The number and type of tank mates you can have with a betta will be extremely limited. 5 gallons is a small tank, and the less occupants you have in it, the easier it will be to keep it clean and the water stable and safe.
Choose only one other species to go in the tank.
For actual fish, you could safely go for 4-6 endlers livebearers. Or Rice fish ( same number)
Really , shrimp or a snail would be an easier and safe choice if you have not kept a betta with tankmates before.
I HAVE heard of shrimp going after betta's fins... never had any experience, so I'm not sure. And how much of a chance would the shrimp become fish food? Lol, I'd actually like shrimp too. But don't think I can do it.
Yeah, I wouldn't even consider mixing a betta with shrimp. In the fall, one of my bettas was a bit ill and kept sitting at the bottom of the tank. He did get better, however, IF there had been shrimp in the tank, it would have been likely that the shrimp would have picked apart the betta before he would have a chance to have responded to the treatment he was given.
If the betta was ill you should remove the shrimp while treating. Simple.
Amano ,Cherry and Bee shrimp are the best shrimp to have with a betta . Ghost shrimp are best avoided as those are the type to have a go at a fish which is what guppygoddess is trying to express I think.
Cherries and Bees are small safe shrimp who feed on bits of waste food and algae, Amanos will feed primarily on alage tabs or any algal growth in the tank. I have seen them pick at fish food too.
Shrimp are a great choice for tank mates because they are peaceful and produce very very small amounts of waste, and won't overload your filter.
Apple snails will grow to around the size of a golf ball and basically just cruise around looking good. They will not eat live plants, but do like to graze on any dead plant material. You should also feed them either a alage tab or bottom feeder wafers. An apple snail will add a noticable amount of waste to the tank, as they are rather messy and count as approximately 1-2 fishes worth of waste (poo) .
Your betta is more than capable of living alone, and they do not absolutely require tankmates. You say your betta is peaceful but you actually have absolutely no idea wether he is or not. He's got no tankmates and is in a one gallon bowl. He's never seen any tankmates or had to share his territory so you can't possibly know his reaction to any additions when you have him in the 5 gallon.
It's best to
cycle your tank first, then add any tankmates and leave them in there for one week to adjust and settle. Then add your betta.
To get him used to his new home, a good way of making sure he doesn't sulk or panic at the bigger space is to buy a cheap breeding net of the sort used for guppies. They usually float or stick to the side of the tank.
Release your betta into this net and keep him in there for one week. He can get used to seeing his new home, and seeing his new friends. After the week has passed you can release him, and he will be better able to deal with being in a bigger tank and is more likely to settle down easier .
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