13 Best Tank Mates for Betta in a 5-Gallon Tank

Due to their aggressive nature, the betta fish, or siamese fighting fish, are typically kept in tanks on their own. However, some tank mates can be safely kept with bettas, depending on your tank size available. 

After pairing my own betta fish with different mates and monitoring their behavior, I’m now able to provide you with a list that I’m confident will help many fish owners out there.

While it’s always better to have a larger tank for communities, one betta fish can be carefully established in a 5-gallon. In addition, female bettas have shorter fins and less bright colors, making it less tempting for tankmates to nip. Females also tend to do better in community environments if set up correctly.  

Always have a plan B ready in case things don’t go smoothly. For example, a separate tank that has been properly cycled, or a divider, will be handled if your community fish start to fight.

Below is a list of appropriate tankmates for a 5-gallon community tank with a betta.

Chili Rasbora

Bettas and chili rasboras coexist in the wild, which means they will prefer the same water parameters. Like bettas, chili rasboras like to have planted tanks with plenty of places to hide. 

Some bettas may not get along with chili rasboras, so pay close attention during the introduction to ensure they do not fight.

That being said, chili rasboras are among the most peaceful community fish and often get on well with other fish and invertebrates, such as snails. 

Strawberry Rasbora

Strawberry rasboras can be in a tank with fish roughly the same size as long as they do not over-compete for food.

While rasboras will do fine in a 5-gallon tank, they would do better with larger options and a school of 6 or more.

Strawberry rasboras are active and prefer warmer water, like bettas.

Bettas and rasboras enjoy slow-moving water, as their natural habitats include rice paddies and river basins. 

Dwarf Rasbora

Dwarf rasboras have approximately the same lifespan as bettas, making them great tankmates for life.

Your dwarf rasboras may be easily intimidated by your betta, so be sure to keep plenty of places for them to hide.

Females of this species are larger and tend to have rounder bellies compared to males.

This species can be sensitive to water changes, so keep a close eye on water parameters. 

Nerite Snails

Nerite snails typically inhabit areas where salt and fresh water mix. 

Nerite snails are peaceful and tend not to bother any other fish in the tank. Unfortunately, this can sometimes result in them becoming prey to more aggressive fish.

Excellent climbers, be sure the lid to your tank is closed properly to prevent escape. 

Nerites are excellent companions for a betta due to their temperament and their ability to keep a tank well established by eating algae and biofilm. 

Ramshorn Snail

A 5-gallon tank is an absolute minimum for a ramshorn snail. They would thrive better in bigger tanks, starting at 10 gallons.

These snails love to roam their environments, so be sure to have some clearing for your ramshorn snail to explore.

Since the tank requirements for a ramshorn snail match those for a betta, they make excellent tankmates. 

Red-rimmed Melania

These snails tend to be more active at night. During the day, they like to burrow into the sand, which means your betta will more than likely leave them alone.

These snails are very common and can reproduce very quickly in your tank.

Red-rimmed Melania snails enjoy chowing down on decaying plant and fish matter, which will help keep your tank clean and well maintained. 

Pond Snail

Pond snails will do an excellent job eating unwanted food, keeping oxygen levels healthy, and keeping your water balanced. 

Be sure not to skip your betta’s meals, as they may view your pond snails as a potential snack.

Pond snails like to eat live plants in the tank, but you can minimize this by avoiding adding too many snails to a tank. Pond snails should also not be mixed with other snails in a community tank.

Ghost Shrimp

Bettas and ghost shrimp can be kept in the same tank, but there is a danger of the betta eating them. So make sure there are plenty of places for your shrimp to hide so they do not become potential snacks.

If other fish are added to your tank along with ghost shrimp and a betta, make sure they are peaceful, community-appropriate fish.

Ghost shrimp will often eat decaying matter at the bottom of the tank but also enjoy sinking pellets or wafers. 

Cherry Shrimp

If your cherry shrimp reproduce, they could become snacks for your betta, but adult shrimp and bettas typically get along.

Having plenty of plants will provide enrichment for cherry shrimp and plenty of places for them to hide. 

Betta fish and cherry shrimp would do better in a 10-gallon tank, but just be sure to observe and remove the cherry shrimp if they are attacked after adding them to a 5-gallon with a betta. 

Celestial Pearl Danio

A 10-gallon tank would definitely be beneficial for celestial pearl danios and a betta, but they can live together peacefully in a 5-gallon.

Both the celestial pearl danios and the betta can share the same diet. They also prefer the same type of habitat and water parameters. 

Danios are super skittish, so you can add more danios to the tank if they become stressed by a territorial betta. 

Pygmy Corydoras

Pygmy corydoras love to be in large groups so they feel more secure. The more you put, the safer they feel. Naturally, that will also requires larger tank, such as 10 gallons or bigger.

Since they are catfish, pygmy corydoras prefer to swim at the bottom of the tank, but they will come up to the middle areas.

Ember Tetra

Laid-back bettas and ember tetras will do wonderful together, but there is a higher chance of success for them if in a 10-gallon tank.

Ember tetras are very hardy and can do well in various water conditions. 

Ember tetras will need a slightly different diet than a betta. While they do require meat, they also eat plant matter.

Marimo Moss Ball

Marimo moss balls are algae growths that have been rolled into balls due to currents. Due to their natural formation on lake bottoms, they thrive well in colder environments and do well in low lighting. 

They can play a vital role in keeping water conditions stable in smaller aquariums. 

Conclusion

There are many different fish and invertebrates that can work as great tank mates for your betta. As long as your betta is not overly aggressive, many of these options can be a beautiful and safe addition to your tank. 

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Perhaps you’d like to put goldfish to live with betta fish, gotta check this out: Can betta live with Goldfish? 6 Facts You Need to Know.