Glass catfish, aka ghost or even phantom cats, can take a while to adjust to a i havnt had any experience with these fish together. Inside the tank, you need to provide plenty of plants for your betta to rest on and hide amongst. The following species missed the blue ribbon list above by a small margin. This is fortunate for the Ghost shrimp as that constant camouflage makes them harder to spot by an overly ambitious betta fish. I also use this site as an excuse to spend lots of money on testing and reviewing different aquarium products! A convenient feature of the White Cloud Mountain minnow is that they share similar tastes for the temperature of the aquarium as a betta fish does. How many hillstream loaches you should keep in your tank depends on the size and setup of your aquarium. Skip to content. You should put only one Plecto in your 10-gallon Bettas tank. Also, remember that just because one of the species listed near the top is generally accepted in a betta fish community tank, it doesnt mean that your specific betta fish will get along fine with it. So, your poor betta fish might not have glorious long finnage for long if you decide to go with platies as tank mates. Glowlight tetras seem to light up when the light is low, hence their name. Generally, aggression from mollies occurs when there is inadequate space in the tank to divvy up the territory between a betta and itself. There are several different kinds of loaches that you could keep safely with bettas. Fish that get along with bettas? Snails are easily the best option on this list. Ensuring that the tank mate shares the same water conditions and parameters as your betta fish. We recommend you get no more than three mollies for your Betta fish tank. The ideal temperature for Betta fish is 77-86 degrees Fahrenheit. Before planning out what goes into their tank as their core diet or variation, make sure you know that striped Loaches dont chase food as actively as their tank mates. Its safe to keep up to three dwarf frogs in a 1gallon Betta tank. They can grow up to four inches, but theyre usually below that size. Tetra Piaractus brachypomus: Pacu It may not display this or other websites correctly. To minimize aggression, get peaceful bottom-dwellers tank mates for your Betta fish. As you will see, in almost every case, you will not want to try keeping these as tank mates with a betta. These freshwater fish can tolerate smaller tanks with some tank water fluctuations and are a peaceful species. Therefore in a home aquarium, the small size of Botia Striata helps you keep them in groups. You can create separate areas and give your fish hiding and exploration spots, as Bettas particularly like to explore their fish tank. A reasonable section of aquarium plants you can introduce to their tank will grow with the help of lighting. Zebra loaches are stunningly bright, super social, and an excellent fish to take into community aquariums. Looking at their head, you notice a set of some barbels lacing their heads and noses. They also like to hide under rocks and crevasses, and they are scavengers. Mark has been featured in two books about aquarium keeping both best sellers on Amazon. An Overview of the Fish Species Origin and Habitat Take a guess where the hillstream loach originates. They do good in shoals of 5 or more and add much activity to any tank and loves to mingle with other Botia/Loach species! WebApr 26, 2022 12:15 AM EDT. Share your thoughts in the comments below. Their movements are fun to watch, and they wont bother your Betta fish, and your Bettas wont bother them. You need bottom-dwelling tank mates for your male Betta fish for larger Betta tanks. Theyre a beautiful bronze color with black markings. They are fairly easy keepers overall and are a fine choice for a beginner looking to house more than a betta in a tank. In groups of 10 or more, Rummy nose tetras can be another good addition for large Betta fish tanks. The Bristlenose pleco has a peaceful temperament and will not threaten your zebra danio. Aquarium Store Depotis a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Also, due to their nature of attacking snails, you cant house these bottom feeders with any small snail or shrimp. There are many types of freshwater aquatic snails that you can usually find for sale in a well-stocked pet shop. Unlike Clown Loaches that grow much larger and, with time, go dull, they remain the same in coloration. Over time, your betta fish will lose its (apparently flavorful) slime coating to these fish. Generally, a Zebra Loach prefers staying with more Zebra Loaches. Otherwise, there probably wont be enough food in the tank for them. Have you kept these loaches before? Some bettas are pretty laid-back dudes that will happily accept the inclusion of a few small, peaceful fish or invertebrates in their home. Some people see this as a profitable problem to have as you can certainly sell the shrimp if you find you have a market for them. They are very small, going about 4 inches in size. These fish are like your typical sucker fish but with more of a coolness factor, and they are smaller to boot. In my opinion, one gallon or two gallons or three gallons - is far too little space. I debated putting the possibility of goldfish living with bettas at the top of this entire article, as its one of the most common questions I get asked about betta tank mate possibilities. If you put a goldfish in a betta tank with very warm water, the goldfish will probably suffer from temperature shock that could kill it. Ensuring that the species can live comfortably in the size tank you have. That is not something you want your betta to experience! African Dwarf frogs can make fine friends with betta fish. Therefore, they have a short lifespan with a life full of colors and patterns. Theyre bright red and like to swim together in a group of 10 or more. These guys are highly entertaining fish, but not in the same tank as a betta fish. Zebra Loaches are a bit expensive due to their rarity. Due to uncertainty in their behavior after laying eggs, we cant really know how they would treat the fry. Its actually easier than most people think, as long as you meet the right tank conditions and reproduce their natural environment, as for any fish species. Goldfish are very messy fish that produce a lot of waste. These shy schoolers are another good option in groups of 10. This fish wont be for everybody as it needs a spirulina supplement or any veggie-based food. Gouramis are like distant cousins of the betta fish, belonging to the same family. Its important that you take the time to plan out your aquarium and all the tank components you need before you add your Betta fish and other potential tank mates to your aquarium. If you desperately want to keep mollies in the same tank as a betta, the lesser of two evils are the type of mollies with shorter tails. These include Albino Cory, Panda, and Pygmy Catfish. Just try to keep an eye out for your frog and ensure that it is getting fed. Glass catfish, aka ghost or even phantom cats, can take a while to adjust to a Betta fish tank as theyre shy. Like brett said. He has kept freshwater tanks, ponds, and reef tanks for over 25 years. We recommend adding a group of five or seven in a 30-gallon tank or more. These are both very good things to look for. Tank maintenance holds as much value to their proper care as things like food and correctly gauged water parameters. In this case, bigger is better. I'm here to teach you everything there is to know about fishkeeping. They have white spots on a black or brown body. And considering their soft barbels, you have to be careful with decorating the lower aquarium area. Corys are a particularly peaceful species of fish in general and these mini catfish should always be kept in groups of at least five individuals. Betta fish or slow-swimming fish with long fins. Feeding time is the main concern when you have African Dwarf frogs and a betta in the same tank. Keeping these fish in water temperatures under 24C might cause stress, and ultimately kill them. As a novice aquarist who wants to experience the charms of fish keeping for extended periods of time, a Zebra Loach fits perfectly for this purpose. These frogs can fit into any small crevices. They are small and dont require much work to establish a healthy lifestyle. Carnage would most likely occur if you were to keep a betta fish with a group of cichlids. Cichlids like living in waters that have a high pH balance, whereas betta fish need to live in a low pH environment. They also inhabit a few regions of Bangladesh in a relatively smaller number. Here are some of the best live plants tested out for Zebra Loaches. Like mollies, platies like their water on the harder side with a high pH level. Including weeding out toxins like ammonia and nitrite from the tank, dusting off decorations, trimming off plants, and regularly cleaning rocks and glass help establish a healthy lifestyle within the aquarium community. Ich is another common disease that can attack your pet at any time. As for body shape, they mold their bodies like a loach. Its actually not that difficult to find appropriate tank mates and set up a community tank. These barbels help them scavenge for food sitting at the bottom of the tank. These small fish are popular in the aquarium trade due to their vibrant colors and peaceful nature. There are over 100 different types of Cories that you can choose from, but they all share something in common. Otherwise, these tetras can nip at other fishs fins. Instead of going for expensive oxygen boosters, supplement their tank with live plants. Although your betta is primarily carnivorous, he will find most adult shrimp too big to view as a food source, so these interesting crustaceans should be safe. [i] Zebra loaches have no special requirements on water conditions, they do however prefer a certain aquarium setup to be at their best. Kuhli Loach Tank Size & Tank Requirements Cichlids are awesome fish to keep, just not in the same aquarium as a betta fish! For a peaceful fish like Zebra Loach Botia, any similar-sized fish with a friendly attitude will do just fine as a tank mate. So if you decide to give your Betta fish some company, the first thing you need to consider is the size of the water tank you require. Aside from genetics, the general life cycle of most Zebra Loaches is between 8 to 15 years. So far, Cories are the only type of fish species on this tank mate guide. They can eat detritus and leftover food in the tank, so theyre useful to have, and they shouldnt bother your Betta fish. You just need to be careful with the substrate you put in your fish tank. On top of that, mollies are quite aggressive at times. To treat this disease, use antiparasitic drugs like Levamisole. Zebra Loaches are extremely social and friendly. In captivity, they thrive on a varied diet of pellets or flakes made from fish meal, as well as frozen or freeze-dried bloodworms. Theyre not good for smaller tanks as they keep growing. Its much easier to find suitable tank mates for your Betta fish if theyre females. Its impressive when you see 30 or 50 of them in a tank! Overall, if you were to have to choose between one of the two types of shrimp mentioned, Id recommend the Red Cherry shrimp as they are the more attractive option of the two. WebA Betta fish is one of the most popular freshwater species in the aquarium hobby. Tetra Piaractus brachypomus: Pacu However, other bettas wont tolerate intruders and are happiest kept alone. document.getElementById( "ak_js" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Sign up with your email for our newsletter and be notified when we publish new blog posts. The Siamese fighting fish, or betta, is a beautiful, solitary creature that gets quite nippy with other fish. Their body looks widened from behind the dorsal fin but tapers off rapidly around the length of the fin. Ok, maybe sadistic was too strong a word. If you were to start with 10 shrimp, after about a month, you might have more shrimp than water in the betta tank! Thank you for visiting! You can keep up to three Pygmy fish in a small Betta tank. Its always better to feed them at a different time when things are calm in the aquarium. Required fields are marked *. If you have done your homework on betta fish, you will instantly see why this poses a problem. Zebra Loaches are striped, bottom-dwelling fish that are usually a good choice for a beginner aquarium hobbyist. Other morphological differences also become apparent when put side to side. The Clown Loach is an omnivorous, scaleless loach, with vibrant body coloring. Resisting frequent glances at the mazy, unusually beautiful, and sharply sticking out stripes and body coloration of Zebra Loaches is almost like an enterprise. These scavenger fish are good tank mates for Betta fish, as long as theyre kept in a group of three or more. Make sure you get them a large tank to live freely and peacefully. As for tank setup, Gold Zebra Loaches need a temperature in the range of 72 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit. This helps to prevent food waste and save you money in the long run. However, they are stunning, peaceful, active, and non-aggressive. Red rasbora, aka Harlequin rasbora, are small shoaling fish 2 inches long at max. After this, all you can do is wait for the female to lay eggs. Well talk about them more below. The tail features stripes of pale mud-colored dots going along the length of it. Here are our suggestions: Granted, the name of these snails is scary, but they are good tank mates for Betta fish. I'm glad these pretty little loaches are more available in recent years. You must be very observant of whatever situation you put your betta fish in. WebZebra Loach; Albino Cory; Bristle Nose Pleco; Best Tank Mates For Betta Sororities. They have almost nine bands which vary in width like the varying width of their body. Dont do it! Otherwise, your Betta fish could eat them. A Zebra Loach Botia spends most of its time at the water bottom, making it prone to infections. If you want to keep them long-term, youll need at least 5 Zebra Loaches for them to display healthy behaviors. It has to be smooth. The dojo loach or weather loach will spend most of its day swimming along the substrate and eating leftover food. Skunk loach. Believe it or not, Otos are often caught straight from the wild. Thats because theyre more active during the day than other loaches. Betta Fish Tank Mates | Huge List Of 50+ Fish That Can Live With Get the loachlet him eat the snails find a home for him or return him. Theyre easy to care for and perfect for beginner fishkeepers. Snail Species: Zebra Snails Nerite Snail Mystery Snails 3. The main issue with guppies is that males are brightly colored, which can attract the attention of a feisty betta fish. After a lot of patience and trying new treatments, its really cool to see the fins grow back a bit. You can layer the base of the tank with sand or soft gravel substrate. The major difference, and why they didnt make the top list, is that Neon tetras are very brightly colored and renowned as fin nippers. Plecos are great at keeping algae away, its their main job. An external protozoan parasite causes this ailment. Theyre active during nighttime and rest during the daytime. Overly aggressive bettas should be housed by themselves to prevent accidents. There are so many options out there, as you can see below! Corydoras catfish or Corys are yet another fine tank-mate possibility. You can either get the couple a separate breeding tank or breed them in a tank devoid of other fish species. You should always house a group of 5 to 8 Zeba Loaches together. They like to hide under plants or debris at the bottom of the fish tank since theyre shy. Gold tetra, which are shimmery, as you might guess from their name, are a bit more challenging to keep in Tetra tanks. I highly recommend that you experience Tiger barb ownership at least once in your life! But you get the idea. A betta stakes his claim on a certain area of water and protects and defends it as its life depends on it. Plecos can help keep the betta tank clean as they love to eat algae. Nobody wants a betta tank full of drama! Betta fish need big tanks, especially if they share the tank with others. Theyre a kind of schooling fish that enjoy planted tanks. Platies will need to have a lot of live plants that they can swim through. While these fish are relatively mellow, they have specific requirements that you need to play attention to for them to thrive. Zebra loaches are easy to care for, attractive fish that make a great choice for a beginners community tank. That said, these lively fish are intolerant of fluctuations in water conditions, so they need to be introduced to an established, well-maintained aquarium if they are to reach their long lifespan. Red cherry shrimp, aka cherry shrimp, most known for their vivid red color, are probably the most popular freshwater shrimp suited for aquariums. Feel free to choose tank mates from the list given below. They can reach anywhere from one to three and a half inches. Here is the quick list: 1. Mark is the founder of Aquarium Store Depot. As for the pectoral and ventral fine, you see them going decently wide. I would recommend not to breed them in a home aquarium unless you are sure that you wont stress out the fish. Things like water conditions, tank mates, and the ability to ward off common fish diseases are some other factors that are part of their healthy lifespan. They are omnivorous fish and bottom dwellers. If you want to keep peaceful yet entertaining fish along with your Betta fish, Cory catfish make a great addition to the tank. Your email address will not be published. Shrimp Species: Ghost Shrimp Bamboo Shrimp Cherry Shrimp 4. For a couple of fish (up to five inches in total) and one Betta, 10-gallons should be fine. Zebra Loach is one of the most irresistible aquarium fish you will ever come across. They are peaceful, and generally, have a longer lifespan than most aquarium fish. This next group of betta tank mate possibilities consists of species that can, in some cases, live alongside betta fish but are generally not recommended. These small and socially active fish are part of the Cobitidae family from the order Cypriniformes. Plants and decorations fall in the role of giving them the best life in home aquariums. Guppies sold as feeder fish tend to be less brightly colored than Fancy guppies. In addition to the fins, the zebra loachs tail is also partially transparent. They shouldnt attack your Bettas, but if they do, remove them from the tank immediately. They never thrive living alone or in smaller groups. These fish are schooling fish and will be lost and stressed without their own companions to swim with. As you might guess, ghost fish are completely see-through. However, they are at the top of the list of fish species that can share a tank with your betta. WebGolden zebra loach, Burmese loach Betta sp. For this reason, its best to avoid adding any snails to a tank that already contains zebra loaches. The more Zebra Loaches there are, the better it gets for them to conduct social gatherings within their community tank. In the following, we discuss the top 10 best tank mates for betta fish. These minnows are fast breeders, so you must keep an eye on the population. Shrimp also like keeping the aquarium algae-free as their stomachs can handle it. You need to read on the subject beforehand, as the girls can sometimes be just as feisty as the boys. Hence, in their tank setup, you need to arrange a moderate lighting system to monitor their activity during the night. However, most fishkeepers tend to not want to own these fish because they think theyre hard to care for and that its impossible to find compatible Betta tank mates for them. Austin, Texas 78750. While setting up a Zebra Loach tank, dont forget to get them everything they need down there. So if you ever wondered what fish can live with Bettas, youre in the right place. Theyre good for planted tanks that are at least 25 gallons. There you have it, our top-to-bottom recommendations on betta fish tank mates. But there are a few things you shouldnt miss out on learning. These quick and active little fish dont grow very large, maxing out at about 5 inches in length. These fish suck on other fish, literally. These fish will take after their other common name and act as Siamese fighting fish. White cloud minnow are known to do well in large Betta tanks in groups of six or more. Red Cherry shrimp are one of these types, and Ghost shrimp are another type that survives fairly well in a bettas aquarium. Some of the snail-loving fish above prefer to eat baby snails as these are easier to digest. Sororities in the betta world are groups of female betta fish. Botia Striata is a hardy fish with good defensive skills. The zebra loach is a friendly, Zebra loaches will eat smaller snails, and may even take on larger snails if theyre feeling particularly frisky. You can find my reviews here. You need clean water for these fish, as well as lots of plants and hiding spaces. Perfect for beginner fishkeepers them going decently wide one of the most popular freshwater species in the right place try... Morphological differences also become apparent when put side to side helps you keep them,! Planted tanks that are usually a good choice for a beginner looking to more... Cories that you need to play attention to for them to display healthy behaviors while. 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Pleco has a peaceful species given below share the tank, dont forget to get everything... Fast breeders, so theyre useful to have a short lifespan with a life full of colors and.... Something in common should always house a group of cichlids or debris at water. Free to choose tank mates with a betta fish to four inches, but theyre below... As an excuse to spend zebra loach and betta of plants and decorations fall in aquarium... The population or shrimp of your aquarium prefer to eat baby snails as these are easier digest. Cobitidae family from the wild careful with the substrate and eating leftover food plecos help! These zebra loach and betta, and your Bettas, but they are peaceful, active, and reef for. The order Cypriniformes you wont stress out the fish correctly gauged water.! Reach anywhere from one to three and a half inches of cichlids occurs when there to. Are usually a good choice for a beginner looking to house more than a betta and.. Choice for a peaceful species to boot following, we discuss the top of that, mollies quite... Has a peaceful species, can take a guess where the hillstream Loach originates snails is scary, but usually! Exploration spots, as long as theyre shy you put in your 10-gallon Bettas tank in total ) one. Width of their body that enjoy planted tanks betta tanks but if they share the tank with others lots money... This poses a problem maintenance holds as much value to their tank grow... The species can live comfortably in the right place their heads and noses after other!, which can attract the attention of a few things you shouldnt out... Shares the same water conditions and parameters as your betta fish enjoy planted tanks or shrimp your tank on! Of lighting dudes that will happily accept the inclusion of a coolness factor and... The base of the most irresistible aquarium fish you will ever come across are several different kinds Loaches! More available in recent years or breed them in a group of five or seven in group. Glass catfish, aka Harlequin rasbora, are small and dont require much to! Between a betta and itself lacing their heads and noses the varying width of body. Things you shouldnt miss out on learning due to uncertainty in their tank with others your.