Vote for betta tank mate

Hello, I'm working on a 10 gallon planted tank for a single betta (Tank is cycling at the moment no fish have been purchased). But I've recently found a new love for bottom feeders/alge eaters/dwarf catfish etc. It's an ongoing topic if Bettas should have tank mates or not so I was curious to ask what people think I should do regarding stocking this tank.

Stick to the original plan and let the betta have the whole tank to himself or would it be acceptable to add 2 loaches or oto cats?

 

Maybe some pygmy cories!

 

Maybe some pygmy cories!

I thought about that but a betta and 3-6 cories in a 10 gal sounds like a lot lol, plus I already have a few in my other tank.

 

Not sure about the loaches, but a 10 might be too small for the ottos.

 

If you mean kuhli loaches they should really be in groups of 4-6 for a 10 in theory, but from research, it seems like 7 is a good number but I think that's too many for a 10. I was thinking about 4 for my 10 gallon, but I've seen mixed opinions about this so I didn't try to when I got my 20 and could keep them in there. Just for a reference, the school in my 20 go all over the place and are extremely active, they love the company of their own kind though! I would probably skip on the loaches personally

 

If you mean kuhli loaches they should really be in groups of 4-6 for a 10 in theory, but from research, it seems like 7 is a good number but I think that's too many for a 10. I was thinking about 4 for my 10 gallon, but I've seen mixed opinions about this so I didn't try to when I got my 20 and could keep them in there. Just for a reference, the school in my 20 go all over the place and are extremely active, they love the company of their own kind though! I would probably skip on the loaches personally

Very informative thank you, I'm leaning back to just letting the betta have the 10 gal to himself. ❤

 

Very informative thank you, I'm leaning back to just letting the betta have the 10 gal to himself. ❤

I promise you won't be disappointed! I absolutely ADORE my Betta Thorn, he comes up to the tank as I walk by and his 10 in on my desk, so when I'm doing work he always hangs by me. He's gotten to the point where he even eats from my hand, comes right up to my hand when it's in the tank, such personable fish I promise I'll never not own one. I wish you and your future Betta the best!!

 

I promise you won't be disappointed! I absolutely ADORE my Betta Thorn, he comes up to the tank as I walk by and his 10 in on my desk, so when I'm doing work he always hangs by me. He's gotten to the point where he even eats from my hand, comes right up to my hand when it's in the tank, such personable fish I promise I'll never not own one. I wish you and your future Betta the best!!

Thats so sweet! I have had bettas before and loved them but I wasn't as knowledgeable then, but now I'm ready, and his tank is right by my bed so we'll always have quality time, I'm very excited.

 

Thats so sweet! I have had bettas before and loved them but I wasn't as knowledgeable then, but now I'm ready, and his tank is right by my bed so we'll always have quality time, I'm very excited.

That was my exact situation, I had Bettas before I truly got into fish keeping, and now I can appreciate them more knowing more about them! It's such a good feeling know you're providing them with everything they need, you'll have to post pics when you get him

 

Welcome.....what about a couple of snails? Nerites are beautiful, and they keep your tank glass clean. Bettas normally lose curiosity pretty fast after they check them out.

 

Hi there, I agree with Fisch regarding the Nerite Snails. They are not as noticeable to a Betta as per say, a Mystery Snail with their long antenna. They are singlehandedly the best tank mate for a Betta, even a more aggressive specimen. I am currently in the same boat as you. I have a 10 gallon planted tank that will be home to a Betta in a few weeks. I will also have Snails and Shrimp in there with him, but keep in mind that Shrimp are a hit or miss with a Betta. Some could care less about the critters, and some make it their mission to execute every living shrimp in their quarters. If you are new with fish and Betta fish, stick with the Betta and Nerite combo. If you have some experience along with a backup tank/plan in case things go south, Shrimp can make for an excellent tank mate provided the Betta will coexist peacefully with them. If the tank is heavily planted, you may start seeing shrimplets pop in here and there which is always fun. I suggest Amano Shrimp and possibly Neocardinia Shrimp only if the tank is densely planted.

 

Welcome.....what about a couple of snails? Nerites are beautiful, and they keep your tank glass clean. Bettas normally lose curiosity pretty fast after they check them out.

I will look into it, I honestly don't know much about snails I've always been afraid of them over breeding or getting too big.

Hi there, I agree with Fisch regarding the Nerite Snails. They are not as noticeable to a Betta as per say, a Mystery Snail with their long antenna. They are singlehandedly the best tank mate for a Betta, even a more aggressive specimen. I am currently in the same boat as you. I have a 10 gallon planted tank that will be home to a Betta in a few weeks. I will also have Snails and Shrimp in there with him, but keep in mind that Shrimp are a hit or miss with a Betta. Some could care less about the critters, and some make it their mission to execute every living shrimp in their quarters. If you are new with fish and Betta fish, stick with the Betta and Nerite combo. If you have some experience along with a backup tank/plan in case things go south, Shrimp can make for an excellent tank mate provided the Betta will coexist peacefully with them. If the tank is heavily planted, you may start seeing shrimplets pop in here and there which is always fun. I suggest Amano Shrimp and possibly Neocardinia Shrimp only if the tank is densely planted.

I wish you luck, I have given up on the Betta/Shrimp combo, maybe I just know how to pick a mean betta because they always ended up being lunch at some point, or I hardly see them because they are hiding, perhaps I just didn't plant well enough. I will research the snails though, I've been intimidated by them.

 

I will look into it, I honestly don't know much about snails I've always been afraid of them over breeding or getting too big.

I wish you luck, I have given up on the Betta/Shrimp combo, maybe I just know how to pick a mean betta because they always ended up being lunch at some point, or I hardly see them because they are hiding, perhaps I just didn't plant well enough. I will research the snails though, I've been intimidated by them.

If you did want snails I agree with Fisch and JLAquatics, nerites are a great choice! A good thing about nerites is that they can live in fresh water but can only reproduce in saltwater, so you don't have to worry about over population. I've been meaning to get some for my 20, they come in such a variety of colors and types too. I've never owned them, just researched so correct me if I'm wrong, but they stay small and would do great in a 10 gallon

 

If you did want snails I agree with Fisch and JLAquatics, nerites are a great choice! A good thing about nerites is that they can live in fresh water but can only reproduce in saltwater, so you don't have to worry about over population. I've been meaning to get some for my 20, they come in such a variety of colors and types too. I've never owned them, just researched so correct me if I'm wrong, but they stay small and would do great in a 10 gallon

I am not a big snail fan neither, but they are fun to watch as they move along the glass and munch on the biofilm.

 

How about neon tetras? I have neon tetras in my tank and my betta seems to be fine.

 

How about neon tetras? I have neon tetras in my tank and my betta seems to be fine.

I think it depends on the temperament of the betta but for this tank I just wanted the betta to be the star and maybe like a bottom feeder but I decided to just have a betta and maybe a snail. I am considering some tetras for a different tank though.

 

My tankmate choice is cherry shrimp-- but let me expand the thought:

I bought some cull RCS from a local person here ($6 for eight) just to see if I could grow them. Fast foward eight months-- they are all over the place in the tank. They are great cleaners and for whatever reason, are much more fascinating to people who see my tanks than any fish I've ever had, especially after a water change!

Anyway, I put a betta in with them, and that betta at first tried to chase them. She couldn't catch anything, but certainly got exercise! So, I figure if she ever did catch one, she'd be happy and have a healthy snack, but the one she caught wouldn't put a dent in the shrimp population at all.

How about neon tetras? I have neon tetras in my tank and my betta seems to be fine.

For a very short time (two or three days) I had a female betta in with my 15 or so ember tetras. At first, she chased them (but couldn't catch any) and gave up. However, at this point the tetras were TERRIFIED of the betta and lost color and continually schooled.

It's been 10-ish days now since the betta was removed and although the color is (mostly) back in the tetras, they continue to school and seem perpetually frightened.

 

My tankmate choice is cherry shrimp-- but let me expand the thought:

I bought some cull RCS from a local person here ($6 for eight) just to see if I could grow them. Fast foward eight months-- they are all over the place in the tank. They are great cleaners and for whatever reason, are much more fascinating to people who see my tanks than any fish I've ever had, especially after a water change!

Anyway, I put a betta in with them, and that betta at first tried to chase them. She couldn't catch anything, but certainly got exercise! So, I figure if she ever did catch one, she'd be happy and have a healthy snack, but the one she caught wouldn't put a dent in the shrimp population at all.

For a very short time (two or three days) I had a female betta in with my 15 or so ember tetras. At first, she chased them (but couldn't catch any) and gave up. However, at this point the tetras were TERRIFIED of the betta and lost color and continually schooled.

It's been 10-ish days now since the betta was removed and although the color is (mostly) back in the tetras, they continue to school and seem perpetually frightened.

I gave up on keeping shrimp with a betta, I must know how to pick them mean because it always ended up in a slaughter for me. I do miss having shrimp though ❤

 

Hello, I'm working on a 10 gallon planted tank for a single betta (Tank is cycling at the moment no fish have been purchased). But I've recently found a new love for bottom feeders/alge eaters/dwarf catfish etc. It's an ongoing topic if Bettas should have tank mates or not so I was curious to ask what people think I should do regarding stocking this tank.

Stick to the original plan and let the betta have the whole tank to himself or would it be acceptable to add 2 loaches or oto cats?

I have a rabbit snail as a tank buddy for my betta. I sometimes enjoy the snail more than my betta. It is an unusual breed of snail.