlii
Color: Pink to Yellow Body with Dark Stripes
Level: Beginner-Medium*
Tank Size: 20-Gallons or More
Another cool fish that can live with a betta is the Kuhli Loach because of their docile temperament. They are long, shaped like eels, and love to disappear into tiny crevices. Kuhli loaches mind their own business, love to eat brine shrimp and need at least 20-gallons to be happy.
Other loaches, such as the clown loach* can grow over a foot so make sure to avoid this variant! If you have sand as your substrate loaches may burrow deep into it.
11. (BONUS) Marimo Moss Ball
Scientific Name: Aegagropila Linnaei
Color: Green
Level: Beginner
Tank Size: 5-Gallons or More
The marimo moss ball is a really cool living plant, and living plants can make awesome tankmates for betta fish too. They’re almost indestructible (you don’t need a green-thumb), making them especially good for beginners. Marimo moss balls can also live for over 100 years, growing at only 5 millimeters in diameter per year. That’s wild!
A marimos key benefits include: low cost, longevity, little maintenance, algae eaters, nitrate eaters, and oxygen production. If you’re not quite ready for another fish species, the marimo moss ball is an excellent addition to any tank.
Female Betta Tank Mates – Sororities
Females can coexist together as tank companions in a sorority. A sorority is a community tank of female betta fish with 5 or more members. The minimum recommended tank size is 10-gallons (long horizontal tanks are better than tall vertical tanks).
Female bettas are also aggressive, territorial, and unpredictable at times so it’s important to monitor behavior and provide plenty of hiding spots. Younger females tend to react better than elders who are used to seclusion.
Betta Tank Mate Checklist
- It’s better to add a betta to an established community tank.
- Purchase the correct minimum tank size for your community tank.
- Community tanks should be filtered and heated accordingly.
- Quarantine all new fish in a separate tank for 4-6 weeks.
- Always acclimate tank mates to reduce stress and shock.
- Have an exile tank and net ready should anything go wrong.
- Monitor tank mates closely for at least 72 hours or more.
- Add lots of plants and other decorations for hideouts.
- All new tank mates must require similar water parameters.
- Many species listed above require different food than a betta.
- Avoid tank mates with bright coloring and long fins.
- Never add other aggressive fish species.
Recap
Despite common misconceptions that betta fish can only live alone, all of the species listed above can be suitable betta fish tank mates. Due diligence must be exercised, however, because of the varying temperaments across the betta splenden species in both males and females. Even if you do everything right, there’s no guarantee your betta won’t become an aggressor or a victim.
After adding a companion to the same tank, monitor for signs of stress in your betta and the other companions over several days. This may include lack of appetite, visible wounds (e.g. fin tearing), nonstop chases, and extended periods of quarreling.
Prolonged stress and fighting will only lead to sick or dead fish. Make sure you follow the checklist above, especially for ample hiding spots and tank size recommendations. In situations where the environment appears unsafe, be ready with a secondary tank or container to remove your betta.
If your betta fish doesn’t get along with a tank mate, don’t worry, they’re not a schooling fish and will be just fine on their own. Aquascaping with live plants and decor can be equally pleasing and fun.
yes omg lol thanks
Please check your facts. Nerite snails do not reproduce asexually. They also need brackish water for viable offspring.
Thank you.
That wont stop them from laying eggs all over everything
How about zebra danios? Would think they would be fine with a Betta, and would certainly liven up a tank.
Zebra danios are a shoaling fish meaning they do best in groups of 5 or 6 or more, and are very active and top feeders like bettas. Bettas also need to get to the surface for air, creating potential territorial issues. They would need a minimum of 15 gallons or larger to accommodate them and the betta with lots of hiding spaces for the betta. They can coexist together depending on your individual betta’s aggressiveness and temperament, but aren’t necessarily the best tank mates for a betta fish. In short, yes they can, but be prepared to monitor closely how they react together.
The danios might nip at the betta tail.
I have regular and long fin zebras, they get along great with my beta and have no nipping problems
My betta is really docile and leaves my fish alone. I have 6 danios and they are fine together although one of them is a bit of a bully. I think it depends on their personalities.
I currently have a female rose tail living with a zebra danio and two zebra loaches, although the danio is a schooling fish he doesn’t seem to mind whatsoever, and my female Betta only ignores him. They have a mutual relationship most of the time but sometimes they will rest on the same leaf together! It’s so cute, but again every fish is different and have different personalities, you could try it but make sure to watch them and be prepared for any aggression they might show.
I had two zebra danio fish and one betta in my first 5 gallon aquarium and they got along just fine and still do in my 35 gallon aquarium. I just added 3 koi fish today and monitoring them to see if they will also co exist.
Are fancy guppies good
Fancy guppies are not a good tank mate because of their long fins and coloring. Betta fish can easily mistake them as another betta species and will become very aggressive and nip at their fins and fight with them.
It all depends on the personality of the Betta and the size of the tank. My Male Veil Tail Betta is housed in a 55 gallon community tank with many different fish, including fancy guppies, and everyone lives together peacefully. If you have a large enough space and a Betta that is not aggressive, Betta’s can live with many different types of fish in perfect harmony.
I had a 50 gallon community tank that housed my beta and several other fish including fancy guppies, the bubble eyed goldfish, etc and they all lived very peacefully. I wouldn’t suggest a frog though. I got one for the tank and it ate every fish I had overnight.
What female fish can be with a male betta fish and make love?
My betta flared at my fancy guppies at first but after a day they were fine. There is no nipping and they are very peaceful.
I have a Crown Tail Male Betta. Would he get along ok with a Fiddler/Red Claw crab? I’m setting up a Crabitat (air pocket) in the tank for it and want to make sure the Betta wont mess with it. The tank is 10 gallons
I wouldn’t recommend them for co-existence because the crab if it got the betta would do some serious damage and betta fish are very curious. Since your tank is 10 gallons, why not divide the tank in half with a tank divider? Fiddler crabs need aquarium or marine salt too and like to climb out of tanks a lot, not to mention they need shallow water and the ability to get onto land surfaces too.
Yes, they can, as long as you provide the right environment for both. I have a male Crowntail Betta and a male Gold Claw Fiddler living harmoniously in a 5 gallon filtered tank for over 7 months now. Another important key is to introduce the Betta a few days AFTER the crab has already been living in your tank. My tank environment is setup for both of them, with the left side (where filter is) being deep for the Betta while the right side gravel slopes up to create shallower water (it’s about 4″ from gravel to water surface) along with a rock formation/cave-type thing I made to stick up halfway above the water for the Fiddler to dry out on. The Betta is still able to swim completely around the tank, even on the shallow end, so he’s not losing any swim space. I’ve incorporated some live plants and grasses into the tank along with my rock cave, so both of my guys have a few different spots to hide or chill out in. During the day they encounter each other often, but there has never been any issue of fighting, pinching, or fin-picking. Both eat the same food too. As for the marine salt, you can still add some for the Fiddler just not nearly the recommended amount or the Betta will die. Remember, this is just my opinion and experience so do some research, maybe I’m just lucky… My Betta has been building a bubble nest for awhile now, so at least I know that he’s happy in there!
Building a bubble nest doesn’t necessarily mean they are happy they do it for breeding. A good way to tell if they are happy is by how much they swim. If they swim often but still rest and hide thats normal and happy behavior. If they don’t swim often like the ones in the little pet store cups that’s not good.
If the male is building a nest it’s a sign that they are healthy enough to mate. When you are healthy you are generally happy right? That’s the correlation there but you are correct in that activity level can be a sign of health and happiness too. The caveat here is when the water is too cold from not being heated or as a betta gets older they will become more lethargic in their activity levels.
Personally I don’t think white cloud mountain minnows are good tankmates for betta fish. WCMM are coolwater fish and bettas are tropical. My betta tank is at 78 degrees, some people keep them at 80. If I had WCMM I would keep them in an unheated, room-temperature tank. If you have the WCMM at the upper end of their temperature range, and the bettas at the lower tolerance of theirs, neither of the fishes are going to be at their best.
I had recently gotten 4 females. Would a pectus catfish be a good companion till more can be added I lost two of my female bettas out of illness they had from the store I got them from (they had been in the same water for over a month) they won’t get a new shipment till Thursday and Marhion is picking on Ilisia tearing her back fin apart but I don’t have another tank to keep them separated.
For now, I would recommend separating the two females instead of placing another tank mate in there. Place one of your females in another tank or temporary container (even a plastic Tupperware container can work temporarily). With only 2 females, one will continue to pick on and dominate the other until they eventually cause significant damage or kill them. For a female sorority, you need to have at least 4-5 females to combat this problem so I would wait until you can replace the one’s who died. Sometimes sororities are hard to establish if you have particularly aggressive females.
Hi Bryan.
RE: Corys, there are dozens of different species and variants available, and although they are great tank mates for pretty much any aquarium, they should definitely not be kept alone. Keeping them in groups ( even 3 of them ) really makes a change in activity level, and just makes for happier fish imo.
If space is an issue, Panda Corys are very small ( and adorable ), and if you’re willing to try something a bit more colorful, Emerald Corys would make a great contrast to a darker Betta ( but these do get quite big ).
Thanks for the info, and congrats on the site.
Thank you, David, for the additional information. Very helpful!
Hi, I own a 60L tank with 1 male betta, 4 female bettas, 4 albino corydoras and 1pleco, not sure if it is clown or common, but I’ve had it for 5months now and its not bigger than 2inches. I have a lot of live plants, which is mostly placed in the background and two of the plants are of the type that grow very long and fast, so they stretches up to the surface. I have gravel bottom, a small area with sand, and 3moss balls and several hiding spots / caves. And what I was wondering about is, would it be okay to add some (4) ghost shrimps?
For a 60L/15Gallon tank, I’d say you are already well-over the maximum bioload of inhabitants that I’d recommend.
Only 10 fish in a 60 gal aquarium….if you want shrimp go for it. I have way more than that in a 50 gal and have maintained it for 20 years. Never a problem. At one point there were probably 200 guppies. I finally just got bored with them and gave them all away, now have 10 cichlids, 4 parrot fish, 4 loaches, several Cory cats, 2 plecos and a ton of snails. Not a problem.
I misread 60L…thought he said 60g. Disregard my response.
I tend to concur about the already heavy population in your 15 gal aquarium, but I also know that over-stocked tanks can be fine, well managed & healthy, in the hands of a highly motivated, conscientious and committed owner. Whatever the case, 4 Ghost shrimp aren’t going to add a whole lot to the bioload, ime. A few Red Cherries would be even better but will have to be smart, keen, good hiders and fast movers to survive long with your existing tank inhabitants. Some will, many will not.
Would cherry barbs be okay? I plan to set up a betta tank in the future its 10 gallons and i do want to plant it. Im trying to get as much research as possible before getting fish which wont be for awhile. Also any filter recommendations?
I would steer clear of barbs, they are also aggressive. For filter recommendations check out the article in the FAQ section.
Hi , just reading through these post and going by these my tank should be a disaster! Lol, but I have a male Betta in a jewel 240 tank, along with 5 cherry barbs , 6 wcmm, 8 chilli rasboras, 3 celestial pearl danio, 6japanese daisy rice fish,4 Dario dario, 3 sucking loach and a mixture of around 30 shrimp ie reds blacks ghost yellow blue, temp at 24′ tank is well planted ,also moss balls ,java moss bog wood and lots of caves and hiding places the only problem i get is my shrimp are multiplying, but this keeps my betta busy being a predatory fish weaving in and out of plants caves and moss, never seen him eat any , but all in all its a happy tank!!
I have cherry barbs and they’re fine with my Betta, they are a shoaling fish so 6 ARE needed at least. As Bryan said most barbs are aggressive, but these seem to be the exception
Hi! Currently my ten gallon tank is cycling (no fish yet, but soon!) I’ve never had a betta but have always wanted one. I’m afraid a ten gallon tank will look empty with just one fish but don’t want to risk other fish mates. What snails, plants, and possibly shrimp do you recommend? Thanks!
Mystery snails or black racer snails are ideal, and ghost or cherry shrimp (10+ of them). Also, read the plant page for recommendations there, and that would make a nice 10 gallon.
I’m planning on having a fairly small community tank with a single betta and several tankmates, but I’ve never been able to find a lot of the fish listed here and on other lists for betta tankmates (WCM minnows, ember tetras, harlequin rasboras) and I’m iffy on neon tetras since I’ve had terrible luck with them in the past (I’ve bought a total of 10 and most of them died within a few days. I’ve never had this problem with any other fish in my large tank). Are there other types of rasboras/tetras that bettas can get along with? What about danios, platies, or female swordtails? I find mixed answers on the latter. Thank you in advance!
It’s hard to give a definite yes/no as some have had bright colored long finned fish with their bettas with no problems, while others report extreme aggression and fighting (each situation can be unique and temperaments). It’s best to err on the side of caution, staying away from other territorial fish, bright colored, or top/surface feeders and dwellers. You could try the platy’s and monitor closely, and obviously you’d need a fairly medium-large sized tank.
Great post! Have nice day ! 🙂 spnaj
As a teenager, my dad used to keep several fish tanks with several fish species, so I guess I have the instinct for caring for fish. A few years ago, I had two “bookend” tanks. I had a male betta in each. As I had many house plants, to “clean” the tanks, I would use a turkey baster to suck water and yuck from each tank and water the plants with it .. the plants loved it. To replenish the water I would use a gallon jug of fresh water that I had filled when I cleaned the tanks the week before, thus tempering the water. It worked for several years and both fish and plants were happy and healthy.
How about the food/live food and some other stuff for betta is it ok for the other fish?
Bloodworms are a great SNACK for many different species. Bettas usually need Betta food, so just buying flakes for the other fish is a good idea.
I have a 20 gal Long that houses an Axolotl salamander, a 5.5 gal with a Crowntail Betta & to maintain a constant (& affordable) food supply for the Axolotl, I also keep a worm farm. The Betta gets 1/2 a baby earthworm 3-4 times/wk. He also gets commercial Betta flakes but obviously prefers the worms, and, jerking that little wiggly thing from my fingers makes him feel all macho & “flarey”…..little fishy-BIG STUFF!! (Earthworms are easy keepers, cost little to maintain [once set up] & an established population should have worms of every age — a size to suit most any carnivorous tank inhabitant.)
I have a five-gallon tank that is established and planted. I am going to get a mystery snail but wanted other tank mates. I was concerned with the welfare of other fish that they could not live in a tank that small, or that they like schooling. Any tankmates you recommend? (It is a male Velitail Betta.)
I would like to share my experience regarding neon tetras. They’re not really good tank mates for bettas because I’ve got my halfmoon’s fin nipped by them. Best not to house them together regardless of the tank size.
I have had my female Betta in a 20 gallon tank with 4 neon tetras and 2 black neon tetras for 9 months now and everyone gets along fine. I do have lots of hiding places and everyone has their favorite hangout space. It all depends on the fish.
same here, my male Betta and neon are fine together
Can a female betta be tankmates with mollies and platies?
Hello! I currently have my male Betta in a 3.5 gallon tank with an otocinclus. (I know I shouldn’t really have him in there, but he seems really happy, and he’s very lively.) But, my Betta will sometimes nip at my oto. Not often, but every now and then he will. Do you think he would be okay with some other fish in a 10 gallon? I’m not sure if he would be considered aggressive or not….
It’s hard for me to give you an answer to that. You obviously know your betta better than I do. A larger tank 10+ gallons will change a lot, however, especially if you have enough hiding spaces and plants (live or fake).
I only have a 3 gal tank with one female betta and am planning to get one blue or pink tankmate for it… I don’t know what to get. what do you recommend?
The only tank mate I can recommend for that size tank is a snail. The tank is too small for a tank mate.
Hello,
I have really enjoyed learning from your site. I used to keep fish and have found myself wanting to get back to it. I just recently won, but have not yet received, an aquaponic & hydroponic 3 gallon betta tank. I am intrigued by the marimo moss balls and Mystery snails. Would either or both be appropriate for this small of a tank? If so how many of each would you recommend? If not, what would you suggest?
Thank you for your time,
Misty
Thank you Misty! I would recommend the Marimo Moss Ball – one large one or a couple smaller ones. You’ll get more enjoyment out of them too, as they are a vibrant green. Snails like to hide and can create a big mess too in smaller tanks.
Bryan,
Thanks so much! I just didn’t know if I something to control the algae on the tank. I’ve never had a tank this small and I’m not sure what to expect.
Have a wonderful week,
Misty
I read and hear a lot about how many fish are to be kept in a home tank depending on the size of tank. In the pet stores their tanks hold quite a lot of fish at one time and they seem to do fine. Is there really a limit or is that just subjective?
There is definitely a limit if you want your fish to be happy, healthy and not stressed or sick. Everything in a pet store should be considered temporary housing until it finds a good home. I won’t get into the further implications or opinions I have on some of the ways that pet stores care for animals or fish, but while you see a lot of fish in one tank, you also aren’t being told how many are sickly, dying per week or stressed out.
Hello Bryan, great information and nice site. I have a betta in my 20 gallons long. I want to add the tetra neon and ember. Can the loach be good with all of those fish? My tank has substrate not sand, can that be an issue? And how many loach should I get? I have also, in other tanks, bettas with ottos and one albino corycat. I was planning on relocating my Ottos and albino corycat until I found your site. My other tanks are smaller since I got sold male plakat for female betta. I didn’t know much about female betta… Feel so stupid. I couldn’t return them since I’m one hour away from pet store. I have a 9 gallons, 5 gallons and 3.4 gallons. What can be added in those small aquarium? I have plants in all and some has merimo ball and carpet. I had amano shrimp but lost them…
Sand substrate is fine. I would start with a school of neon tetras and the embers, see how they do before adding a loach which needs a minimum of 20 gallons. Remember, you don’t want to overcrowd the tank either. For a 3.4 gallon tank, I wouldn’t add anything except for one betta fish, the 5 gallons should only house a betta fish and maybe a snail or marimo moss ball. The 9 gallon could house a betta and some other tank mates like feeder guppies or a snail.
Hey ive had a male beta fish for about two months. He is in a 10 gallon tank with three bottom feeders. There use to be 4-5 neon tetras and one extra bottom feeder (green cory) but those died when I clean the tank a week ago. When they were still there my betta (Taz) was happy swimming around but recently ive noticed the ends of his fins clumping together. I’ve tried putting a mirror in front of him but they didn’t unclump. He has a heater and filter with plenty of fake plants and props to swim in and out of and rest on. The power on the filter creates a lot of current and down force which in return makes him only swim in the front area and his food to be constantly pushed down and stuck to the plants which he wont eat. I’ve tried to put a barrier up or float an upside down cup with his food under but it would all float away or fail. I’m not sure if I should just unplug the filter overnight and see if it helps or what. Do you have any suggestions?
Did the other tank mates die from illness? If so, the water in your tank could contain a disease. Taz is definitely stressed or sick (clamping). I would also look into getting an adjustable flow filter where you can slow it down. It sounds like your betta is being stressed a lot and forced to stay in one area. Yes, you can turn off the filter while you feed Taz.
i believe they did die from the water or just pure stress. We had to switch them around a lot when we were trying to get the water right. Right now i have him and two of the corys (one of the three died) in a 2 and half gallon bowl. All he does is stay at the top of the water and doesn’t swim around. Even when feeding he kinda sits there then occasionally eats. His back fin is split in two now. I have a female beta too with two neon tetras in a separate 2 gallon tank with filter. They are doing well, along with the corys in Taz’s bowl. I tried to put the female in a cup and let her float around on the surface in his bowl to see if he will perk up and his fen unclamp but it didn’t work. He would just flare up and swim around it but not like he use to. So I put her back in her tank. I know the filter cartridge need to be replaced in the big tank but I don’t have the money atm to get one yet, so he has to stay in the bowl till then. Should I clean the big tank completely, including the props, and put him in there or leave him in the bowl? Also, what medicine would you recommend for him (preferably something cheap but effective)?
Thanks for the additional information. That is way too many fish in such a small tank (minimum: 1 inch of fish per 1 gallon of water), he needs to be on his own in his own quarantine/hospital tank right now. I would start with trying the aquarium salt, clean water, and the proper temperature by himself in that 2.5-gallon tank and move the other to the big tank, and yes, I would rinse everything in the big tank with hot hot water.
Thanks so much for the advice. The other places I would ask would give me information but everything they would suggest was way too expensive and I’m on a tight budget. I didn’t do everything you said to do yet, due to no money yet. I was able to remove the bottom feeders from the bowl and fill the bowl up with distilled water. Right now he is in the bowl by himself and swimming a bit more. The bottom feeders are in the tank with the female betta and tetras. They are doing well too. Once I get the new sponge filter for the small and 10g tank set up and running for about a week or a half with distilled water and the medication I will put the ones in the tank into the big one and have him in the small one instead of the bowl. Do you recommend putting a snail into his tank?
Kayte, please don’t use distilled water as it has been stripped of all of the valuable nutrients and minerals that are healthy for a betta fish. Spring water with a pH of around 7 is much better, or conditioned tap water. Please read the water page if you’d like more information on that. You can add a snail if you’d like once his health has recovered if it’s in the 10-gallon.
I have him in distilled right now… and just now finished filling the 10 gallon tank with distilled too…. He is still by himself right now and is swimming a lot more but his fins are getting worse and he isn’t eating much at all. I have to wait at least a week or less till anything i need to stabilize the water comes in. I’m already going to order melafix and aquarium salt. What exactly do I need for the water?
Also could we talk through email?
Yes, we can, bryan@bettafish.org
While fancy guppy’s aren’t good tankmates because of their colorful fins, can we use a black moscow guppy as a betta tank mate? (due to its dark colour)
They still have large flowing fins, therefore it’s not recommended. All betta fish are different though. If yours is very aggressive with its reflection and food etc then I wouldn’t risk it. I can’t make the decision to test it out for you, but I don’t recommend it when there are other suitable tank mate options. Also, guppies prefer to be in schools to feel most safe which would require you to have a large tank.
Hi. I’m thinking to get a male Betta for my community tank, great article you got here, however, I have not seen information regarding Discuss or ghost catfish or Siamese eater flying fox. I have that plus tetras, kuhlis, catfish and corys. My tanks is a 4 ft but due to moving place I’ve lost a lot of fishes and was thinking to get a Betta. What is your advice? I also have two blue rams. Thanks
It sounds like you have a large enough tank, so depending on how many inhabitants and if all that checks out, you should be fine with the Siamese Algae Eater, and catfish since they’re both docile and bottom dwellers. The Discus and the blue rams would be the only thing I would keep an eye on (and wouldn’t recommend), as well as the betta’s temperament – at least during the first few days. Blue rams might need to be relocated because they are bright and can be aggressive too. Make sure you have a lot of hiding places (plants, decor) and monitor closely. Just know, all bettas and tank mates can react differently.
So I have a 10-gallon and I’m looking into getting my koi female Betta some tankmates what are some suggestions for her that won’t fight with her or vice-versa and still be easy to maintain the tank
My husband has a double tail male Betta fish and an asst md koi fish together in the same tank and they get along perfect. The tank is a 10 gallon. I couldn’t find anything online that said male Bettas and koi fish couldn’t be together. This is an experiment that male Betta fish do get along with other male fish however they eat at different time periods. Make sure if you do try these 2 fish that you put your Betta in a small breading net during the koi feeding because the Betta fish will eat all of the food and get sick.
What a fantastic site! Thank you very much for the information. I was chastised for keeping a sorority recently after asking for advice on treating fin rot. I’m grateful for the good information and informed dialog on this site!!
Hi, I have a fish tank, 2 & 1/2 gallons with one male betta in it. Does anyone here think just one ghost shrimp would be happy living in a tank that size with my male betta as a tank mate? Please answer soon as possible. Thanks.
Ghost shrimp should be kept in pairs of 2-4 or more. 2.5-gallons is the recommended minimum size for just a betta fish by his or herself. Therefore, no I would recommend upgrading to a larger habitat if you were going to introduce any tank mates.
Thanks.
Bryan. Your site provides a wealth of information about bettas. Am glad I found it online. From the second I carried Casper out of the pet store & took him home, he deserved the best life I can afford to give him. However, I cannot afford to upgrade his tank to a larger size so he’ll have to solo for good from now on.
Hello, I have a beautiful male betta named Cas who is getting a tank upgrade. I am moving him from 1 gallon to 10 gallons, so it’s a large step up. I was looking through the fish on this site to give Cas some friends and I wanted to put in a mystery snail, 2-3 ghost shrimp, and 6-8 tetras (I haven’t decided which type yet), is this too much? I don’t want to overcrowd the tank, and I have only worked with 1-2 gallons before, so I don’t really want to mess this up. I was also planning on finding some live plants to add in later when I have everything under control. If anyone could help me that would be wonderful, thank you!
The rule of thumb is 1-gallon per 1-inch of fish. Therefore, you may be okay with 6 tetras, the snail, and the betta.
Is a 5 gallon tank big enough to put more than my betta in?
I would recommend a snail or another compatible tank mate that isn’t a schooling fish and doesn’t grow very large.
Hi,
I just read all of the comments on your site, and I am REALLY wanting a male betta I was gonna put the tank on my desk that is right in front of a big window and I was wondering about a few things:
1. If it is in from of a window do I still need a light for the tank?
2. What size of tank do you recommend for a beginner aquarium enthusiast, I do plan on getting some tank mates!
3. Bloodworms are seen as a betta fish snack and they also prefer betta food however if I were to get other tank mates should I also get regular fish flakes and would that make the betta sick?
4. Depending on the tank size you suggest how often should I clean it and what methods do you recommend?
BTW I love you site it is really educational and inspirational!
Thanks for the compliments Dianna, and that’s great you’re looking into getting a betta.
1. I wouldn’t place the tank anywhere near direct sunlight. It can heat the tank up and produce algae with too much sunlight.
2. If you plan on getting some tank mates, I would go with a 10 or 20-gallon tank. The larger the tank the less the maintenance for water quality.
3. Yes, you need to purchase each specific fish’s food, and no it won’t make your betta sick.
4. Cleaning frequency depends on the size of the tank you eventually get.
I have a ten-gallon tank and I want to get some buddies for my male betta fish. So my girlfriend and I bought some neon tetras (3) and our betta fish killed one of the tetras in the first five minutes of being together in the tank. We want our betta fish to have friends but we don’t know if the tetras were just too small and the only other fish in the tank, or if he’s just plain mean and needs his own separate tank! Right now I have them separated with the tetras in the 10 gallons and the betta fish in a small half gallon which makes me feel bad 🙁 please help… thanks!
You’ve done the right thing by separating them, but you cannot keep your betta fish in that small of a habitat for extended periods. It’s possible, yes, that your betta fish is too territorial for tank mates. You could see if where you purchased the tetras if you can return them in exchange for a different type of tank mate, or try adding more than 3 tetras and see how they fair again with a very close examination before you make a final decision.
why does a ghost shrimp need a 10 gallon tank they’re only 1 inch and I’ve seen two live in a 1.5 gallon tank, with two female bettas
They do best in larger groups of 5 or 6, and that’s what their official recommend care guidelines are. You could realistically keep some in a 5-gallon tank, but too many in a small tank will lead to bioload issues and even aggressiveness towards their own kind if overstocked.
Out of necessity, we currently have my daughter’s female Crowntail Betta (Elizabeth) in a 30 gallon planted tank with several blue Platys, a Scissortail, a Dojo Loach, a Clown Loach, a Moonlight Gourami and 2 Bristlenose Plecos. I was a little apprehensive at first, especially since the Gourami likes to give chase, but Elizabeth’s fins are still perfectly intact and everybody seems to have settled in nicely.
Ghost shrimp is terrible tank mate. I lost 4 Betta fish until I saw the shrimp was preying Betta.
Hi!
Thank you for a giving me so much good information! Some of it would have made a big difference when I had my betta several years ago.
My aquarium has been unused for too long and I’m thinking of starting it up again and getting some new fish. I don’t remember the exact measurements but it is somewhere between 30 and 40 gallons. The plan would be to get a male betta, some panda cory, coolie loaches and some sort of suitable schooling fish. All depending on what is available where I live.
I will not be able to breed any betta food in another tank, so I’m wondering if it is possible to keep some kind of shrimp or similar (as food) in the same tank as the betta. The idea would be that they breed in the vegetation and the betta (and other fish) would eat them and keep the numbers down. Obviously, this would not be their only food.
You won’t be able to effectively create that level of an ecosystem in my opinion. The betta and/or other fish would eat any source of food to exhaustion before any level of decent breeding was allowed. You would have to keep a separate breeding/food tank.
I appreciate the informative site here for bettas, thank you and well done. I currently have a 5 gallon filtered & heated tank with a male Crowntail betta (name is Tatsu) and a male Gold Claw Fiddler and am looking to start a second 5 gal tank for another male betta but different tank mate. I initially wanted a crawfish until I did the research about one, yikes, nothing is going to be safe around those! Your site and info has me leaning towards a snail now, they sound pretty cool, but I’ve read that snails can multiply out of control and I want to avoid that headache if possible! Are snails able to produce offspring all on their own or is that only certain types of snails? Maybe they’re pregnant when bought? Also, is the Mystery Snail the only type of snail that’s safe to be with the betta? Thanks again for all the other great betta info you have here, I like to learn as much as I can! Bookmarked…
Thanks Eric, and there are many different variations of snails that are okay to live with a betta. As for the reproduction, avoid any snails that reproduce on their own (don’t need a mate – asexually). Another snail I really like is the black racer snail. They are faster than apple/mystery snails and tend to be hardier and live longer.
We have a 10 gallon tank with a male veiltail betta and two African dwarf frogs. We are looking to add a few more fish to the tank, and I have a few questions:
1. How many more fish can we safely add?
2. Would a Mickey Mouse Platy be an ok tankmate?
3. I have gotten conflicting information about neon tetras.
A. Can they live with Bettas? Or do they nip the tails?
B. Do they need a full gallon per fish? I’ve been told they need 1/2 a gallon per fish.
Thank you! I am fininding this site incredibly helpful. I really appreciate all the information here.
Hi Arielle. The 1-gallon per 1-inch of fish is a general rule of thumb, and is very helpful for beginners to not overcrowd their habitats and induce stress and dirty water. You’d be best suited adding a diversity of bottom, mid-level and surface dwellers in order to provide ample space for each to live a quality life. For a 10-gallon I wouldn’t add any more than 5 adult fish. Platies should be fine, but just a reminder that all situations are unique and so are the personalities of bettas. Same goes with tetras, but they are compatible.
I have a Half Moon Red and Blue Betta named Mory, and one small very active white snail named Flash. Mory seems very happy, keeps building bubble nests. I enjoyed reading all the comments and answers! Its answered some of my questions. I currently have a 3 gallon plastic bowl. Hoping to eventually move to 10 Gallon,when budget allows.
I was thinking 1 male 1 female and some snails in a 3 gal. To start then moving them to my community tank 55 gal. ( has 2 mollies, 5 swordtails, 2 platies, 10 + or – neons, 4 red eye tetras, 4 Cory cats, an algae eater and a large pleco that’s around a foot long) can I put them together or do I need to start another tank?
Males and females should not be housed together
We added two ghost shrimp in the tank with our female Beta, and she ripped them to shreds. We then added 4-5 Feeder Guppies in there with her, and while she chases them around to no end, doesn’t appear to be interested in eating them.
If I have a 10 gallon tank (oval shaped) can I accommodate 1 Betta, a snail and 2 ghost shrimp?
Plenty of room, however I would add more than 2 ghost shrimp as they do better in larger groups. Try out 4-5 of them.
Quick question, but what is the # of female Bettas with the greatest success rate? Thanks!
The answer depends on the size of the habitat and how it is set up.
hi