Can betta fish be in the same tank with any other types of fish?

Answer 1

So many myths about the poor old betta being spread around out there. Bettas are quite peaceful except around other bettas. Any fish that is not a fin nipper should be fin in the tank with your betta. Assuming that it's not so big it can eat the betta or so small the betta could eat it of course.

Answer 2

The myths around bettas are insane... They don't like to be kept in small dirty containers, and they dont generally kill everything in sight! They won't eat roots since they much prefer live prey. They have to be able to breathe at the surface, even though they can get some needed air from the water through their gills. Bettas are actually very intelligent peaceful fish. I've never seen a breed of fish with more personality and interesting quirks! I train all my bettas when I first get them, so they know ME, and that I mean food. It's not the standard "Tops open - time for food!" I train mine to come over to me and show off, before I give them food.

The males can NOT be put with other males. This is true. They will kill each other. It's a territorial guy thing. ("This tank ain't big enough for the both of us!" lol) BUT, the FEMALES ARE OKAY TOGETHER depending on space in the tank. I've got 4 girls in my 55 gallon tank PEACEFULLY! Yea, they had their initial scuffs, but they are happy, now that they know which is the alpha female.

Bettas are fine with other fish. Short-finned Tetras, zebras, neons, white clouds, mollys, plattys, swordtails, hatchetfish or any other peaceful community fish would be excellent. Anything withOUT long fins, lyretailed, or considered fancy, and you shouldn't have any fights. No fin-nippers either, like barbs, sharpa tetras, oscars, some rainbow or red-tip sharks, or cichlids. Gouramis are not good, since it's the betta's cousin, and they have the same fighting nature. (My betta girls don't have a thing to do with the gouramis in my tank though, so I'd say that rule is more for the male bettas.) Any other oddly shapped fish, (cats, plecos, loaches, etc.) are generally okay. Cory cats are a perfect companion for a betta. Plecos are harmless to a betta, and in fact are helpful for the tank. Most loaches, like the kullihi loach prefer to hide in the rocks, rather than bug your betta.

I hope this clears up some misconceptions about bettas for you, and other people here on Y!A.
It's horrible how people think thy're doing the best thing for a betta by keeping him in such a small container, but in reality it's the worst thing they could do for them....

;o)

Answer 3

Yes. Contrary to popular belief, bettas will not kill any living thing that crosses their paths, are actually very peaceful community fish provided they are not placed in the same water as another betta (female or male) and they have enough space - 10 gallons minimum.

There is only one rule to establishing a community tank with a betta in it, and that is: make sure none of the other fish resemble a betta in any way. That means no fish with bright colours or long flowing fins, like guppies.

Other than that, pretty much anything can go with a betta. Try to avoid neon tetras as they tend to be nippers and can nip at your betta's fins. Your betta won't be able to get away from them because they swim much faster. Cory catfish, plecos, platys, white mountain cloud minnows and African Dwarf Frogs are just a few of the tankmates that can go with a betta.

However, you also want to make sure that the tankmate you want to place with your betta requires the same pH, water hardness and water temperature as your betta. Otherwise they won't be compatible and one of the fish will be suffering from unsuitable water conditions. This is the same reason why goldfish cannot be placed with bettas - goldfish are coldwater fish while bettas are tropical freshwater fish.

Answer 4

Yip you can keep your Betta in with any fish that does not have long fins or resembles a Betta like a guppies or Mollie you can keep them with neon's and i say "YOU CAN KEEP YOUR MALE BETTA WITH FEMALE BETTA'S" my red dragon is still with my females and they get along just great no chasing whatsoever and none of my females are stressed the thing is you should have nough space thats all ust dont put a male in a male (everyone knows this). You can also keep snails with your betta that will help you to as it keeps your tank clean from any left over food.. hope that helped you !!

Good luck with your new friend

Answer 5

Yes other fish can be put with bettas but with some caution.
Despite having the tag name "fighting fish" they really are quite defenseless against a great deal of fishes. Small bottom feeders like cory cats can be perfect little tankmates for bettas. I personally keep one in a small tank with a snail serving as the clean up crew. Avoid fast moving fin nippers like barbs and rowdy cichlids as tankmates as your betta will be hammered in no time flat.

Answer 6

I have always put my Betta with my other fish as long as he is the only Betta in the tank there won't be a problem with him bothering your other fish. But I have had my other fish(especially Goldfish) attack my Betta.

Answer 7

Hi Mike

What a good betta friend you are! Bettas are much happier and healthier in a regular tank with a thermostatically controlled heater. The roots may prevent him from getting to the top to get air. I would say trim them, but the best option is to get him a more suitable little home.

It is a myth that bettas eat the roots of plants. Bettas are carnivores that need protein. In their natural environment they eat live bugs. When you see him picking at the roots he is eating the tiny micro-organisms growing on them that only he can see. He will eventually starve to death if not fed a balanced diet betta food.

In order to have room for friends, he needs a tank of 5 gallons or more. The general rule of thumb for tank population of small community fish is one inch of adult fish per gallon. The betta counts as 2 inches all by himself. Once the tank breaks in after 6 weeks or so (more about that later) they could add 2 or 3 zebra danios, or a couple of platies. Other possible options are t-bone rasboras, neon tetras, cory cats. These all grow to be an inch or so. They get along with minnow too!!

Here is a list of web pages with more info about betta care and keeping;

http://www.healthybetta.com/
http://www.bettatalk.com/
http://freshaquarium.about.com/cs/anabantids2/p/betta.htm
http://freshaquarium.about.com/cs/bettacar1/l/blqa2061.htm

Answer 8

It depends on what type of fish it is two male bettas can not be in the same tank beacause they will eat each other

Answer 9

MM is right again bettas are peaceful fish, they swim round and mind their own buisness, Angels will nip the bettas fins, and kill him. and other bettas together arent a good idea. Also bettas with gouramis and guppy ect, are usually fine, i had the combo many times and they were fine together. bettas are a nice fish to have. They can be terretorial but are generally very tranquil, so i wouldnt listen to any answer that tell you otherwise.

Answer 10

yes -- in general pick something peaceful and smaller than the betta. bettas are usually kind of wimpy so you dont' want any agressive fish with the betta. you don't want any nippers like barbs are larger tetras -- that could cause problems.

there are lots of great candidates -- smaller gouramis, platies, peaceful tetras, rasboras, ghost shrimp, white mountain minnows, just to name a few.