Betta fish are beautiful, colorful, and fun to keep. But they can also be sensitive and finicky companions that require special care. One of the most important aspects of caring for bettas is making sure their tank mates are healthy and happy. This is because if there’s one thing that will stress out your betta fish, it’s having another fish in his tank that he doesn’t like.
So what kinds of fish make good tank mates for betta fish? And how do you know if your new addition will get along with your beloved pet? Read on as we cover everything you need to know about choosing the right companion for your Betta.
Can I Put A Fish With My Betta?
Yes, you can put specific types of fish with your betta. You must take great care in choosing the right species of fish. There are many different types of tropical fish that can be housed together with bettas in a well-maintained aquarium. We will discuss them later in this article.
Behavior & Temperament Of Betta Fish
Betta fish are not aggressive by nature and can be kept with other peaceful fish. However, they should not be kept with other male Bettas as this will result in fighting or aggression. Since males have very large fins and are territorial, they need to be kept alone unless you have a very large tank that can accommodate multiple males. The same goes for females since they will become aggressive towards each other.
In terms of size and temperament, betta fish generally grow up to 2 inches in length but will sometimes grow larger depending on how well-fed they are or if there is room for them to swim freely in your tank (females usually grow slightly smaller than males). They tend to display strong personalities which makes them fun pets but may also lead them into trouble if left alone for too long without any interaction from their owners.
Things That You Should Avoid While Selecting Betta Tank Mates
To make sure that the new addition is compatible with your betta don’t make the following mistakes. Some of the most common mistakes are:
1. The new fish doesn’t get along with other tankmates (the most obvious one).
2. The new fish is too big or too small for your betta.
3. The new fish doesn’t eat well with the current inhabitants of your tank (if there are any).
4. New fish have caused overcrowding in a fish tank.
List Of Fish That Can Live With Bettas
So, without any delay let’s start with the main topic
1- Kuhli Loaches
Kuhli loaches are great tank mates for betta fish because they share many positive characteristics: they’re peaceful, small, and colorful. They also have a very distinctive behavior and temperament that makes them a perfect addition to your betta’s aquarium.
They’re not only beautiful but they’re also very social animals. They enjoy spending time with their owners as well as other members of their own species or family members.
You can tell when your kuhli loach is happy because of its behavior and response. You will also notice that it has large fins on the top side of its body; these fins help keep the kuhli safe from predators during times when it needs protection (such as when swimming through dense vegetation in the wild).
2- Neon Tetras
Neon tetras are also considered one of the best tank mates for betta fish. They’re small, peaceful, and good at cleaning the tank. They also eat leftover food from your betta fish’s mouth. Neon tetras will keep the water clean while they’re eating algae off of rocks and glass surfaces in your aquarium, which is important because it helps prevent diseases in your pet betta fish.
Aquariums with these tiny tropical fish typically have less carbon dioxide than those that don’t have them, so they help reduce some of the stress on your pet betta fish by giving it more oxygen to breathe. If you’d like to add some more color to your aquarium but don’t want anything too big or aggressive (or expensive), neon tetras might be just what you need.
3- Ember Tetras
Ember Tetras are another great option for betta fish tanks. These small and peaceful fish are generally recognized as being good tank mates for a betta fish, but they’re even better if you have a few other types of fish in your tank. Ember tetras work well with plants, driftwood, caves, and live plants in your aquarium. They also enjoy having an open area to swim around in so that they can get plenty of exercises.
4- Clown Plecos
Clown Plecos are also known as Panaque. They’re peaceful and get along well with other fish, but only if they won’t be bullied by them as well.
These South American freshwater fish are also easy to care for, making them a good choice if you’re an inexperienced aquarium owner. Clown Plecos (or “clown loaches”) are one of the most common tropical freshwater fish found in pet stores today because they don’t require much maintenance or special conditions to thrive in captivity. Just proper water temperature, pH levels, and oxygen levels like other tropical species do.
5- Ghost Shrimp
Ghost shrimp are a great choice for betta fish tanks because they are easy to care for and don’t require much space. They are also small enough to stay out of the way of the betta, which can be beneficial for your Betta’s wellbeing. In addition to being easy on the eyes, these little guys have a positive behavior and temperament that will keep you happy as well.
Ghost shrimp are also known as “glass shrimp” or “pearl dusted shrimp” due to their translucent appearance similar to that of glass or pearls. They have long antennae and antennae-like appendages above their eyes called setae that help them sense vibrations in water currents so they can find food easily.
6- Malaysian Trumpet Snails
Malaysian trumpet snails are a great option for your betta tank. They are easy to care for, and won’t hurt your betta fish. This makes them a great choice if you want to keep a snail in the same tank as your Betta fish.
Malaysian trumpet snails also breed quickly, which will help keep your tank clean as they eat algae and decaying matter in the water. Keep in mind that these snails can grow quite large in numbers over time, so it is important not to keep an eye on their population.
7- Harlequin Rasboras
Harlequin Rasboras are also very friendly towards bettas. They are not just one color but have a wide variety of colors and patterns. Even the male rasboras have bright red or blue fins. They are hardy and easy to care for, and they can live in aquariums as small as 10 gallons, though they prefer more space than that.
Harlequin rasbora fish are also relatively inexpensive, which makes them an excellent choice for people who want a pet but don’t want to spend too much money on something that might die within a few months.
8- Cory Catfish
Cory cats are peaceful, and will not bother your betta fish in any way. In fact, they can be good friends to your Betta because they love being kept together in the same tank.
Cory cats only grow up to 2 inches long, which means they are small enough that they won’t overwhelm the space of your aquarium. They also stay small throughout their life span (about 5 years), so it’s unlikely that they’ll outgrow the capacity of your tank anytime soon.
What Big Fish Can Live With Bettas?
If you are looking for a big fish to have a tank mate for your betta that Cory Catfish is your best option. It can grow up to 5 inches long and the good thing is, it has peaceful behavior towards your betta.
Conclusion
Betta fish are relatively easy to care for, but they do require some work and attention. They are also sensitive to changes in their environment, so you need to make sure that your tank is set up properly before adding any other fish into it. When choosing tank mates for betta fish, make sure that they are not too aggressive or territorial by observing how they interact with each other firsthand. This will help ensure that everyone gets along well together!