Your Betta Fish With Other Fish

How should you set up your betta with other fish in an aquarium?

Betta fish have traditionally been known as Siamese Fighting Fish for a reason. Bettas, especially male betta fish, are well-known for their aggressive nature and dominant temperament.

A little known fact about betta fish is that their jaws and teeth are more powerful and are proportionally larger in relation to their size, than any other fish, including the great white shark!

Betta fish have a fighting spirit that is triggered when they see other fish with similar characteristics that they have. Other fish with long fins or wavy tails should not live in the same fish tank as a betta, or this fighting spirit will be triggered.

For this reason, it makes good sense to understand the varieties of fish that do well with bettas in a shared tank environment, or you will run the risk of having one or more of your fish end up injured or dead.

To setup your betta with other fish in an aquarium, it is important to keep a few important guidelines in mind.

• Having a larger aquarium with more space for each fish in it, will reduce the possibility that the fish inside it will fight.

• Do not keep more than one male betta fish in a tank

• If you intend to have different varieties of fish in a tank with a betta, be sure to have plenty of plants and rocks where the fish can hide and avoid each other.

• Other fish that do well with betta fish are varieties that are about the same size as the betta. Smaller fish tend to end up be eaten by a betta as food, and larger fish tend to end up eating bettas as a snack.

Fish To Avoid Having In A Tank With A Betta

There are a few fish varieties that are known to fight with betta fish, and you should avoid putting in the same aquarium. Most of these are also known to be very aggressive, and will not do well in the same environment with your betta.

These include:

• Goldfish
• Oscars
• Fan-Tail Guppies
• Danos
• Gouramis
• Angelfish
• Catfish
• Barbs

If you take the time to follow these basic guidelines, then you will have a fantastic fish community, where the fighting will be minimal, and where your betta fish will grow up happy and healthy.