Betta Tank Mates: The 10 Best Companions for Your Betta Fish

Given that we get these types of questions so often we decided to write an article about the 10 best Betta tank mates.

There’s a pretty common joke in the world of the Betta keepers. If you’re a Betta owner, then you’ll probably get this joke immediately.

After all, there’s a reason that bettas are known as the Siamese Fighting Fish. Bettas come with a reputation for being aggressive and territorial. They are not known for being warm and friendly towards other fish. All Bettas share this common character trait even though there are many different types of Bettas.

Fortunately, we are happy to share that there are a variety of fish that can live with a Betta. This includes numerous other fish species and invertebrates. As long as you follow some common sense rules, the old joke about Betta fish doesn't have to be true. With some care you can keep some other things in your Betta tank besides just the heater and the filter.

In this article we’ll cover some of the common questions about what fish can live with Bettas. We will also look at 10 of the best Betta tank mates that you should consider for your aquarium.

Don't worry if your Betta looks lonely in its tank. Bettas aren’t schooling or shoaling fish. Betta are solitary creatures. So if you’re keeping just one single Betta or even a small "Betta sorority" group in a big community tank, you don’t need to worry. You’re not depriving your Bettas of any natural socializing or buddies you might think they’re longing for.

You might be able to keep one male together with several females if you don’t want to keep just a sorority group. But remember that this is a guideline, not a hard and fast rule. A male Betta might still kill, or try to kill, a female Betta in order to show his dominance.

You may even find though, that your females don’t like company either. Some thrive in a sorority tank and others just prefer to be on their own. Here’s a great short video that shows you how to put a female Betta sorority tank together.

You should always be prepared to adjust and make changes if your Bettas are chasing each other or if they look like they’re being aggressive or getting stressed.

However, there’s one important rule regarding Betta tank makes:

Two male Bettas will fight to the death if given the chance.

In their natural environment, one male Betta would eventually give up and swim away. However, in a small fish tank, there is nowhere to hide. This can result in stress, injuries, and even death for one or both of your male Betta fish. Thus, please do not put two male Bettas together!

However, Bettas can co-exist with some other fish or invertebrate species in their natural environment. This includes Loaches, Rasboras, Gouramis, and other fish in the Betta genus. While Bettas will still be territorial and chase those fish away sometimes, most of the time they can share their space with other non-threatening species and invertebrates.

There are certain kinds of fish that are not compatible with Bettas. Here’s a list of what NOT to add to your Betta tank:

Bettas are tropical fish. They do best at a water temperature range between 75-80F. Any potential Betta tank mate needs to be happy in this temperature range as well. For some compatible species you might need to set your aquarium water temperature at the lower end of this range so that they can live together successfully.

When it comes to choosing tankmates, use your common sense. Do they like the same kind of water quality and pH? Do they like the same kinds of plants? What about lighting levels?

Given that Bettas can enjoy chasing other fish around, you want to make sure that any potential tank mates are quick on their fins so that they can stay ahead of your feisty Betta. Or choose the opposite and pick a slow bottom dweller who isn’t going to present a temptation. You should also think about the fact that nippy species might try to nibble on your Betta’s beautiful tail and fins. Look for tank mates that are going to leave each other alone.

Don’t ignore the fact that your Bettas are territorial. They like to hang out where they like to hang out – sometimes at the top, sometimes on the bottom, and sometimes tucked into a plant or under a leaf. Don’t choose a tank mate who also has the same kind of territorial habits. Pick a species that isn’t going to compete for swimming space with your Betta.

The minute you think about introducing other species into your Betta tank – or creating a community or sorority tank of Bettas – you need to consider tank size. It’s important not to try to cram everything in together. Even if you’re only adding invertebrates like snails or shrimps, everyone needs their own space. We recommend at least a 5 gallon tank for your Betta. If you're considering adding even more fish, check out this article for some of the guidelines around ideal fish-to-tank size ratios. In smaller tanks your Betta is probably better off on their own.

Now that you’ve read this far, it’s time to think about choosing some good tank mates for your Bettas. The following is our list of the top 10 best tank mates for Bettas. You can also check out this short video for some advice about how to choose the right Betta tank mates.

Scientific name: Panaqolus maccus

The Clown Pleco is a peace-loving and submissive fish that will live well alongside your Betta. The Clown Pleco is a type of catfish and they aren’t interested in fighting. Also, as an armored catfish, a Betta isn’t going to pick a fight with one of these.

However, Clown Plecos can get rather large (up to 4") so it is recommend that you put them and your Betta in at least a 20 gallon tank (our top-pick on Amazon) to provide enough room for them.

Clown Plecos are bottom feeders and won’t try to grab your Betta’s food. They will also help keep the tank clean by eating algae. They do need driftwood in their diet, which you can buy on Amazon.

Scientific name: Poecilia reticulate

Guppies eat different foods than Bettas and they’re very hardy. They can survive in practically any kind of water conditions or temperature. This makes them one of the more popular choices for community tanks.

Scientific name: Trigonostigma heteromorpha

Rasboras are small and non-aggressive. They’re not interested in chomping down on your Betta’s fins or tail. Bettas also don’t see them as threatening. Part of the reason for this is because of their very different coloring and shape, which Betta can sense makes them not a competitor.

You’ll need to take more care with your Pygmy Corydora’s diet as they don’t share much of the same protein sources as your Betta. Pygmy Corydoras prefer insect larva as their meal of choice. They’re also bottom feeders, which is good news for you and your Betta.

White clouds eat the same sort of food as Bettas, which will make your life easier. Bloodworms, fish food flakes and brine shrimp will all be happily eaten up. White Clouds do tend to prefer colder water in a temperature range of 60-75F, so you’ll need to set your heater so that it keeps the water at no more then 75F to ensure they can live together well. Keep an eye on the temperature so that it doesn’t get too hot or too cold for either species.

They’re translucent so your Betta won’t see them often, and certainly won’t think of them as competition. Speaking of food, some Bettas might see them as a food source of their own, so make sure there is somewhere in the tank they can hide safely! You might need to replace them regularly if your Betta starts eating them.

Mystery snails are very calm and safe to have around plants. Their hard shell protect them from Bettas, but sometimes their tentacles can be appealing to Bettas to nibble on. Keep an eye on this and if you notice your Betta going in for a bite on a regular basis, you might need to think about moving the snails to an alternate tank.

Afraican Dwarf Frogs are usually grey or brown in color and sometimes spotted. The African Dwarf Frogs are charmingly peaceful and easy to care for. They’re very active and they like to explore their surroundings, so make sure you have at least a 10-gallon tank for this amphibian friend. And be sure you have a lid so that they don’t escape.

So now you know the answer to whether or not you can keep other species of fish in your Betta tank. You Betta you can! All of the species mentioned make good tank mates for Bettas.