Betta (Siamese Fighting Fish)

Bettas are intelligent, surface-breathing labyrinth fish. Males must be kept singly; they do best in warm, gently filtered tanks with resting spots near the surface.

• Minimum footprint: 5 gallons; a 10+ gallon tank gives real swimming room.
• Preferred swimming zone: top of the water column.
• Happy alone or as a compatible pair; avoid crowding with conspecifics.
• Care level: easy.

• Temperature: 76–82°F
• pH: 6.5–7.5
• Hardness: 2–10 dGH (Moderate)

Stable parameters matter more than perfect ones — aim for consistency before chasing an exact number.

semi-aggressive

solitarysurface-dwellerterritoriallabyrinthmales-fight

A carnivore — build the diet around meaty frozen and live foods such as bloodworm, brine shrimp, and daphnia, with a quality carnivore pellet as a base.

No outright-compatible species in our current database — check individual pairings with the compatibility tool.

A further 4 species pairs with Betta (Siamese Fighting Fish) as conditional — workable with the right tank and precautions.

• Guppy — Occasional chasing or fin nipping is possible.
• Honey Gourami — Occasional chasing or fin nipping is possible.
• White Cloud Mountain Minnow — One species will live outside its comfortable temperature range.
• Chili Rasbora — Occasional chasing or fin nipping is possible.

Standard tanks at or above the recommended 10 gallons:

• 10 gallon 20 × 10 × 12″
• 15 gallon 24 × 12 × 12″
• 20 gallon High 24 × 12 × 16″
• All tank sizes

• Start from a 5 gallon minimum and plan the full group size before you buy.
• Activity level is low, which affects how much of the tank it uses and how much it adds to the bioload.
• Zoning matters: this species lives mostly in the top zone, so choose tank mates that occupy other levels.

Compatibility depends on tank size, water chemistry, temperament, and adult size. Run a full check against any species in our database.

In-depth guides for Betta (Siamese Fighting Fish):

• Betta and Neon TetraConditional
• Betta and Bronze CorydorasConditional
• Betta and GuppyNot Recommended
• Betta and Honey GouramiNot Recommended
• Betta and Harlequin RasboraRisky
• Betta and Ember TetraRisky
• Betta and Panda CorydorasRisky
• Betta and Cherry ShrimpConditional
• Betta and Amano ShrimpConditional
• Betta and Nerite SnailRisky

• FishBase(Scientific Database, accessed 2026-09-20)
• SeriouslyFish(Specialist Publication, accessed 2026-09-20)
• Aquarium Forge editorial guidelines(Editorial Interpretation, accessed 2026-09-22)

Data reviewed: September 2026 · Data version: 2026.11
Editorial note: Minimum tank recommendations may vary by source and husbandry approach. Our figures synthesise the sources above for planning purposes.