The BEST Mates for Betta Fish in Community Tanks

‎ If you have a 20-gallon aquarium or larger, try adding these peaceful tank mates with your betta fish.

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At Aquarium Co-Op, we focus on your aquariums. We specialize in freshwater tropical fish, aquatic plants, and the overall betterment of the freshwater fish keeping hobby. Our goal is to help you with your first pet fish and graduate you to an advanced aquarium hobbyist. If you'd like to take it to the next level, subscribe to Aquarium Co-Op and check out our weekly videos.

Cory McElroy is employed by Aquarium Co-Op LLC. He also owns Aquarium Co-Op LLC. Therefore, all content is sponsored by Aquarium Co-Op.

[justinewaison]

Getting a Betta started my aquarium hobby

[ironfae]

I’d recommend snails first as a “test buddy”. They’re tough, non-aggressive, and cheap. Bettas won’t usually bother them, but if they do at least you’ll know how social the betta is before you waste money on other fish.

[CJBlack]

Thank you! I rescued two severely neglected female Bettas a couple of months ago, they've made it so far and I've been wondering what tankmates would be compatible with them. I've never really wanted a betta, but when I saw these 2 poor fish in an empty house I was cleaning to get ready for sale, I just couldn't let them continue to suffer so I brought them home. 💕👍

[talonshadows]

I went extreme overkill with a 150gallon heavily planted and hardscaped out with 1 male Betta, and a ton of guppies, a few shrimps, and a couple of snails, with dwarf Cory cats. The colors of the critters in my tank really "pop" because I have a black substrate and tons of greenery from the plant foliage. My nephew says my tank looks like a rainbow exploded

[EricLabelleUX]

Its like “the all powerful algorithm” told Cory exactly what I have been researching for the last weeks! 😳

[Lazy_Fish_Keeper]

My betta is a.... unique... fish.

He likes to bury himself in substrate... so I changed to smooth marble so he wouldn't keep damaging his fins. He also sought out every firmish stem plant....

So now he has silicone imitation anemones, glass marbles, and duckweed with a gentle waterfall inducing filtration system (the betta likes to 'ride the water slide)....and ghost shrimp. The shrimp like to ride on the bettas back (ride 'em cowboy🤔) and eat the algae.

Finally, his tail is growing back.

[forsakth]

Make sure you know its personality or be ready to keep a close watch on the tank. I thought my little guy would be fine with others because he had a bad eye when I got him. I thought perhaps this would impair his ability to hunt and therefore I could keep him with others. Turns out he is the one eyed red devil. After decapitating many shrimps and eaten endlers later I learned my lesson. I thought maybe snails? The harden shell of the nerile might live to tell the tale. This however was not the case and they too met their demise. My red one eye plakat betta now swims a 6 gallon long tank with only plants to keep him company. He also randomly attacks the thermostat quite often now to get his aggression out. Still love the little guy!

[joshuamartinson]

I have 12 female Bettas in my 200 gallon angelfish tank and they are thriving! There are 5 spotted raphael catfish, 5 stripped raphael catfish, 2 common plecos, 4 african clawed frogs, 6 flying foxes, and 10 angelfish.The whole tank has been going for over 2 years and has been awesome.

[Spicer]

If your considering buying a group of kuhli loaches just get ready for them to be your favorite fish. Little guys are fun to watch swim around.
Just be careful with plants and give them caves. If your making a cave then make sure you can see into it, they all huddle up.

[ikanpari]

my cardinal tetras has made my betta as their leader. they follow him everywhere!

[GrandMasterPeep]

I have a “giant” betta I got from petco he looks like an oversized plakat. I have him in my plant grow out tank which houses white cloud minnows... so yes it’s a little chilly in there for him atm but I’m working on moving fish from one tank to another. Eventually he will be housed in a 20 long with pygmy corys and green neons

[oehpffu]

My betta’s in with an african featherfin, many different corydora and tetra species, african dwarf frogs, mystery and small snails, and a pleco. He is interested in everyone and likes to go around and calmly observe everyone and even has a few friends that he’s often with. He’ll eat with everyone even the corydoras at the bottom sometimes. He’s never poofed up even once and even shares his betta log with the frogs where you can often see them just laying on each other. He interacts with me a lot top. It helps that my entire community are all amazing friends even the featherfin is a gentle giant!

[andrewbreuninger]

My betta is a chill guy - he's with a variety of neocaridina and snails. He's one of the very few that won't bother eating shrimp or attacking snails.

[SteelLake]

Great information here Cory, I’ve found through my experiences that most peaceful tropical fish can go nicely with male betta just as long as they don’t have long wide fins/similar fins like the betta

[andyrodack]

Perfect timing. I was just considering setting up this exact thing. I hadn’t though of the Killifish. Might have to try that.

[marypaigeflynn]

Great video Cory! I have become a Bettaholic... Side effects are multiple betta syndrome and multiple tank syndrome 😂 I had a fish room 20 years ago and hadn't had a betta since my dad won me one at the fair when I was 7😭... So not having fish for many years a friend of mine I had not seen in a long time brought me a betta and one of those little "self cleaning"😢🤣 tanks.... So I got my Google on just to look at other bettas and discovered your Channel and so many others.. I was also introduced planted tanks.. I never had any luck with plants before until I started learning with all these amazing channels!!
I just set my daughter up to 29 gallon with your large Sponge filter and some plants from you guys!!(my favorite plant that I recommend to everyone is your Pogostemon stelltatus octopus)
I'm so excited that she's gotten into the hobby and my grandchildren absolutely love their betta fish!! I shared this video to her! Great information and very helpful!! She did get a trio of Guppies, a trio of platies a tiny baby bristle nose named "Jimmy"🤣💚 some mystery and Ram's Horn snails. She was really interested in knowing other fish that could be in her Aquarium!! So this was perfect! Thanks for all y'all do and share to help people get into and stay in the hobby!! Thank you for sharing!! I hope everybody there is having a blessed day! 🙏🌿🐟🌿💚

[SClarkeOhlendorf]

Helpful. Thanks! I've not yet kept Bettas, but I'm advising friends entering the hobby and they may want Bettas. I like how this tries to address creating a complete tank.

[Elquinjena]

Cory I want to thank you for doing this video since I was still trying to pick out what I wanted to put in my second tank with another betta. I have never had Rasboras or corys until now. Picked up some cute Chili Rasboras and was amazed at how tightly they school, made me wish I had gotten a few more but there is time later to add more. Also picked up some Pygmy Corys and they are so cute and fun to watch. I am a Rasbora and cory fan now.

[MIKoenig]

I've never really been interested in a Betta solo tank. But, I can definitely get behind this concept. Will keep in mind for future!

[MiaLucifer]

This is the most helpful video I’ve watched on the subject. I just got a 30 gallon tank and so far have just a bunch of plants and 1 betta. I’m definitely going to add snails, kuhli loaches, and those colorful shortfinned fish you mentioned towards the end. I still need to add more hiding spots as well. Planning on doing so next pay check😅