5 Betta Fish Mates in 10 Gallon Tank

The main characteristic of Bettas that makes it harder to keep them with other fish is that they are aggressive. This is why you need to be very careful when choosing tank mates for them because many species can potentially die when put in the same tank with them.

It turns out that the best tank mates for Bettas are those that are rather peaceful and fast at the same time. They are not going to provoke their tank mate and on top of that, it is easy for them to get away. There is also a smart tip that we are going to share with you about how to deal with aggression between tank mates.

But first, we are going to share some thoughts about the best Betta fish tank mates in our opinion. At the end, you are going to know exactly which are those species that can live with Bettas and how many of them.

Best Betta Fish Tank Mates for 10 Gallon Tank

A 10-gallon tank allows you to keep a few additional fish species together with your Bettas. However, every fish has its own space requirements and their behavior differs as well. Not to mention that they need to thrive in the same water conditions, which will prevent them from getting sick.

People commonly keep Bettas with species that are spending most of their time near the bottom of the aquarium. This way, there is less chance for them to invade each other’s territory and annoy each other. A Betta can get quite aggressive when another fish invades its territory.

Among fish species, usually the male is more aggressive but this is not the case with this species. Both sexes are more than willing to attack other fish that draw attention with their colors and long fins. Keeping two male bettas in the same tank is completely out of the question because it is hard to deal with their territoriality.

Without further ado, let’s take a look at the best Betta fish tank mates, their main requirements, lifespan and more.

– Neon Tetras

This beginner-level fish is going to be an outstanding tank mate for your little Betta fish. The Neon Tetra is decorated with some amazing colors such as red, neon blue and dark blue. Although we mentioned before that bright colored species are a problem for Bettas, this is not always the case.

Neon Tetras are a great exception to this rule. They might annoy your Betta, yet they are also very fast so it is no problem for them to get away as long as there is enough horizontal swimming space. You need to add at least 5 of these Tetras to your tank in order to form a school.

In a home aquarium, they usually live for as long as 5 years if properly taken care of. They are quite small, measuring only 1.5 inches in length.

– Corydoras

This type of catfish called the Corydoras is not demanding at all and it can live a calm and peaceful life together with your Betta. Their water condition requirements are pretty much the same and they swim around in the lower layers of the tank.

The Corydoras is a schooling fish, meaning that it’s best to get 4 to 6 of them. They are not too big with their 1.5-2.5 inches but certainly bigger than the Neon Tetra. Their lifespan, however, is shorter, as they live 2-3 years in captivity.

Just like Bettas, this catfish is also quite active and you are going to see it swim around a lot. Another benefit is that Corydoras are not brightly colored. If you are looking for a species that is even less colorful, you can try the Pygmy Corydoras as well.

– Ember Tetras

This wonderful orange and red species called the Ember Tetra is one of the more decent tank mates for Bettas. If you plan to set up a mixed community aquarium, then you can add Neon Tetras and Embers as well. These two tend to school together which will bring some exciting colors to your aquarium.

We would recommend you to get at least 7 Ember Tetras if you want them to truly thrive and feel safe. What they have in common with Bettas is that they enjoy eating brine shrimp and prefer plenty of plants to be around them.

This species can live 4 years and it is also an active swimmer, making your tank lively. The Ember Tetra is not exactly for beginners but it won’t take a lot of effort to satisfy its needs. The best thing about keeping them together with Bettas is that they prefer the mid layer of the aquarium, while Bettas swim above them.

– Harlequin Rasboras

The Harlequin Rasbora is an amazing fish to look at with the black triangle on its side. Its base color is either pink or orange with red fins. This is another schooling fish that can be kept with Bettas without any issue.

Get at least 5 of them and they are going to thrive together in a group. In a 10-gallon tank, there will be more than enough space for them to swim around. They prefer an abundance of plants around them which will also reduce the chance of them running into your Bettas.

The expected lifespan of the Harlequin Rasbora is 5 years in a home aquarium. They also fall into the 1.5-inch category and are active swimmers.

– Kuhli Loach

The Kuhli Loach is simply breathtaking, which is why many fish keepers can’t resist keeping them with their Betta fish. Its amazing pattern and coloration will surely make your aquarium an eye-catchy sight to show. The Kuhli has dark blue or black patches on a yellow-pink metallic background.

On top of that, this species is rather intelligent, which makes it able to get used to the behavior of your Betta fish. You are going to see your Kuhli hiding most of the time and eventually come out to swim a bit and look for food.

Their favorite hiding place is sand, given that you have sand substrate in your aquarium.

Keeping Betta with Other Fish

Because of the aggressive temperament of Bettas, there are a few preparations that should be made before adding tank mates. First off, you need to ensure that there are enough hiding spaces in the tank. There are plenty of decorations you can add such as caves, driftwood, stones, plants and such.

Don’t house your betta fish with shy, sensitive fish such as discus fish, or with large aggressive fish such as Oscars or African cichlids.

These decorations are also great for breaking their line of sight. This is an effective way when it comes to handle aggression in any community tank. As long as they can’t see the other fish, they won’t turn their aggression toward them.

Feeding them the right foods is also important because Bettas are carnivores. You need to make sure their appetite for meat and the protein it contains is satisfied. Moreover, it is best to keep them with a school of another species so that they have the safety of their kin.

At last, but not least, every fish has at least slightly different needs when it comes to water temperature, hardness, acidity. Find out which are the exact numbers for the species you keep at home and try to find the perfect balance.

Wrapping Up

As you can see, you can keep your Betta fish with some pretty amazing fish. Most of these species are rather small, except the Kuhli Loach which can grow to 3.2 inches. We also did our best to pick compatible tank mates that are easy to take care of.

If you are looking to set up a decorative community aquarium, then go ahead and choose one or two of the species from our list. You are not going to be disappointed, as they will bring some of the most eye-catching colors to your tank.