Can Bettas Have Tank Mates? Why Males Live Alone, plus Cherry Barbs, Shrimp, Snails

In short: can a betta have tank mates?

A male betta is best kept alone. The exceptions are the nerite snail (○), and cherry barbs and shrimp (△).

Many articles name neon tetras and corydoras as betta tank mates. But Seriously Fish, a care resource, says the betta is best kept on its own.

This site calculates compatibility from the care data of each fish. A male betta came out × with every other fish except one species.

What this article covers:

• Why a male betta is advised to live alone
• Why sources disagree on whether bettas can have tank mates
• The exceptions (cherry barb, shrimp, nerite snail) and their conditions
• Female bettas, two males, and a male with a female
• What to prepare before trying, and what to do if it fails

Think of betta tank mates as "alone by default," with exceptions added only under conditions.

How do betta tank mates look across the other 22 species?

Source: Judged by this site's rules from the care data of each species (see the sources of the care data table)

The male betta is × with 17 of the 18 fish. Almost every reason is "the male betta chases them."

This site marks an aggressive fish × with any other fish. We rated the betta's temperament as "aggressive" based on Seriously Fish.

Some of the × pairs have a second reason as well.

• Guppy: the betta sees long-finned fish as rivals and attacks them
• Tiger barb: it nips the betta's long fins
• Dwarf gourami: with another anabantoid in the tank, both become aggressive
• Medaka and goldfish: temperature and the need for a heater do not match
• Angelfish: the betta is small enough to fit in its mouth

A bigger tank does not remove the reasons behind a ×. For pairs that fail on temperament, the sources also say success is the exception.

Why is keeping a betta alone the default?

Because the male betta tends to chase other fish. It sees long-finned fish and similar-looking fish as rivals and attacks them.

Seriously Fish does not recommend the betta for a general community tank. It says some fish will accept other species, but that this is the exception.

FishBase also says males fight each other. The English name, Siamese fighting fish, comes from its long use in fights between males.

Here are the betta's traits and what they mean for tank mates.

Source: Seriously Fish (Betta splendens)

Whether betta tank mates work depends more on the individual fish than on the species. With the same partner, a calm betta and an aggressive betta can give different results.

Why do sources disagree on betta tank mates?

The answer changes with whether the betta is male or female, and with what counts as success. Shop guides and care resources sometimes start from different assumptions.

Tokyo Aqua Garden says a male should be kept alone as a rule. It adds that a female can live with others, depending on the match.

The same shop's article on animals that can live with bettas lists neon tetras and corydoras, with a condition. The condition is to separate them at once if bullying continues.

Seriously Fish names small cyprinids and loaches from similar habitats. It says they may work. But it names no species and says the betta is usually best alone.

Every source agrees that a male betta is basically kept alone. They differ on how far you may try exceptions.

For males, this site follows the view of Seriously Fish.

Can any fish live with a betta? Why is the cherry barb △?

Among the 22 species on this site, only the cherry barb is △. Some keepers have kept them together, but it depends on the betta's temperament.

Aquarium Co-Op describes keeping cherry barbs with a betta. It adds that some bettas will not accept them, so watch closely.

The cherry barb is a peaceful fish, and its fins are not long. The same shop says it swims from the middle of the tank down toward the bottom.

Source: Seriously Fish (Betta splendens) / Seriously Fish (Puntius titteya)

For the conditions when you try, Tokyo Aqua Garden's guide is specific.

• Use a tank at least 45 cm wide
• First put the new fish in a breeder box and check that the betta does not attack
• Avoid sharp rocks and driftwood so the fins do not snag
• Make hiding places with soft plants
• Turn down the filter flow
• Check that the betta is eating

Group size is in the table. Cherry barbs settle in a group, so do not add just one.

The cherry barb's △ does not mean "can be kept." It means "can be tried once the conditions are in place."

Do bettas eat shrimp?

Bettas eat baby shrimp and sometimes peck at adult shrimp. All three shrimp, including the Amano shrimp, are △.

The Shrimp Farm says adult cherry shrimp are a little too big for a betta. It says the colony is usually not wiped out, and baby shrimp get picked off now and then.

On the other hand, Tokyo Aqua Garden says bettas attack shrimp, so keeping them together is best avoided. Aquarium Co-Op also says to be careful about adding a betta to a shrimp tank.

Because the sources disagree, this site marks all three shrimp △. The larger Amano shrimp is △ for the same reason.

Source (5)

• Seriously Fish (Betta splendens)
• GEX (temperature), Tokyo Aqua Garden (pH, level, temperament), Kyoto Prefecture Red Data Book 2015 (size)
• Aquarium Co-Op (temperature, pH), UF/IFAS EDIS IN1301 (size, habitat)
• GEX (temperature), Tokyo Aqua Garden (pH, level), Hyogo Prefecture Red Data Book (size)
• Tokyo Aqua Garden (temperature, pH, temperament), Ishikawa Prefecture Red Data Book (size)

The Shrimp Farm recommends plants, floating plants, driftwood and shrimp caves. The more hiding places there are, the more baby shrimp grow up.

If you do not want to lose shrimp, it is safer to breed them in a separate tank. The same source also describes moving the extra shrimp into the betta's tank.

For shrimp compatibility in general, see Fish That Can Live with Shrimp.

Can a betta live with a nerite snail?

A betta and a nerite snail are ○ on this site. Temperature and water chemistry overlap, and neither eats the other.

Nerite snails do not breed in a freshwater tank, because their larvae go down to the sea to grow. So there is no risk of them multiplying out of control.

However, Tokyo Aqua Garden says snails are better avoided for the same reason as shrimp. Its view is that a betta may peck at snails.

After adding a nerite snail, watch for a few days to see whether the betta pecks at it. If it keeps pecking, move the snail to another tank.

Can a female betta have tank mates?

Female bettas are less aggressive than males and are named as candidates for tank mates. But some females are aggressive too, so watch them as you go.

Tokyo Aqua Garden says a female can live with other bettas or other species, depending on the match. It also says some females keep up threat displays.

This site's compatibility results are calculated for the male betta. We give no results for females.

The sources we checked give no number for how many females settle down together. Even when trying females, have a container ready to separate them before you add them.

Can two male bettas, or a male and a female, share a tank?

Two male bettas cannot share a tank. A male and a female are also kept apart, except for breeding.

Tokyo Aqua Garden says males threaten and fight each other fiercely. It puts it strongly: never keep them together. The threat display is called flaring (spreading the gill covers to threaten a rival).

Seriously Fish says bred forms of the betta are especially aggressive. It says that usually only one should be kept per tank.

A male and a female go together only for breeding. The male builds a bubble nest (a nest of bubbles gathered at the surface) and keeps the female away until it is finished.

If you keep two males, set up two tanks. Seriously Fish also says one per tank is usually right.

Why do people so often ask about bettas with medaka, guppies and neon tetras?

They are all familiar fish that people often look up together with the betta. All of them are ×, but for different reasons.

○ Generally compatible　△ With care　× Not recommended

Source: Judged by this site's rules from the care data of each species (see the sources of the care data table)

Some articles recommend corydoras and otocinclus because they use a different level of the tank from the betta. This site does not make a pair ○ on swimming level alone. The sources we checked do not give the betta's swimming level.

For the male betta, we treat the temperament reason as remaining even when the levels differ. Medaka also have the temperature reason, so keep them in a separate tank from bettas.

For compatibility from the guppy's side, see Guppy Tank Mates.

What should you check, and in what order, before adding betta tank mates?

Check in this order: the partner's result, tank size, lid and current, hiding places, and a container for separating. Rule out × partners at this step.

Seriously Fish warns that bettas put on weight easily, so do not overfeed. With tank mates, you may be tempted to add extra so the betta does not lose out, so take care.

Have the container for separating ready before you add fish, so you can act quickly if it goes wrong.

What should you do when betta tank mates are not working?

If there is chasing, torn fins or constant threat displays, separate them at once. Then see whether both fish settle down.

If a fin wound turns white and cloudy or does not close, disease may have set in. If you use medicine, check the active ingredient and follow the instructions.

Separating them is not a failure. It is a step that protects both the betta and its partner. Decide whether to put them back only after the wounds heal.

What terms come up with betta tank mates?

What else goes with betta tank mates?

Betta tank mates connect to shrimp, guppies and bottom fish. Go on to the next article from the partner you are curious about.

• Compatibility from the guppy's side: Guppy Tank Mates
• Shrimp compatibility in general: Fish That Can Live with Shrimp
• The chart and checker for 23 species: Tropical Fish Tank Mates Chart
• Fish on the bottom: Corydoras Tank Mates

Frequently asked questions about betta tank mates

Can a betta live with corydoras?

On this site, it is ×. The reason is that the male betta chases other fish.

Some shop guides name corydoras because they use a different level of the tank. If you try, use a female betta, or be ready to separate them at once.

Can a betta live with a pleco?

With the bristlenose pleco, it is ×. The reason is that the male betta chases other fish.

The pleco also fights over territory with similar-looking fish. Rather than pairing a male betta with bottom fish, keeping the betta alone is safer.

Can a betta live with loaches?

With the kuhli loach, it is ×. Seriously Fish mentions loaches, but names no species.

The kuhli loach also eats baby shrimp, so it is hard to pair with shrimp too. If you want a bottom animal in a betta tank, the nerite snail is ○.

Can a betta live with guppies?

No. It is ×, because the male betta sees long-finned guppies as rivals and attacks them.

Seriously Fish also says long-finned and similar-looking fish should be avoided. Guppies are safest kept with other guppies.

Can you add shrimp to a betta tank?

Amano shrimp, Neocaridina shrimp and red cherry shrimp are all △. With the small shrimp, the baby shrimp get eaten.

If you do not want to lose shrimp, let the plants grow thick before adding them. Breed them in a separate tank.

Sources

• Seriously Fish: Betta splendens (alone by default, other species only as the exception, sees long-finned fish as rivals, jumping, current, tank floor, overfeeding, bubble nest)
• FishBase: Betta splendens (males fight each other)
• Tokyo Aqua Garden: How to keep bettas (ベタの飼い方, in Japanese. Males alone by default, females with tank mates, two males, lid)
• Tokyo Aqua Garden: Fish and animals that can live with bettas (ベタと一緒に飼える魚や生き物, in Japanese. Conditions for tank mates, shrimp and snails, breeder box)
• Aquarium Co-Op: Cherry Barb (kept with a betta, depends on temperament, groups)
• Aquarium Co-Op: Cherry Shrimp Tank Mates (be careful adding a betta to a shrimp tank)
• The Shrimp Farm: Cherry Shrimp and Betta (adult shrimp usually survive, baby shrimp, hiding places, Amano shrimp)
• Tokyo Aqua Garden: Nerite snail (石巻貝, in Japanese. Temperature, pH, why it does not breed)