Can bettas live with flowerhorns?
Verdict
No
No. Bettas and flowerhorns should not share a tank. An adult flowerhorn eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 2.5 inches bettas do.
What to watch
- Deal breakerAn adult flowerhorn eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 2.5 inches bettas do.
- Deal breakerFlowerhorns are aggressive, and slow, long-finned bettas cannot escape them.
- Watch outFlowerhorns grow to 12 inches and need 75 gallons, far more than a tank set up for bettas.
What works
- Both are fine at 80–82°F.
- pH 7–7.5 suits both.
- They use different parts of the tank: bettas the top, flowerhorns the mid.
Water side by side
Size to scale
Care at a glance
| Betta | Flowerhorn | |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 76–82 °F | 80–89 °F |
| pH | 6.5–7.5 | 7–8 |
| Adult size | 2.5 in | 12.0 in |
| Minimum tank | 5 gal | 75 gal |
| Temperament | Semi-aggressive | Aggressive |
| Swims at | Top | Middle |
| Group | One per tank | One per tank |
| Diet | Carnivore | Carnivore |
Better tank mates for bettas
Questions
Can bettas live with flowerhorns?
No. Bettas and flowerhorns should not share a tank. An adult flowerhorn eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 2.5 inches bettas do.
What temperature suits both bettas and flowerhorns?
80–82 °F. Bettas need 76–82 °F, flowerhorns need 80–89 °F.
What size tank do bettas and flowerhorns need together?
At least 75 gal, set by the flowerhorn. Add space for each extra fish.