Our 5 Favorite Betta Fish Tank Mates

Betta fish are some of the most popular fish in the freshwater aquarium hobby. Unfortunately, they are also some of the most misunderstood! Betta fish require a 5-gallon tank with an aquarium heater, and due to their territorial nature, hobbyists are often recommended to forego other tankmates.

While it can be tricky to establish, it is possible to keep a betta fish with other tank mates, but you'll need to pay close attention and have a backup plan in place in case you notice signs of  aggression. In this post, we'll recommend 5 potential tank mate options for a betta fish.

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Female Betta Fish

Considering breeding a betta? A female betta fish is a great choice as a tank mate, but only if you're ready to care for their offspring. Since you'd be housing two betta fish, you'll likely need a 10-gallon aquarium to give them adequate space to swim. We recommend increasing your tank temperature a few degrees, adding plenty of natural aquatic plants, and providing pristine water conditions to encourage breeding.

Celestial Pearl Danios

Some of the most sought-after fish in the hobby are CPD's (Celestial Pearl Danios). These fish, native to Myanmar, are some of the most peaceful species in the hobby, so it's no surprise to find them on this list. Their size is perfect as a betta fish tankmate, they're not too small to be considered a betta fish snack, and not too large to be viewed as a betta fish predator.

We recommend introducing a betta fish to an established tank with Celestial Pearl Danios, this will reduce the chance for a Betta to show territorial behavior. Providing plenty of aquatic plant coverage is also important, such as this 👉 Low Light Starter Plant Pack ($30) from GlassGrownAquatics. Over time, betta fish and celestial peral danios can coexist peacefully in a tank that's at least 15 gallons in size.

Cardinal Tetras

Next up on our list is the Cardinal Tetra. These fish are larger than the Celestial Pearl Danio, reaching about 1.75 inches in length as adult fish. These schooling fish are known for their peaceful temperament, making them another great tank mate for a betta fish. We recommend a 15-gallon tank at a minimum, this will allow enough space for a small group of cardinals to comfortably co-exist with a betta. Aquatic plants, like the 👉 Vallisneria 25-pack Plant Bundle ($44) from Tropics of Tampa, are a must to provide hiding spots if needed. We also recommend adding a betta fish a few days after Cardinal Tetras have established themselves in the tank.

Neocaridina Shrimp

Experienced hobbyists may view Neocaridina Shrimp as a controversial recommendation as a Betta fish tank mate. And it's for good reason! Keeping a small colony of Neocaridina shrimp in an aquarium will likely result in a lot of offspring. These baby-sized shrimp can easily become a snack for a betta fish! Those that reach adulthood can co-exist with a betta, but you'll want to provide plenty of areas of refuge, 👉Cholla Wood ($10) from GlassGrownAquatics or Guppy Grass ($5) from PKEndlers should get the job done!

Malaysian Trumpet Snails

Snails make for a great betta tank addition. These slow-moving freshwater inverts will be completely ignored by a betta fish, they're easy to care for and do wonders at aerating your aquarium soil! Malaysian trumpets are known for their elongated shells, and hobbyists will easily love all that these inverts have to offer. 

👉 Shop Malaysian Trumpet Snail 4 Pack ($14) from Auddities

Conclusion

As you can see, while betta fish are known for their aggressive personalities, there are some tankmates you can add to round out your aquarium. Just be sure to keep a close eye on any signs of aggression towards other tank mates, and have a backup quarantine tank at the ready in case you notice any aggressive behavior.

When done correctly, hobbyists can enjoy a betta tank with additional tank mates. Have you ever kept a tank mate with a betta fish? Let us know in the comments below!