Tank Mates

[dionaly]

I have two bettas. They're currently in a divided tank but I'm thinking about putting them each in their own bigger tank to give them more room and add other fish or animals in with them. What make good tank mates for bettas? What fish? And any invertebrates? Thanks!

 

[youngfisher]

Its hard to say, without knowing the size of the tank your planning to put them in.

YF

 

[LauraFrog]

Bettas are not community fish. They can be aggressive to other fish and they are easily stressed by small fish darting around in their tanks. That said, it is possible.

A tank of 3+ gallons lets you add two or three small shrimp or snails.

A male betta in a tank of 5-6 gallons could be kept with:
3-4 pygmy corydoras
OR 3-4 harlequin rasboras
OR 2 dwarf platys
OR a small group of shrimp.

In 8-10 gallons you could have
Shrimp and/or snails
OR 5-6 pygmy corys
OR 3-4 panda, peppered or other smallish corys
OR 5-6 otocinclus (Experienced aquarist only - extremely hard to look after)
OR up to 8 harlequin rasboras
OR 5 or 6 small platys (or 3 or 4 big ones.)
Or you could combine some of these, like 3-4 pygmy corys and 3-4 harlequins.
Corys and harlequins are schooling, keep at least three or don't keep them at all.

There's a fairly long list of things that you can't keep with a male betta at all and they are:
All barbs (far too nippy)
The vast majority of tetras (far too nippy - might get away with embers)
Female bettas or other male bettas (will be attacked)
Gouramis (some people manage it but generally not a good idea, too closely related)
Plecos (only because they grow too large, they are fine in a really big tank, ditto loaches)
Guppies (will be attacked)
Mollies (incompatible water requirements)

 

[ellena]

I have some african dwarf frogs in with one of mine-they are so cool! Really different and interesting to watch. They have very low bioload too, but you do have to make sure they're getting food by putting it right in front of their faces and watching them eat it.

 

[Honeythorn]

The bigger the tank, the greater the choice of tankmates you have in terms of space ( the choice according to how well they will live with the betta is minimal )

Getting each betta a ten gallon will give you a better choice.

 

[dionaly]

Bettas are not community fish. They can be aggressive to other fish and they are easily stressed by small fish darting around in their tanks. That said, it is possible.

A tank of 3+ gallons lets you add two or three small shrimp or snails.

A male betta in a tank of 5-6 gallons could be kept with:
3-4 pygmy corydoras
OR 3-4 harlequin rasboras
OR 2 dwarf platys
OR a small group of shrimp.

In 8-10 gallons you could have
Shrimp and/or snails
OR 5-6 pygmy corys
OR 3-4 panda, peppered or other smallish corys
OR 5-6 otocinclus (Experienced aquarist only - extremely hard to look after)
OR up to 8 harlequin rasboras
OR 5 or 6 small platys (or 3 or 4 big ones.)
Or you could combine some of these, like 3-4 pygmy corys and 3-4 harlequins.
Corys and harlequins are schooling, keep at least three or don't keep them at all.

There's a fairly long list of things that you can't keep with a male betta at all and they are:
All barbs (far too nippy)
The vast majority of tetras (far too nippy - might get away with embers)
Female bettas or other male bettas (will be attacked)
Gouramis (some people manage it but generally not a good idea, too closely related)
Plecos (only because they grow too large, they are fine in a really big tank, ditto loaches)
Guppies (will be attacked)
Mollies (incompatible water requirements)

Thanks so much! I'm thinking all Haidao can handle sharing a tank with would be a snail seeing as he's decided my yellow beach towel must be the world's largest betta that needs flaring at. Tuila's got a much calmer personality and might be able to handle some actual fish mates.

I have some african dwarf frogs in with one of mine-they are so cool! Really different and interesting to watch. They have very low bioload too, but you do have to make sure they're getting food by putting it right in front of their faces and watching them eat it.

How big of a tank do you have them in?