Betta care

Water temperature

76–82°F

A betta wants water at 76–82°F, pH 6.5–7.5, and a tank of 5 gallons or bigger. Good tank mates include kuhli loaches, corydoras, cardinal tetras.

Keep one male per tank. Long fins make him slow, and he reads bright, long-finned fish as rivals.

Betta splendens

pH

6.5–7.5

Minimum tank

5 gal

Adult size

2.5 in

Temperament

Semi-aggressive

Group

One per tank

Lifespan

3–5 years

Swims at

Top

Diet

Carnivore

Best tank mates

• Kuhli loachYes
• CorydorasYes
• Cardinal tetraYes
• Harlequin rasboraYes
• Neon tetraYes
• OtocinclusYes
• PlatyYes
• Congo tetraYes
• Dwarf neon rainbowfishYes
• Cherry barbYes
• Lemon tetraYes
• Bristlenose plecoYes

Full betta tank mate chart: 37 yes, 31 with care, 30 no

Betta water compared

Fish to keep away from bettas

• Axolotl Axolotls are coldwater animals (60–66°F); bettas need 76–82°F. No temperature suits both.
• Pea puffer Pea puffers nip fins, and the long fins of bettas are an easy target.
• Angelfish An adult angelfish is twice the size of a betta and will hunt or batter a slow, long-finned fish like this.
• Tiger barb Tiger barbs nip fins, and the long fins of bettas are an easy target.
• Goldfish Goldfish are coldwater animals (60–74°F); bettas need 76–82°F. No temperature suits both.
• GloFish tetra Glofish nip fins, and the long fins of bettas are an easy target.
• Oscar An adult oscar eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 2.5 inches bettas do.
• Convict cichlid Convict cichlids are aggressive, and slow, long-finned bettas cannot escape them.

More gouramis and bettas

• Honey gourami72–82°F
• Pearl gourami77–82°F
• Sparkling gourami72–82°F
• Paradise fish61–79°F
• Blue gourami72–82°F
• Dwarf gourami72–82°F
• Kissing gourami72–82°F