Can bettas live with oscars?
Verdict
No
No. Bettas and oscars should not share a tank. An adult oscar eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 2.5 inches bettas do.
What to watch
- Deal breakerAn adult oscar eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 2.5 inches bettas do.
- Watch outOscars are much bigger and pushier than bettas, which are slow and easy to bully at feeding time.
- Watch outOscars grow to 12 inches and need 75 gallons, far more than a tank set up for bettas.
What works
- Both are fine at 76–81°F.
- pH 6.5–7.5 suits both.
- They use different parts of the tank: bettas the top, oscars the mid.
Water side by side
Size to scale
Care at a glance
| Betta | Oscar | |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 76–82 °F | 74–81 °F |
| pH | 6.5–7.5 | 6–8 |
| Adult size | 2.5 in | 12.0 in |
| Minimum tank | 5 gal | 75 gal |
| Temperament | Semi-aggressive | Semi-aggressive |
| Swims at | Top | Middle |
| Group | One per tank | Alone or in pairs |
| Diet | Carnivore | Carnivore |
Better tank mates for bettas
Better tank mates for oscars
Common plecoYes
Clown loachYes
Black ghost knifeYes
BichirYes
Elephant nose fishYes
Chinese algae eaterYes
Questions
Can bettas live with oscars?
No. Bettas and oscars should not share a tank. An adult oscar eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 2.5 inches bettas do.
What temperature suits both bettas and oscars?
76–81 °F. Bettas need 76–82 °F, oscars need 74–81 °F.
What size tank do bettas and oscars need together?
At least 75 gal, set by the oscar. Add space for each extra fish.