The Betta fish are known for their protective, courageous and dominating nature, making cohabiting with other fishes quite a handful. Nevertheless, cohabiting is still made possible by understanding your betta fish’s unique personality and temperament, making it easier to choose the right companion or companions for your betta fish. We have sorted out top betta tank mates, you can choose that fit to your tank size.
You might want to first understand your betta fish before seeking out companions for it. Some betta fish can be very calm and welcoming to new tank mates, while some bettas can become aggressive to new tank mates unless the tank space is wide and spacious enough for the betta fish to still mark his territory.
13 Betta Fish Tank Mates You Can Choose
FISH NAME | TANK SIZE REQUIRED | |
Guppies | 8 Gallons | |
Harlequin Rasbora | 10 Gallon | |
Cory Catfish | 10 Gallons | |
Endler's Livebearers | 7 Gallons | |
Platies | 8 Gallons | |
Kuhli Loaches | 15 Gallons | |
Clown Pleco | 20 Gallons | |
Zebra Danios | 10 Gallons | |
Rummy Nose Tetra | 8 Gallons | |
Neon Tetras | 7 Gallons | |
Pygmy Corydoras | 20 Gallons | |
Otocinclus Catfish | 10 Gallons | |
Hatchet Fish | 10 Gallons |
Regardless, the betta fish will thrive well with the extra company to keep them happy, well-stimulated, and entertained; and what better way than to add suitable betta tank mates for your betta fish? We’ve put together the best fish companions for your Bettas.
Top 13 Fishes That Can Live With Betta
1. Guppies
Guppies are a great choice for adding an oomph of glamour and color to your tank. They come in very beautiful colors, especially the male species. Guppies are also small, making your betta fish feel more comfortable. They are also very gentle and meek and can live alone or in groups. They breed readily, so your betta fish is sure to have lots of company, but keeping one gender at a time is best advised. Guppies can l up to 2- 5 years.
2. Harlequin Rasbora
The Rasbora and Betta fish share a lot in common, making them the perfect companion for each other. The Harlequin Rasbora is a gentle species of fish, and they tend to love their own company; they are also peaceful and calm, making them a good choice of tank partner for the betta fish as there is unlikely to be any friction between the two fish.
3. Cory Catfish
Corys are just perfect as a companion to your betta fish. They are not only a fun fish species but also peaceful and quiet, which is a good advantage for your betta fish. They are easy to care for and live at the bottom of the tank, undisturbing to the Betta fish. Corys also enjoy swimming in a little school, so you might want to add just a few Corys to your tank for them to thrive well.
4. Endler’s Livebearers
Endler’s livebearers bear some similarities with guppies, though not as colorful. This species also shares some similarities with the betta fish, like the love of plants. They are also peaceful and will rarely exert any aggressive behavior towards the Betta fish. Another great advantage of having the Endler’s livebearer in your tank is that they will breed a lot which is a good thing for your Betta fish because it will have plenty of live food to chase and eat.
Endler’s livebearers can grow up to 1.4″ in size and live for 2-3 years (however, this is normally slightly shorter for females).
5. Platies
Platies are a social species, so there’s sure to be a lot of activity in the tank. Platies are also like a tank with a lot of plants and hiding places. They come in beautiful colors to beautify your tank. They are rarely ever aggressive and are perfect for any fish tank, including your Betta fish. Platies can grow up to 3″ in length and live for 2-5 years.
6. Kuhli Loaches
Kuhli loaches are very reserved and peaceful eel-like fish. So peaceful that they tend to be more active at night, which invariably means they are unlikely to cause any friction with your Betta fish. They also come quite handy in cleaning out your tank as they hoover up leftover food at the bottom of the tank dropped by the betta fish.
7. Clown Pleco
The Clown Pleco is another compatible fish companion for the Betta fish. They love the bottom part of the tank and are less likely to upset the betta fish. They are also easy to care for and have very tough skin in case of attacks from the Betta fish.
8. Zebra Danios
The Zebra Danios are a compatible companion for your betta fish. All they need to thrive is plenty of space, thick plants, and enough room to swim. They are easy to care for and attractive with their black and white zebra patterned bodies. Zebra Danios can live for 2-3 years and grow up to 2.5″ in length.
9. Rummy Nose Tetra
Rummy Nose Entra can be your next Betta fish buddy as they are very peaceful and easy to care for. They spend most of their time in groups creating an attractive display that can serve as entertainment for your Betta fish. Rummy nose tetras can live for up to 5 years and grow to 2″ in length.
10. Neon Tetras
Neon tetras are quite popular and make great tankmates for the Betta fish. Be sure to keep them in a large tank, and they are sure to remain peaceful. Neon tetras can live up to 5 years and grow up to 1.5″ in length.
11. Pygmy Corydoras
If you are wondering what species of fish to keep your Betta company, you might want to consider the Pygmy Corydoras first. These species are one of the best choices to keep your Betta fish company. The Pygmy corydoras fish are so peaceful that they do not trigger the Betta fish and do not cohabit in the same areas or have flowing tails which can trigger the Betta fish. They are quite small and can live happily in a small tank. They can live up to 3 years and grow up to 1.3″ in size.
12. Otocinclus Catfish
This species is the perfect bottom dweller for your Betta fish without interfering in its space. They require very minimal care and are quick to adapt to their environment. Although they love to hide, they still serve as a good companion for your Betta.
Otocinclus catfish can live for 3-5 years and grow between 1.5-2″ in length.
Here you have a go-to list of best companions that can cohabit with your Betta fish; let’s now walk you through some handful tips for helping your fish get along.
13. Hatchet Fish
The Hatchet fish are a cool species known for its body being shaped like a hatchet. They are very peaceful and will not cause disturbance to the Betta fish, making them good companions for your bettas.
Handy Tips and Hacks To Help Your Fish Get Along.
Adding companions to your tank for the betta fish can be tricky, but with these tips put together for you, it sure will turn out smoothly.
- When introducing new fish into your tank, it is advisable to ensure no two male bettas are in the tank to avoid fights and injury.
- The female betta fish are generally more tolerant and will thrive better with brightly colored companions without feeling threatened or the need to be aggressive.
- Male Betta fish will thrive well with dull-looking fish like the corydoras catfish as a companion. This way, they will live peacefully as the male betta fish will likely not see the corydoras catfish as a threat.
- Consider adding fish species that do not inhabit the same area to avoid clashes. Since the Betta fish loves to stay in the top and middle part of the tank, his companion should be at the bottom part of the tank.
- Ensure your tank is big enough to house your Betta fish and its new companion. The betta fish will need a 5-gallon tank, and this means when bringing in a new companion, a bigger tank is highly necessary for both fish to thrive well.
- Lots of plants and hiding places are a great addition to make the tank more relaxing and safe for your betta fish to always feel at ease and less threatened.
- The temperature and pH conditions of the betta fish and its companion should match to enable both fish to live to their full term.
- Observe the Betta fish and its companion to see how they are adjusting, and should any conflict arise, a tank divider can be used to separate both fish so you can still have the best from both worlds and enjoy your fish tank.
- Consider purchasing your fish from a well-known breeder; also, purchasing a juvenile Betta fish can make cohabiting easier for both fish when they are joined together in one tank.
- Ensure that the temperature of your fish matches the exact requirement needed for their survival.
You Must Need To Avoid These Betta Tank Mates
Betta is a freshwater fish native to Southeast Asia, also known as Siamese fighting fish. It has flashy fins and beautiful, bold colors, making it a famous fish type.
Bettas are highly tolerant of poor water quality and low oxygen levels. It is said that bettas fish has territorial nature, particularly male bettas, which often fight each other when kept in the same tank.
It can cause the death of one or both fish. Female betta fish can also become aggressive if kept in a small tank. Fishkeepers who start by keeping betta fish as their pet want to add new fish to their betta tank.
But due to their aggression, it is always a concern which fish can be suitable for the betta tank. Bettas can live peacefully with fish of similar nature. You must know which fish to avoid keeping your tank atmosphere peaceful.
By identifying the fish not compatible with bettas, you can easily avoid them and keep other fish suitable for bettas.
Here are some fish you must avoid keeping with your bettas as it will possibly result in a fight:
- Other male bettas
- Cichlids
- Puffers
- Nippy tetras
- Shrimps
- Angelfish
- Gouramis
- Tiger barbs
- Red tail sharks
- Goldfish
What is The Reason Behind Betta Fish Aggression?
Many people want to keep their bettas with other fish but hesitate because of their aggressive nature. It is known that male bettas will fight each other when kept in the same tank. It can cause the death of one or both fish.
However, it is a myth that bettas cannot live in community tanks. Bettas are usually aggressive with their species and should not be kept with other bettas. They can be aggressive towards other fish, particularly if they resemble bettas.
Bettas also don’t need to fight and kill other types of fish. Bettas can live with other fish, ignoring them if they do not cause any harm to them. But it is not that simple, and bettas will live with other fish only under certain circumstances.
If everything goes smoothly, bettas can live in a community tank easily.
But the main issue is that you will not know which betta will live with other fish until you put them in the community tank. In the circumstances, other fish threaten or harass bettas that force them to attack.
Bettas have flowing fins which can be appealing for some fish, and they can attempt to attack them. So, it is possible that other fish attack first, which results in a fight.
So, you can say that bettas are not as aggressive as they are called. They can be kept with their compatible fish in a large tank. But, it doesn’t mean they are not aggressive at all.
They can be aggressive with some fish species, or some can also become aggressive with any other fish if the environment is congested. Hence, you cannot identify which betta is aggressive until you keep them with other fish in a tank.
So How You Can Introduce Your Betta Fish To The Community
So, you can add your bettas to the community tank, but it will not work in every scenario. Some bettas prefer living alone. You can consider some aspects before putting your betta in a community tank. It will show you if your betta is ready to live with the community or not. Here are some things you can do to minimize the chances of fighting from the betta fish:
- Quarantine the betta
It is advised to quarantine your betta before adding it to a community tank. It will show you if it develops any disease that will spread to other fish in the community tank. Keep it in quarantine for 15 days to see if the fish eats properly, doesn’t show any parasites, and has normal activity.
- Do not keep bettas with bright-colored fish.
Make sure you do not keep your betta with brighter-colored fish. It can trigger aggression in them, and they can attack. Try to choose dull-colored fish as the bettas will not see them as a threat.
- Avoid fish with flowing tails.
The flowing tails of the fish can also become attractive to bettas, and they can attack them. So, avoid choosing a fish with a flowing tail to keep with your betta fish.
- Make sure the tank is spacious.
Your tank must be spacious. If you want to keep different fish in one community tank, ensure the tank is big enough to provide good space for all the fish. It is wise to choose a tank of a minimum of 10 gallons. However, you may need to increase the size according to the type of fish.
- Choose a fish that inhabit different areas.
Try to choose a fish that do not inhabit the same areas as bettas. Betta fish mostly inhabit the top of the tank and sometimes in the middle. So, choosing a fish that inhabits the bottom of the tank is recommended.
- Add younger bettas
When bettas are young, they are not much aggressive. So, if you add them to the community tank at a young age, they are less likely to attack.
- Add a lot of hiding spaces and plants.
Try adding many plants, decorative items, and hidden spaces in the tank. It will help them find a place to reside when they feel stressed. They will feel safe, reducing the chances of their attack. It will also help to keep other fish less prominent, and the bettas will ignore them with other decorative stuff.
- Choose the fish with the same requirements.
Every fish needs a specific temperature and other water conditions to live healthily. When you keep your bettas with other fish, ensure they have similar requirements. Or else it is possible that one of them will die.
- Keep checking
Try to frequently monitor the activities of your betta fish when kept in the community tank. If you don’t find any aggression or attacking from the betta, it means your betta can live happily in the community tank.
- Have a backup plan
It is essential to have a backup plan when adding your bettas to a community tank. Always keep a small tank to keep your betta fish. Move it to the small tank when you see your betta attacking any other fish.
Following these aspects will make it easier for you to keep your betta in a community tank.
Conclusion
Who says the Betta fish are unable to live with other companions? They are such unique species that only need to be understood. Understanding your Betta fish guarantees them a much happier and more entertaining life, and who doesn’t want that? Certainly not the Betta fish.
While choosing your betta tank mates you should get proper knowledge before keeping them in tank, in some cases the results may be severe.
FAQ’S
Q. Are Betta Tank Mates Same For Male And Female Bettas?
There is no major difference, but both male and female betta act differently toward other fishes, the female bettas can be less aggressive but the male bettas shows greater aggression toward other tank mates.
Q. How Far Can Betta Fish See?
Betta fishes do not have far vision or sharp eyesight, but they are gifted with the sense of smell so they dominate in the tank or in sea with this ability.
Q. Can Betta Fish Kill Other Fishes?
Some fishes are not suitable to keep with betta in tank, since they fall in the fighter category. They attack and kill with several wounds on body. You can check the list of betta tank mates.
Q. What To Do If Betta Fish Keep Attacking On Other Fishes?
You have to immediately separate both the fishes in different tanks, because as the time passes the betta fish does not like its partner in tank, it keeps attacking on them until they are completely dead.
[…] You can also check Best Betta Tank Mates. […]