Betta fish Tank Mates
Short answer: the best betta fish tank mates are Bristlenose pleco, Harlequin rasbora, Molly, Neon tetra, Platy, Nerite snail. Bettas need 72–86 °F (22–30 °C), pH 6–8 and at least 10 gallons.
Same species: Keep only one betta fish (or one male) per tank — males fight, often to the death.
Betta fish care at a glance
| Adult size | 2.8 in (7 cm) |
| Minimum tank | 10 US gallons |
| Temperature | 72–86 °F (22–30 °C) |
| pH | 6–8 |
| Temperament | Semi-aggressive |
| Swims in | Top |
| Group size | Keep one male per tank |
| Care level | Easy |
gallon tank
✅ Compatible tank mates (39)
- Bristlenose pleco
- Harlequin rasbora
- Molly
- Neon tetra
- Platy
- Nerite snail
- Amano shrimp
- Mystery snail
- Otocinclus
- Panda cory
- Bronze cory
- Cardinal tetra
- Cherry barb
- German blue ram
- Glowlight tetra
- Kuhli loach
- Rummy nose tetra
- Kribensis
- Swordtail
- Discus
- Rainbow shark
- Red tail shark
- Siamese algae eater
- Common pleco
- Clown loach
- Pygmy cory
- Black neon tetra
- Cockatoo dwarf cichlid
- Dwarf neon rainbowfish
- Forktail blue-eye
- Glass catfish
- Lemon tetra
- Peppered cory
- Sterbai cory
- X-ray tetra
- Congo tetra
- Upside-down catfish
- Boesemani rainbowfish
- Bolivian ram
⚠️ Possible with caution (15)
- Cherry shrimp — Betta fish will eat baby cherry shrimp (and some individuals hunt adults), so a shrimp colony may not grow. Dense plants and moss help.
- Celestial pearl danio — An adult betta fish (up to 7 cm) may try to eat smaller celestial pearl danio (2.5 cm), especially at night.
- Chili rasbora — An adult betta fish (up to 7 cm) may try to eat smaller chili rasbora (2 cm), especially at night.
- Ember tetra — An adult betta fish (up to 7 cm) may try to eat smaller ember tetra (2 cm), especially at night.
- Endler's livebearer — Betta fish is a much larger territorial fish and may bully Endler's livebearer.
- Honey gourami — Gouramis and bettas often squabble with similar-looking labyrinth fish at the surface.
- Zebra danio — Zebra danio sometimes nips long fins, so betta fish may get harassed.
- Pearl gourami — Gouramis and bettas often squabble with similar-looking labyrinth fish at the surface.
- Sparkling gourami — Gouramis and bettas often squabble with similar-looking labyrinth fish at the surface.
- Bloodfin tetra — Bloodfin tetra sometimes nips long fins, so betta fish may get harassed.
- Gold barb — Gold barb sometimes nips long fins, so betta fish may get harassed.
- Odessa barb — Odessa barb sometimes nips long fins, so betta fish may get harassed.
- Rosy barb — Rosy barb sometimes nips long fins, so betta fish may get harassed.
- Firemouth cichlid — Firemouth cichlid is a much larger territorial fish and may bully betta fish.
- Chinese algae eater — Adult Chinese algae eater can latch onto other fish and rasp their slime coat.
❌ Not recommended (17)
- Dwarf gourami — Both are territorial and use the same part of the tank, so constant fights are likely.
- Guppy — Betta fish often attacks long-finned, colourful fish like guppy.
- Fancy goldfish — Coldwater and tropical fish don't mix: Betta fish 22–30 °C (72–86 °F) vs Fancy goldfish 20–23 °C (68–73 °F).
- Tiger barb — Tiger barb is a known fin-nipper and will shred the long fins of betta fish.
- Angelfish — Betta fish often attacks long-finned, colourful fish like angelfish.
- Oscar — An adult oscar (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat betta fish (7 cm).
- Pea puffer — Pea puffer is a known fin-nipper and will shred the long fins of betta fish.
- Black skirt tetra — Black skirt tetra is a known fin-nipper and will shred the long fins of betta fish.
- Serpae tetra — Serpae tetra is a known fin-nipper and will shred the long fins of betta fish.
- White cloud mountain minnow — Coldwater and tropical fish don't mix: Betta fish 22–30 °C (72–86 °F) vs White cloud mountain minnow 14–22 °C (57–72 °F).
- Three spot gourami — Both are territorial and use the same part of the tank, so constant fights are likely.
- Electric yellow cichlid — Electric yellow cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid: it needs hard, alkaline water and an African-cichlid community, and is too boisterous for betta fish.
- Paradise fish — No comfortable shared temperature: Betta fish 22–30 °C (72–86 °F) vs Paradise fish 10–22 °C (50–72 °F).
- Buenos Aires tetra — Buenos Aires tetra is a known fin-nipper and will shred the long fins of betta fish.
- Convict cichlid — Convict cichlid is aggressive and much larger than betta fish; it will bully or injure it.
- Jack Dempsey — An adult Jack Dempsey (up to 25 cm) is big enough to eat betta fish (7 cm).
- Bala shark — An adult bala shark (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat betta fish (7 cm).
How many bettas per tank?
10 gal 20 gal 29 gal 40 gal 55 gal 75 gal — see what else fits with our stocking calculator.
FAQ
What fish can live with bettas?
Good matches include Bristlenose pleco, Harlequin rasbora, Molly, Neon tetra, Platy, Nerite snail. They share a temperature range with bettas (72–86 °F (22–30 °C)), are a similar temperament, and are not big enough to eat each other or nip fins.
What fish should not live with bettas?
Avoid Dwarf gourami, Guppy, Fancy goldfish, Tiger barb, Angelfish, Oscar.
What size tank do bettas need?
We recommend at least 10 US gallons for one betta fish, more if you add tank mates.
Can bettas live alone?
Yes. Keep only one betta fish (or one male) per tank — males fight, often to the death.
Note: Compatibility depends on individual temperament, tank size, decor and how fish are introduced. Our verdicts use conservative rules applied to published care data (see methodology). They are guidance, not a guarantee. Quarantine new fish and watch for chasing, torn fins or hiding.