Can bettas live with chinese algae eaters?

Verdict

Yes, with care

Yes, with care. Bettas and chinese algae eaters can share a tank, but watch one thing. Chinese algae eaters are much bigger and pushier than bettas, which are slow and easy to bully at feeding time.

Betta76–82°F · pH 6.5–7.5

Chinese algae eater74–80°F · pH 6–8

What to watch

Watch outChinese algae eaters are much bigger and pushier than bettas, which are slow and easy to bully at feeding time.
Watch outChinese algae eaters sometimes latch on to slow, flat fish like bettas and rasp their slime coat.
Watch outChinese algae eaters grow to 10 inches and need 75 gallons, far more than a tank set up for bettas.

What works

Both are fine at 76–80°F.
pH 6.5–7.5 suits both.
They use different parts of the tank: bettas the top, chinese algae eaters the bottom.

Water side by side

The green band is the temperature range both can live in.

The green band is the pH both tolerate.

Size to scale

Adult length in an aquarium. A fish can swallow anything that fits in its mouth, roughly a third to half its own length for predators.

Care at a glance

	Betta	Chinese algae eater
Temperature	76–82 °F	74–80 °F
pH	6.5–7.5	6–8
Adult size	2.5 in	10.0 in
Minimum tank	5 gal	75 gal
Temperament	Semi-aggressive	Semi-aggressive
Swims at	Top	Bottom
Group	One per tank	Alone or in pairs
Diet	Carnivore	Herbivore

Better tank mates for bettas

All betta tank mates

Better tank mates for chinese algae eaters

All chinese algae eater tank mates

Questions

Can bettas live with chinese algae eaters?

Yes, with care. Bettas and chinese algae eaters can share a tank, but watch one thing. Chinese algae eaters are much bigger and pushier than bettas, which are slow and easy to bully at feeding time.

What temperature suits both bettas and chinese algae eaters?

76–80 °F. Bettas need 76–82 °F, chinese algae eaters need 74–80 °F.

What size tank do bettas and chinese algae eaters need together?

At least 75 gal, set by the chinese algae eater. Add space for each extra fish.