Betta Fish, also called Siamese fighting fish, is a popular and beautiful ornamental fish. However, finding a tank mate for your Betta is a bigger problem. These species are known for their aggressive and territorial nature, which means they cannot share their place with other species. However, the Betta Fish works great if you choose the best peaceful species for them under the right conditions. Read this guide to find a suitable tank mate for the Betta fish.
In this guide, we will cover:
- Do Betta Fish Need Tank Mates?
- Can You Put Multiple Bettas in the Same Tank?
- Â What Makes the Good Tank Mate For Betta Fish?
- Best Compatible Tank Mates for Betta Fish
- What Species Cannot Live with Bettas?
Do Betta Fish Need Tank Mates?
The Betta Fish live a solitary life and they do not like tank mates. However, if they are in the small tanks, they might get bored. You can add the numerous species as tank mates in your Betta’s tank under specific conditions. To add the species into the tank, you must increase the size of the tank and add a filtration system to keep the species healthy and clean.
Can You Put Multiple Bettas in the Same Tank?
The male bettas can be stressed and aggressive against the other male bettas or if they are housed together with other fishes. They should not be kept with female bettas or other male bettas in the same container; it is recommended to create a separate five-gallon tank for your male bettas. The Female bettas are less aggressive, and they can live with other female bettas in the same container.
What Makes the Good Tank Mate for Betta Fish?
While choosing the tank mates for your Betta fish, ensure that the tank mates can flourish in the same water conditions and habitats your betta fish does. Before adding any fish to the community tank of Betta, you must take the following precautions.
- Make sure the other fishes you have chosen for your betta fish are free of any parasites and have no disease.
- Betta Fish are usually kept in small tanks, while other fishes require more space. Ensure that you have a water tank of 15 or more gallons for the comfort of other fish.
- Clean the tank before adding the tank mates.
- Check the water conditions including the Temperature and PH. The temperature should be between 76- and 83-degrees Fahrenheit and the PH must be between 6.8 to 8.
- Never keep a single fish with Betta fish in the tank, always keep them in a group of five or six.
Best Compatible Tank Mates for Betta Fish
Below we have listed some of the top best compatible tank mates for your Betta fish:
- Snails
- Corydoras Catfish
- Harlequin Rasboras
- Kuhli Loaches
- African Dwarf Frogs
- Shrimps
- Guppies
- Platy Fish
- Ember Tetras
- Cardinal Tetras
1: Snails
Tank Size: 5-gallons or more
Compatibility: High
If Betta Fish is living in the minimum tank size of 5 gallons, then you can choose the Snails as the best companion for your Betta Fish. They are the best starter tank mates as their hard shells will protect them from Bettas. The Nerite Snails have intricate shell patterns that beautify your tank by adding attractive visual elements. The Mystery Snails are another great option, they clean up the algae and consume uneaten food. The Mystery Snails can grow up to 2 inches with an average life span of one year. You will love to watch them walking around the tank.
2: Corydoras Catfish
Tank Size: 20 gallons
Compatibility: High, safe choice
The Corydoras are the best addition to your Betta Fish’s tank. They are the bottom swimmers, are non-aggressive and are easy to care for. There are 160 Corydoras species, some of which can grow extremely large. Ensure that the Cory fish you choose fits your tank size and doesn’t affect the activities of your betta. The Panda Corydoras Catfish is the best addition to the smaller fish tank.
3: Harlequin Rasboras
Tank size: 15 gallons
Compatibility: High
The Harlequin Rasboras is a beautiful creature and is an elegant addition to the Betta community tank. You can easily recognize them with the triangle on the side of their bodies. They shoal fish and are known for their gentle, and peaceful nature. These species mostly prefer to live in groups of five and eight.
4: Kuhli Loaches
Tank size: 15 gallons
Compatibility: High, no risk of conflict
If your aquarium has sand, they are best for your Betta Fish. The Kuhli Loaches are bottom dwellers, eel-like fish, and can grow up to 4 to 5 inches in length. They are a valuable addition to your Betta tank if it has a size of 15 or 20 gallons. These species mind their own business and are the best addition in the tank, because of their docile temperaments. The brine shrimp is a favorite food of these species.
5: African Dwarf Frogs
Tank Size: 10 gallons or more
Compatibility: Medium
The African Dwarf Frogs interact very little and prefer to live in small groups. These frogs breathe through the lungs instead of the gills. Before choosing this fish for your betta fish, ensure that your tank has a way for the frogs as they come up to the surface to breathe. They are peaceful, but sometimes they lose out to bettas for food, you will need to make sure they will get enough food.
6: Shrimps
Tank Size: 10 gallons or more
Compatibility: High
Shrimps like Ghost or Starter shrimps are the best companions for your Betta Fish. They are low-cost and help you clean the tank. The shrimps have long elongated bodies and are peaceful species that mostly stay at the bottom of the tank. There are 12 major types of shrimps; the ghost shrimps are invisible in the tank and can grow up to 1.5 inches.
7: Guppies
Tank size: 8 gallons or more
Compatibility: Medium
The Guppies are another peaceful species and are excellent beta fish tank mates. Choose Feeder guppies of the same gender for your Betta Fish. They do not have longer fins and bright colors, which makes it an ideal species to live with betta.
8: Platy Fish
Tank size: 15 gallons
Compatibility: Medium
The Platy Fish is the best addition to the tank of your Betta Fish. They are beautiful species with numerous colors and are very easy to care for. They can live in every PH, but these species are more comfortable in alkaline water.
9: Ember Tetras
Tank size: 10 gallons
Compatibility: High
Another beautiful fish with a bright orange color is Ember Tetras. They are the best addition to your aquarium as these colorful species will make your aquarium look attractive and beautiful. They can live comfortably with the Bettas because of their peaceful nature. Choose 6 or more of these tetras to make your tank attractive.
10: Cardinal Tetra
Tank size: 15 gallons
Compatibility: High
If Cardinal Tetras are kept in a school of 6 or more, they are a great choice for Betta Fish. They can grow a little larger and require extra care as compared to the other Tetra. Although they require extra care, this bright-colored fish is the better choice for your betta Fish Companion.
What Species Cannot Live with Bettas?
You should avoid fish with similar sizes of Betta or similar fins because Betta usually attacks the fins, gills, and tails. All the other fishes with an aggressive nature should be avoided.
The following fishes cannot live with bettas:
– Male Betta (with Male betta): They are hostile and fight each other.
– Goldfish: You should keep the Goldfish out of your tank as these species pollute a tank more than the Bettas. They require a cooler temperature whereas Bettas prefer a warm temperature.
– Angelfish: The Angelfish require the same water condition as your Betta does, but they are more aggressive towards other species. You should not keep them in the tank of your Betta Fish.
– Cichlids: Just like Bettas, they also have a territorial nature and end up fighting with Bettas.
– Gouramis: They look similar to Bettas and become competitors.
– Tiger Barbs: They nip the fins of other fishes and if you choose them as a tank mate for your Betta Fish, they will tear apart the fins of your fish.
– Fancy guppies: They have long and colorful fins that end up leading to potential harm to both species.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the tank mate for your Betta Fish requires a lot of research and is time-consuming. Betta Fish live peacefully in their natural habitat and home aquariums if they find the best companions. The most preferred tank mates for Betta Fish include Snails, Corydoras Catfish, Harlequin Rasboras, Kuhli Loaches, African Dwarf Frogs, Shrimp, Guppies, and many more.
We discussed the conditions you must keep in mind while choosing tank mates for your Betta Fish. If you choose the best tank mates for your Betta, you will have a happy and healthy home for your Fish with an attractive aquarium.
