Bettas are a very popular fish in the aquarist world. If you have an aquarium with bettas or are thinking of adding bettas to your community tank, you may be wondering which fish make the best tankmates for this aggressive and territorial species?
Bottom feeders like plecos, loaches, and catfish, crustaceans like shrimps and snails, frogs, and fast-moving schooling fish all make good tankmates for betta fish. Species that occupy a separate area in the tank and stay out of the way of bettas are best. Avoid larger, more aggressive, or fin-nipping fish.
Now that you know which water creatures are compatible with betta fish, let’s explore this topic further and in greater detail. Together we’ll discover which fish can live with female bettas and which are okay with male bettas, what bottom feeders, invertebrates and amphibians make good tankmates for bettas, and which fish should never be housed with bettas in captivity.
So, if you’re ready to ‘dive deeper’ into the aquatic world of the spectacular betta fish, then let’s begin!
What Fish can Live with Female Bettas?
Female bettas can get aggressive if kept in too small of a tank with other female bettas. Though females of this species tend to have ‘strong’ personalities, they can be kept with other fish in a community tank under the right circumstances.
If you have an extra-large aquarium with lots of plants and other hiding places, peaceful schooling fish along with bottom dwellers like plecos, loaches, and catfish can live harmoniously with betta females in captivity since bettas prefer to swim in the top half of an aquarium.
What Fish can Live with Male Bettas?
Male bettas tend to be more aggressive and highly territorial in comparison to female bettas. For this reason, you should never keep two males together in the same aquarium as they’ll fight one another, even to the death – hence the term ‘Siamese fighting fish.’
Tankmates should be peaceful and occupy a separate area in the aquarium. Fast-moving schooling fish that stick with their groups in the middle of the tank and bottom dwellers like plecos, loaches, and catfish are ok since they stay out of the way of bettas, who like to swim in the top third of an aquarium.
What Schooling Fish can Live with Bettas?
Smaller, peaceful, fast-swimming schooling fish in groups of at least 8 that prefer to swim together and away from bettas can be kept in the same tank. Make sure the species isn’t the fin-nipping type as this can lead to betta fish stress, injury, and/or disease.
Harlequin rasboras make great tankmates for bettas. They’re a schooling fish that prefer tropical water conditions, just like betta fish. Consider keeping a group of 8 rasboras with a single betta in a 40-gallon tank (minimum). Keep the temperature between 75- and 80-degrees F and the pH stable at around 7.0.
What Bottom Dwelling Fish can Live with Bettas?
The best bottom dwelling fish for a tank with bettas include plecos, loaches, and catfish. Clown plecos, kuhli loaches, and pygmy catfish are all good, peaceful options. Depending on the size of your tank, you could also keep bettas with bigger fish such as bristlenose plecos, clown loaches and cory catfish.
What Invertebrates can Live with Bettas?
Invertebrates like shrimps and snails can also live with bettas in captivity. Ghost and red cherry shrimp as well mystery and zebra snails keep to themselves and therefore make good tankmates. Avoid housing betta fish with crabs since these crustaceans are often territorial and can easily tear the fins off a betta.
What Amphibians can Live with Bettas?
Amphibians like African dwarf frogs can live with betta fish in the same aquarium. This species is not only peaceful but also fun to observe in captivity. Relatively easy to care for, African dwarf frogs make an interesting and eye-catching addition to almost any community tank, including one with betta fish.
Turtles, on the other hand, should never be kept with bettas. These amphibians are skilled hunters that feed on fish in the wild. Brightly colored fish like bettas draw unwanted attention and would likely end up as food. Not to mention, bettas come from a different aquatic habitat and prefer warmer water.
What Fish can’t Live with Bettas?
There are 5 types of fish to avoid keeping in a tank with bettas. These include the following:
Labyrinth Fish – other fish from the labyrinth family (which is the same family that betta fish belong to) such as gouramis or ctenopomas should never be kept with bettas as they too are highly aggressive and territorial which would result in fighting, injury, and possibly death.
Fin-Nipping Fish – fish like angelfish, red tail sharks, tiger barbs, guppies and tetras that are known to nip at fins shouldn’t be housed with bettas. Fin-nipping leads to a bacterial infection known as fin rot which can be life threatening to betta fish if not promptly and properly treated.
Aggressive Fish – larger, more aggressive fish like cichlids, pufferfish, and lionfish should never be kept in a tank with bettas. An encounter with one of these species would likely result in serious injury to either or both fish, not to mention a life-threatening infection or disease that could lead to death.
Copycat Fish – any flashy, vibrantly-hued fish with long, flowing fins or tail that could be mistaken for a betta should be avoided at all costs. Fancy guppies are one such species – they’re standout coloration draws unwanted attention which would likely lead to a fight.
Coldwater Fish – species that prefer colder, harder water environments such as goldfish and koi fish should never be kept with betta fish. Coming from different aquatic habitats, they have separate needs. If you set-up the water conditions to suit one species, then the other will inadvertently suffer.
How to Keep Betta Fish Peaceful in Captivity
Despite their natural tendency toward aggression and territoriality, there are 4 things you can do to help keep your betta fish peaceful in captivity. These include the following:
Upgrade to a Larger Tank – more space in an aquarium will help keep betta fish calm. A too small or overcrowded tank will lead to heightened anxiety and hostility. A 10-gallon tank is fine for a single betta fish but if a community environment is what you’re after, then you’ll need a 40-gallon tank minimum.
Provide Plenty of Hiding Spots – a planted tank with lots of coverage is the best way to protect both betta fish and their tankmates. Adding decorations like rocks and caves will give fish a place to escape should they feel stressed or threatened. Just ensure the ornaments are smooth and free of rough edges.
Set-up your community tank first – it’s easier to introduce a betta to an already established community tank than it is to add more fish to an existing betta aquarium. If you notice your betta acting aggressively towards its tankmates, make sure to have a back-up plan in place like a quarantine tank to rehome it in.
Never Keep Betta Fish Together – betta fish don’t like to be kept with others of their kind, even when it comes to spawning. The male and female will tolerate each other only until procreation has taken place. The only way to keep a male and female betta together long-term is in a planted 40-gallon plus tank.
Final Thoughts
To sum-up, the best tankmates for betta fish are fast-swimming schooling fish as well as peaceful bottom dwellers like plecos, loaches, and catfish. Some crustaceans like shrimps and snails are okay as well as African dwarf frogs. Larger fish that are aggressive aren’t recommended nor are fin-nipping fish.
I trust this article has been of help to you. Thanks for reading and good luck with your aquarist hobby.
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