What kind of fish goes well with betta?

[steffi0122]

I have a betta in a tank by himself and i was looking to putting something else in there. I was wondering what types of fish everyone else has put in with their bettas and if it worked well. It is a 10 gallon tank so i know that i have room for more fish in there. If anyone could help i'd apreciate it!

[Dean]

maybe a couple dwarf corys.

[Wippit Guud]

Small tetra, cories, dwarf frog, shrimp, pygmy vegetarian oscars...


Well, not the last one...

[PumaWard]

kuhli loaches, most cory cats, most smaller tetras (neons for example), cherry barbs, ottos, etc... anything peaceful that isn't extremely colorful (male guppies for example), and that doesn't get too big once an adult.

[WaterBaby]

In my 6 gallon betta tank---NOTHING--

I tried 2 cories and my betta started nipping at them when the lights went out. Maybe they were too active at night and it freaked him out. I even added more plants for camo, but nope...

So, they moved on to my bigger tank

[TKOS]

I had a 10 gallon with a betta and 3 cories and 5 white cloud minnows. All worked fine, though accasionaly the betta would wander the tank flaring at everyone to show he was boss.

[Wippit Guud]

My betta's having the time of his life right now... in a 29 with just 4 cories.... he's mainly there to keep the bioload up for the moment, he'll move when my lfs gets some firemouths...

[Aquarius0015]

I had a 10 gallon with a betta and 3 cories and 5 white cloud minnows.

I actually had both of my bettas attack white clouds. One of them was just recovering from a suicidal leap and the attack was too much for her (RIP Margaret).

Steffi0122, lots and lots of things cooperate nicely with bettas. I'm going to take the alternative approach and list what does NOT compose a good tankmate.

Goldfish (or any other coldwater critter like a newt)
Gouramis, Paradise fish (labrynth fishes)
Tiger Barbs (nippy)
Crayfish or crabs
Other bettas (including females)
Zebra danios (IME they are too zippy and freak the betta)

Don't forget that many inverts make good tankmates for bettas: ghost shrimps, Singapore/Wood shrimps, apple snails, mystery snails

[Dapple2]

Whatever you go with, just make sure you have a back-up home. Bettas are widely different in personality. Some of mine are rabid shrimp eaters, and others couldn't care less. My last one used to hang out with the cories and eat their food even, silly betta, but others couldn't be trusted with other fish at all.

[Leopardess]

GLowlight tetras. Any of the rasboras (scissortail, harlies, espies, etc). Plus what else is mentioned.

ADF's are really cool...but they do take extra effort to maintain and make sure that they are eating properly.


In my 10g betta tank atm, I have 6 pygmy cories, 2 ADF's, I mystery snail, and...welll...the betta! Its planted and everyone gets along fine:) But neons and glowlights ususally do well and provide good contrast.

[mrbigisbudgood]

My daughters 20g has the following

8 glo-light tetras
2 albino corys
1 CAE
1 Betta
however many ghost shrimp (2-8) survive the brutal attack of the tetras and Betta

The CAE and the Betta HATE each other with a passion. If I could catch the CAE, he'd be out of there. Everyone else gets along fine.

[Lauren]

I have a betta survival story that I still dont' understand.

my friend had a betta all off on his lonesome in his own tank, and a community tank with a gourami, a handful of danios, a few guppies, and I think some neon tettras. Maybe a few more, it's quite a mix and perhaps a tad bit overcrowded.

Anyways, one day while my friend's at school her dad decided that the betta had no reason for being off on his own, and threw him in with the other fish, where he still lives in total and complete peace. Not a single attack against him or by him.

[slease]

Mine seems to get along great with my 4 corys. i'd also not suggest danios because they don't freak my beta out but they do make it hard for him to get to his food during dinner.