Betta is the most famous fishes among aquarists. The colorful appearance of betta can add beauty to the dullest tanks. There are different types of Betta fish. They have varieties in tail types, and each type enhances their beauty.
Most Betta fish are quite aggressive so finding the right tank mates is quite difficult for them. They don’t always go along with other peace-loving community fishes. Thus, they are also known as Siamese fighting fish.
Are you interested in the betta fish community tank and don’t know what fish can live with Bettas? Here, we can help you.
In this article, we are going to cover several fishes that will happily live with your Betta. To know more, keep reading till the end.
How to Choose Betta Fish Tank Mates?
There are several things to keep in mind before choosing betta fish tank mates.
Betta, also known as Betta splendens, is quite famous for its territorial and aggressive act. Small tanks and slow-moving fishes can trigger these behaviors. This behavior can be reduced if kept with other compatible fishes in a large tank.
There are a few things that you should keep in mind before selecting any partner for them. These will help reduce aggression and avoid getting harmed or harm other fishes.
- Large fin/tail fishes – Other fishes can be mistaken as Betta from their large fins and tails. Bettas will nip on their fin/tail if kept together. So, avoid keeping these fishes with Bettas.
- Single fish – Never keep any single fish from other species with Betta. Otherwise, they will keep harassing them, which can stress the other one. Keep other species in a group of 4-5 fishes who move in a shoal. It will move Betta’s focus from any individual fish.
- Predatory fishes – You should avoid large and predatory fishes as these can harm your Bettas by continuously nipping and biting their majestic tails or fins.
- Same temperament fishes – You should avoid keeping the fishes who share the same temperament or are territorial. These fishes can get in a fight with your Bettas over territory and result in hurting both of them.
- Set up a second aquarium – To set up a tank for Betta and other fish species, make sure to add the other species before Betta.
It will help them set their territories and become comfortable in the new environment. Prepare the second aquarium with the right conditions to keep Bettas separate.
Betta fish lifespan will also increase if you keep them in the right community tank.
It will also help if anything goes wrong with the already set up tank.
These things might make your work even harder for choosing the right tank mates for Betta. But there are a variety of fishes and even other species of Betta who you can keep together.
In this article, you will get all the fishes’ names to make the best companion with your Betta. So, please stick with us till the end.
The Best Betta Tank Mates
Here is the most awaited list of the best betta tank mates that will be the best companion. To know why keeping on reading –
- Tetra – Different species of Tetras can make the best companion with the Bettas. It is especially because of their small size as they can reach up to 2 inches only.
So, they don’t require a lot of space in the tank as well.
They are non-aggressive and moves in a shoal. They won’t nip on the fin or tails of your Bettas as well. They will add variety with their appearance and active movements.
The best species of Tetra that will go along peacefully with your Bettas are –
- Neon Tetras
- Black Neon Tetra
- Silvertip Tetra
- Ember Tetra
- Diamond Tetra
- Rummy-Nosed Tetra
- Cardinal Tetra
- Glow-Light Tetra
Coming up to other perfect tank mates for bettas-
- Harlequin Rasbora – These species of Rasbora are considered as best fishes for male Tetras. They are small and can grow up to 2 inches only. They are also habitual of the same water conditions as Bettas.
- Fire Rasbora – These are other Rasbora species that are compatible with Bettas. They are small, non-aggressive, and need to be kept in a group of 8 members.
- Endler – These are another compatible species for Bettas. They usually grow up to only 1 inch, depending on gender. These small fishes move in a shoal, which reduces their chance of getting harassed by Bettas.
- Female Guppies – Guppies are another peace-loving community fish, but the males are not fit for the Bettas because they move slow and have colorful long fins.
Bettas can harm them by nipping on their fins and tails. So, keep female guppies instead. They don’t have any bright colorations or long tails.
- Otocinclus Catfish – These fishes are also quite peaceful and small in size. They are bottom-dwellers but are not very active. We can see these fishes sitting on the logs for hours. So, they won’t invade Betta’s territory.
- Cory Catfish – These are another bottom-dwelling species of catfish. They are peace-loving and thrive best in a community tank.
- Glass Catfish – These catfishes have a transparent appearance and can grow up to 5 inches. They are best for larger tanks.
- Celestial Pearl Danio – These Danio’s species are schooling fishes that can’t grow more than an inch.
- Pleco – The Plecos are also recommended for larger tanks only, and they spend most of their time at the bottom of the tank.
- Kuhli Loaches – These fishes are nocturnal and are great tank cleaners. They are best as they are small and do all the work when the Bettas are asleep.
- Platy (short-finned) – These small fishes are social schooling fishes and grow up to 2 inches only.
- White Cloud Mountain Minnow – These are other small schooling fish that dwell in the tank’s upper or middle parts.
- Molly (short-finned) – These fishes are also known for their non-aggressive and schooling nature. They will add variety with their coloration. They mostly dwell in the upper parts of the water.
Female Betta Tank Mates
People choose male Bettas over females as the males are attractive, brightly colored, and have long majestic tails while females don’t have. But the female Bettas are easier to care for and keep in the community tank as they are less aggressive and territorial.
You get a variety of options to choose a mate for a female Betta’s tank. You also don’t have to worry about keeping other fishes with bright coloration and long tails as the female Bettas won’t nip on them.
The female Bettas are less territorial so that they won’t fight with other fishes invading their space. It gives you the freedom to keep a slightly larger fish with them as well. But make sure they won’t nip or bite your Betta.
All of these depend on each fish’s temperament as there is a chance that some of them can be slightly aggressive than the others. You can keep bottom dwellers with your female Bettas.
Their presence or activity won’t annoy female Bettas much. The best bottom-dwellers for your female Bettas are –
- Clown Loach,
- Yoyo Loach
- Pygmy Cory
- Panda Cory
- Clown Pleco.
These are the good betta tank mates.
Fast-swimming shoaling fishes, such as-
- Red-eye Tetra
- Blue Tetra
- Penguin Tetra
- Gold Tetra
- Mosquito Rasbora
These also make the best companion with the female Bettas.
Male Betta Tank Mates
We all know that male Bettas are aggressive and territorial. Their nature limits the options of fish species that you can keep with them. They don’t like their territory being invaded by others and can attack anyone who does it.
The bright colorations of other fishes who share the same size as theirs can also trigger their aggression. Also, We should avoid the slow-swimming ones as the male Bettas can easily attack them.
Other species that you should avoid are the ones having long majestic tails. They can be mistaken as another male Betta by them. Their activity can turn into a violent fight within the tank resulting in death or heavy injuries.
The small shoaling fishes with dull coloration and short-fins will make a perfect companion with the male Bettas. Fishes like-
- Blackline Rasbora
- Dawn Tetra
- Colombian Tetra
- Green Neon Tetra
- Head-Tail Light Tetra
These are the perfect tank mates for bettas.
The fishes who dwell at different tank levels can also become the best companion for the Betta tank. The fishes who won’t invade the territory of Bettas are –
- Snowball Pleco
- Bristlenose Pleco
- Candy Striped Pleco
- Zebra Loach
- Albino Cory
So, you can consider them as the best tank mates for bettas.
Adding more plants and keeping them in large tanks will also reduce the aggression in them. It will reduce the vision for the Bettas and provide shelter to the other fishes.
Betta Sorority Tank Mates
What is a Betta sorority?
Bettas sorority, or Betta harem, is a betta community tank that contains around 5 female Bettas. As we discussed earlier, the female Bettas are less aggressive and territorial than the males, but it depends widely on individual species. So, choose their tank mates wisely.
Tank Mates for sorority
The other species of fishes whom you wish to keep with them should be fast swimming schooling fishes. They shouldn’t be fin nippers but can be bottom dwellers.
For Betta sorority, you need a tank of at least 30 gallons capacity to give them ample space to swim. It would be best if you also had plenty of plantations and ornaments to make hiding places for them.
The fishes whom you can keep with the Betta sorority are –
- Black Neon Tetra
- Neon Tetra
- Cherry Barbs
- Guntea Loach
- Guppies
- Cory Catfish
Considering Tank Sizes
Betta Tank Mates 5 Gallon Aquarium
A 5-gallon aquarium tank is very small for keeping a betta and other fish. It won’t provide Betta enough space to swim with other fish around. They will easily get aggressive, which can result in a fight even with a compatible mate.
So, we won’t recommend you to have a 5-gallon tank for this purpose. This small aquarium is suitable only if you are planning to keep a single Betta in it. They are anti-social creatures, so that they will live happily in a small aquarium all alone.
Instead of fishes, you can stock the tank with various plants, such as Amazonian Sword Plants or some Java Ferns. You can also add other decorative ornament or artificial plants to the tank.
Just make sure it is not made up of hard plastic but other soft materials. The Betta can get hurt or get scratched from it. Also, make sure everything is fixed firmly. The Bettas are known to dig and uproot plants and other ornaments.
If you still want to add some live creature to the tank, you can add snails or shrimps. They will keep the tank clean and live peacefully with your Betta.
Betta Tank Mates 10 Gallon Aquarium
A 10-gallon aquarium is large enough for keeping other species of fish with your Betta. But the tank should be set up right so that everyone gets ample space. You can add more plants and bogwood logs to create hiding space for other fishes and block Betta’s view.
As we discussed earlier, you can add artificial plants as well, but they should not be made from hard plastic or damage your Betta’s fins. Also, the fish species that we discussed above will be perfect for keeping in a 10-gallon tank.
The bottom-dwellers like Loaches and Catfishes will be perfect for a tank of this size. You can also add snails, shrimps, or frogs to add variety to your small capacity tank.
Now, you can easily choose a fish that can live with bettas. Are there non-fish creatures that can live with bettas? Let’s discuss.
Non-fish Creatures for Bettas
You can add non-fish species to your Betta tank as well. The main benefit of keeping these creatures is that they will add variety to your aquarium. These creatures can become good betta fish companions for both males and females.
These creatures should not be too small; otherwise, they will become dinner for the fish but small enough not to harm or disturb other fishes. The non-fish species that will be suitable for your Betta tank are –
- Mystery snails – These snails are colorful and are famous for their ability to keep the tank shining. They won’t get big enough to disturb your Betta and quietly eat any leftover food and algae from the tank.
- Malaysian Trumpet snails – These species of snails are nocturnal. They are algae eaters. So, they will wander the tank at night and do all the cleaning while your Betta sleeps. During the day, they will burrow under sediment.
- Nerite snails – These snails are also small and won’t get large enough to disturb the Betta. They also need brackish water to breed, so you don’t have to worry about them crowding the tank.
You can also add shrimps to your Betta tank. They are also famous for their tank cleaning skills and peaceful nature. They will also add variety with their appearance and active movements in the tank.
Ghost shrimps and adult Cherry shrimps are perfect for this purpose. You can also add amphibians to the tank, such as African Dwarf Frogs. They are peaceful and won’t disturb Betta.
Do you want to give a name to your fish? Here is the list of betta fish names. Pick a good name of your choice and let us know.
Summary
Bettas are beautiful fishes, but their aggressive nature makes them less compatible with other fishes or community tanks. It is a difficult task to find the right tank mate for Bettas, especially for male Bettas.
But we have provided you with a list of the fishes and non-fish creatures that will easily go along with both male and female Bettas. You can keep them together in a tank of 10-gallons, and this is the smallest tank that we recommend.
For Betta sorority, this tank is not enough. It would be best if you had at least a tank of 30-gallon capacity for Betta sorority. Also, make sure to keep the tank heavy planted to create enough hiding space for every fish.
What do you think of the list we provided for your Betta tank? Which fish species do you keep with your Betta? How is your experience? Let us know in the comments given below…