Betta fish are very popular types of fish for many fish owners. Finding tank mates for bettas can be very difficult due to the betta’s aggressive nature.
When looking for companions for your 10-gallon betta fish tank, it’s important to pick suitable tank mates for your betta fish to prevent aggression and ensure the health of all of your fish.
Don’t let their bright, beautiful colors fool you, they are no joke.
Here are the 20 best tankmates for your 10-gallon betta tank.
Neon Tetras
Neon Tetras are popular 10-gallon tank mates for bettas. They are small and typically peaceful.
Males can possibly be territorial but otherwise, they are generally peaceful. They are also very colorful fish that will add variety to your tank.
I love the bright, vibrant colors and simplicity of neon tetras.
Cory Catfish
Looking to keep your aquarium drama free? Cory Catfish are excellent tank mates. These fish are docile schooling fish. Groups of 5-6 fish should be enough to keep them happy.
These fish are beginner-level fish that spend most of their time at the bottom of your tank. The pygmy cory catfish species is perfect for your 10-gallon tank because they stay very small.
If using the pygmy cory catfish, it’s best to put them in your tank at the same time as your betta or before to prevent aggression.
Amano Shrimp
Amano Shrimp or Japanese Swamp Shrimp is a peaceful type of shrimp that are great mates for betta fish. This species of shrimp can eat algae and keep your aquarium environment clean.
The Amano shrimp is not bright in color, unlike Cherry Shrimp. Amano shrimps have grey coloration.
An adult Amano is the biggest shrimp, growing up to two inches in length, which ensures that they will not be eaten by your bettas.
Another great part I love about the Amano is that they will eat sunken pellets from the bottom of the tank and keep waste to a minimum.
Nerite Snails
Nerite Snails are great betta fish tank mates. This type of snail is great for beginners.
Nerite Snails come in a variety of species such as olive, zebra, tiger, and more. Nerites are great for a healthy betta fish tank because they eat algae just like the Amano shrimp.
One important thing to consider when adding them to your tank is closely watching the pH. A nerite’s perfect pH is more alkaline than that of a betta’s. With stable water conditions, these aquatic snails thrive!
An interesting fact I love about nerite snails is their ability to prevent dehydration when moving between brackish and freshwater environments.
Harlequin Rasbora
The Harlequin Rasbora is a shoaling type of fish that likes to live in a group of 5 or 6 fish. Rasboras eat similar types of shrimp as Bettas like brine shrimp.
They are very peaceful aquarium fish perfect for any 10-gallon betta tank. They prefer an abundance of plants in the aquarium. I love that Rasboras are simple, hardy fish.
Ember Tetras
This beautiful type of tetra fish is a decent tank mate for bettas. Ember Tetras and Neon Tetras will often join together in a school. Ember Tetras are a colorful addition to your tank with their bright colors of orange and red.
Getting at least 8 Ember Tetras for your tank is best for them to thrive. Like the betta, they also like to have lots of plant growth around them.
While the Ember Tetra isn’t ideal for beginners, they are fairly easy to keep happy and healthy.
The thing I love about keeping them with bettas is they swim in the mid layer of the tank and bettas swim above them, creating a beautiful array of colors within your tank.
African Dwarf Frogs
African dwarf frogs are very peaceful frogs, which makes the excellent betta tank mates. They are easy to care for and only grow up to 2.5 inches. This species typically does best to have at least 2 within the tank.
African Dwarf Frogs can be very exciting to watch because they are very active. They can also help to keep your betta tank clean by eating sinking food pellets.
One fascinating fact about this frog species is they have a full set of developed lungs and will come to the surface to breathe.
Cherry Barbs
Cherry barbs get their name from their brilliant red color. They are great for aquariums for their beautiful colors and activity.
This type of barb fish is very popular as a betta tank mate. They are small and docile. They also like to be in a school of fish.
One fact that I think makes them perfect for pairing with bettas is that they have the same lighting requirements, prefer the same tank decorations, and eat the same diet.
Platies
Platies are a very common type of fish for freshwater tanks. They come in a variety of colors and are small and simple to take care of.
Platies are very active fish that are very hardy and can survive even in high temperatures of 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Platies are also available in thousands of colors, so they’re sure to add variety to any betta aquarium.
I think what makes them fun is that they are active, easy to find, and perfect for beginners.
Zebra Danios
The Zebra Danio has brilliant colors and a playful personality. They are also schooling fish so it’s best to have 5-6 fish in your tank. They can also tolerate many types of water conditions and are very hardy.
Zebra Danios are small and peaceful fish. They are also known simply as zebrafish for their zebra-like stripes.
One thing I love is that they come in a wide variety of colors and patterns.
White Cloud Mountain Minnows
White Cloud Mountain Minnows are small, popular aquarium fish. They are hardy and simple to care for.
White Cloud Mountain Minnows are a good choice for your betta tank to decrease debris and contamination because they eat off the bottom of the aquarium.
It’s best to keep them in a decent-sized school or community tank for them to thrive. They are one of the best-selling aquarium fish due to their ease of care, which makes them perfect for beginners.
Ghost Shrimp
The Ghost Shrimp is an invertebrate that is characteristically translucent which makes them near invisible in an aquarium environment, which is why they are called ghost shrimp.
Ghost shrimps are simple to care for and great for bettas because they are scavengers who eat excess food.
These see-through creatures are amazing to watch and great for keeping your tank clean. Keep in mind that they prefer to live around live plants!
Feeder Guppies
Feeder guppies are usually bred for food for larger fish, but they can be perfect for your betta tank. They don’t have bright colors or large fins. They are usually content on their own, so you don’t need multiples.
Feeder guppies require the same pH and temperature range as a betta, and they are very docile.
One thing I love about guppies is that they are very active fish and are known for jumping out of tanks, so they can be fascinating to watch.
Mystery Snails
Mystery snails are great for your betta tank because they keep your tank clean. They feed on uneaten food and clean algae. They are safe for plants and have a very peaceful nature.
They use their siphon for air at the surface of the tank. They also vary in color and pattern.
One benefit that makes these snails worthwhile is that they don’t reproduce asexually like some snails so there’s no risk of overpopulation.
Dwarf Crayfish
Dwarf Crayfish are small docile invertebrates that are excellent betta companions. The most important thing is to make sure they have plenty of places to hide.
It’s best to add them to a tank in threes so there’s no competition. They also like tanks with plants.
I love that they aren’t picky eaters which makes them simple to feed and care for.
Brigittae Rasbora
Also known as the Chili Rasbora, the Brigittae Rasbora lives in slow-moving streams in their natural habitat similar to bettas. They are schooling fish that would do best in multiples. You can add 10-15 to a 10-gallon tank.
They are some of the smallest fish available among aquarium fish. They usually grow to less than an inch in size.
They are very docile but very active fish. It can be amazing to watch them dart around your tank.
Least Killifish
Least Killifish are small fish that are great for your betta tank. They are very peaceful and colorful fish that are simple to care for.
The only downside to least killifish is that they can breed very quickly and overpopulate your tank. To prevent this, it’s best to only keep males.
They are also great for keeping your tank clean by eating algae and are very versatile with water conditions. They are found in slow-moving waters with lots of plants, similar to the betta.
I love that they even very rarely show aggression when competing for females, they are truly peaceful fish.
Celestial Pearl Danio
Celestial pearl danio fish have interesting patterns, markings, and colors. These fish are usually more on the shy side, so to make them feel comfortable with your betta you would need 6 or more in your tank.
They prefer slow water like bettas. They are also omnivores and will help to keep your tank clean of algae.
I love their iridescent colors and interesting patterns; they are a joy to watch in a tank environment.
Pond Snails
Pond snails or bladder snails aren’t very striking in appearance, but they can be highly beneficial for your aquarium. They eat dead plants, algae, and other debris to keep your aquarium clean.
The downside to pond snails is that they do reproduce a fair amount so overpopulation can happen, so you may have to remove some here and there to prevent this.
The good news is pond snails are very hardy and can survive in conditions other tankmates cannot. This is one of my favorite things about them. They’re so simple to care for that you can’t mess it up.
Bronze Corydoras
Bronze Corydoras are not brightly colored but are a great betta pairing. They do well in groups of 3 or more. They are ideal for a betta tank because they do not trigger aggression in bettas.
Bronze Corydoras are bottom dwellers. They also prefer the same water conditions as the betta.
I find Corydoras interesting because they breathe from the surface of the water and often create a characteristic popping sound.