Male bettas tend to be fairly territorial and it’s best to house them alone. Some bettas can get along with other tank mates depending upon that individual betta’s preferences. A situation that may work for one betta could be completely different for another. Always monitor all tank inhabitants to make sure that there is no chasing, nipping or other negative behaviors. It is a good idea to keep an extra bowl and treated water on hand in case your betta needs to be swiftly removed from a community tank.

When finding suitable tank mates, be sure to do some background research. Some things worth looking into would be the type of water requirements, water temperature, what is the temperament of species, etc.

Other bettas: Male bettas should NEVER be placed in a tank together, and males should never be placed with a female unless you intend to mate them. Female bettas tend to do well by them self or in groups of three or more where they will form a hiearchy. Many people have found it unsuccessful to only keep two female bettas together as one usually dominates the other. A male should only be placed with a female if you have done extensive research about the mating ritual and are fully prepared to handle the possible outcomes. Mating bettas is not an easy task and should never be tried “just for fun.”

Snails: Snails can be an acceptable tank mate for bettas, but remember that some snails produce a lot of waste and the tank may need to be cleaned more than usual to prevent an Ammonia reading. A common type of snail that is acceptable to keep with bettas is an Apple Snail. Another thing to keep in mind with snails is that some bettas may nip at them and try to eat them. If this becomes a problem, you will want to consider removing the snail from the tank. Keep an eye on how many snails you have because if a betta eats too many snails it could lead to constipation and other digestive illnesses.

Other fish: Some folks with larger community tanks sometimes consider adding a betta. Each betta is different, however, and may not like being with other fish. If you notice that your betta is stressed, has nipped fins, or is chasing other fish in the tank, it is best to remove him and place him in his own tank. When picking out compatible fish mates for a betta, keep in mind the general rule that you should have 1-gallon of water per 1-inch of fish the tank contains. Also, you do not want to pair your betta with aggressive or fin nipping fish. A few types of fish in general that have worked for some people are Cherry Barbs, Cory Catfish, Zebra Danios, Platies, and some Mollies. Make sure to research the species ahead of time for similar environmental requirements of a betta, etc. Always remember to monitor how each tank mate is doing and have an extra bowl ready if your betta needs to be removed.

Note: I personally have not, and would not, house a betta with any other type of fish. I feel it is in their best interest to not be put in that living situation. The above is simply a general statement based on others’ experiences and take it as you will.

Ghost Shrimp & Other Small Creatures: Speaking from personal experience I can say a healthy betta will try to eat anything that is small and moves freely in their tank. At one point I attempted to house Ghost Shrimp in a divided 5-gallon cycled betta tank. Within 5 minutes both bettas in their half of the tank were determined to kill the shrimp for a snack. Although Ghost Shrimp are often bait food for some fish, that was not the intention of housing them with my bettas. They were promptly removed and placed in their own tank with an air stone until further arrangements could be made.