10 gallon tank mates with a betta

[BBetta]

I have my betta in a 5.5 gallon, and as much as I like it, it is a lot of work because of how small it is. I decided she should have an upgrade! My new 10 gallon tank has been cycling for about 1 month and a bit, and is finally completely cycled! Ammonia 0ppm nitrite 0ppm nitrate >15ppm. I have once before had her in a ten gallon with 6 neon tetras, and they were a bit of fin nippers, so I’m looking for peaceful fish that won’t nip at my bettas fins. I have not moved my betta into her new home yet, just because I thought that the more timid fish that I would put in there would want to get comfortable before I put her in there. She was always very sweet to the neons in her previous 10 gallon before I moved her. I also have some small snails in my 10 gallon at the moment. It is also a tank that is not planted, so I won’t be able to accommodate a lot of natural hiding places for the fish, though I do have some silk plants.

 

[Pythia]

I honestly don't know but here's what I do know: do NOT get guppies, they don't get along well with bettas and they will probably fight to the death

 

[Shika]

I have ember tetras in with my betta, and they all seem to get along really well. And, as a super small tetra (less than an inch fully grown), I think they'd fit well in a 10 gallon, but I'm pretty new, so someone else might want to chime in!

 

[pattersonbear]

Ember tetras, ADFs, 6-8 corries, chilI rasboars/other microrasboras, 2-3 platys. There are a lot of other options for her too but these are my favorite

 

[jkkgron2]

Ember tetras or chilI rasboras would do good with your betta , just be warned that if she is a fast swimmer she may be able to get the ember tetras because they are so fragile

 

[DuaneV]

Youll want small, docile, schooling fish who like warm water and can be kept in a 10 gallon, so you're pretty limited. Ember Tetras, Harlequin Rasboras and ChilI Rasboras would be my top 3 pics. Id do a school of 6, put some driftwood in the tank, lots of plants and you should be fine. Ive kept all 3 with Bettas in a 10 gallon a few times with no problems at all. My son currently has a 10 gallon with a Betta and 7 Harlequins and 3 KuhlI Loach that's been up and running for 3 years.

You could even do a Betta, 6ish Embers or Rasboras plus 6 Pygmy Cory or 4 KuhlI Loach. Just depends on what you want the tank to look like really.

 

[idk]

I agree with most of what's already been said here. A small to medium school of nano fish would probably be my go to with a few snails or shrimp - if your betta is shrimp friendly that is! They do like plants though especially moss varieties.

 

[BBetta]

Youll want small, docile, schooling fish who like warm water and can be kept in a 10 gallon, so you're pretty limited. Ember Tetras, Harlequin Rasboras and ChilI Rasboras would be my top 3 pics. Id do a school of 6, put some driftwood in the tank, lots of plants and you should be fine. Ive kept all 3 with Bettas in a 10 gallon a few times with no problems at all. My son currently has a 10 gallon with a Betta and 7 Harlequins and 3 KuhlI Loach that's been up and running for 3 years.

You could even do a Betta, 6ish Embers or Rasboras plus 6 Pygmy Cory or 4 KuhlI Loach. Just depends on what you want the tank to look like really.

Thanks! I will definitely check some of those fish out! One question though, I thought kulI loaches minimum tank size was a 20? And with some many other fish in a 10 gallon wouldn’t the bioload be too much? I really don’t know much about kulI loaches, it’s just some things I read.

 

[Addictedtobettas]

I’ve heard mixed opinions on loaches and bettas in the past. Haven’t tried that myself.
Corys, dwarf gobys, and Endler Livebearers have been my favorite betta companions so far. The ones my vicious betta never paid much attention to (and she loves shrimp!) and the ones my mellow bettas haven’t been bothered by.
Tetras and rasboras have always been trouble for me. :/

 

[idk]

when I had a betta and KuhlI Loaches they left each other alone but I have heard that sometimes the betta will assert their dominance... although I'm no KuhlI expert, the height doesn't matter as much as the bottom area. They do use height too though when they go on a swimming spree!!

 

[DuaneV]

Thanks! I will definitely check some of those fish out! One question though, I thought kulI loaches minimum tank size was a 20? And with some many other fish in a 10 gallon wouldn’t the bioload be too much? I really don’t know much about kulI loaches, it’s just some things I read.

Ive kept Kuhlis in a 10 NUMEROUS times with no issue. Also, theyre not a schooling fish so keeping 3 or 4 in a 10 is fine. They do like sand substrate, leaf litter, driftwood, etc., a lot, so if you keep them I recommend going that route.

If you have a decent filter you'll be fine putting a Betta, 6 small midcolumn fish and up to 6 small bottom dwellers in there. The key will be keeping fish that all want the temp around 80/82, to keep your Betta happy and healthy. The bioload of a Betta and 6 nano fish is INCREDIBLY tiny, just do NOT overfeed.