Selecting a suitable tank for a betta fish is no doubt an overwhelming task. What size tank to buy? What are the other requirements for the tank? How to maintain it? Ideally, many owners prefer a 10 gallon tank for their betta fish. Now, you may wonder how many betta fish in a 10 gallon tank?
To answer the question of how many betta fish in a 10 gallon tank, the answer depends on the gender of the fish, the temperament of the betta, and the tank conditions. In a 10 gallon tank, you can keep around 4 to 5 female betta fish. In the case of male betta fish, it is generally advisable to keep not more than one together. You may keep around three male betta fish together, provided the tank is separated by a divider. Besides betta fish, you may also add other fish like ember tetras, kuhli loaches, corydoras catfish, etc.
How Many Betta Fish In A 10 Gallon Tank?
As stated earlier, the number of betta fish that you can put in a 10 gallon tank depends on a number of factors including the gender of the betta fish and the temperament of the betta. Let us discuss further in detail how many betta fish in a 10 gallon tank you can put.
Male Betta Fish
In the case of male betta fish, the question of how many betta fish in a 10 gallon tank varies on different factors such as temperament and fish size. For instance, a male betta fish is generally more hostile in nature. They tend to be aggressive towards other fish, especially other male betta fish.
Therefore, it is not a good idea to keep more than one male betta fish in a tank together as it may lead to either one getting injured or even dead. However, if you want to keep more than one male betta fish together, then there is another way.
If you want to keep more than one male betta fish in one tank, then you may use tank dividers to segment the tank into smaller tanks for each of the betta fish. This way, you can prevent any confrontation among the betta fish and ensure peace.
Speaking of male betta fish, how many betta fish in a 10 gallon tank can I put? To answer this, you may add about 2 to 3 male bettas in a 10 gallon tank, provided that the tank conditions are suitable and the tank is divided by dividers to provide isolation to each of the betta fish.
Female Betta Fish
Female betta fish are relatively more composed and calm as compared to male betta fish. In the case of the female betta fish, exactly how many betta fish in a 10 gallon tank you can put is quite easy to answer. As the female bettas are not that hostile towards one another, you may consider putting around 4 to 5 female bettas together in a single 10 gallon tank.
However, one thing must be kept in mind. This number cannot be less than the limit. For instance, you should refrain from putting only 2 to 3 female bettas together in one tank. This stems from the fact that female betta fish tend to form a hierarchy if grouped in small numbers.
This form of hierarchy can be prove to be harmful to the female bettas as it leads to aggression and a fight for dominance. Therefore, you should avoid adding female bettas in smaller groups. Larger groups of about 4 to 5 bettas will curb any sort of hierarchy formation and possible aggression among the bettas.
Can I Put Male & Female Betta Fish Together?
Having discussed how many betta fish are in a 10 gallon tank in the case of both a male betta fish and a female betta fish, we can now move on towards a much-awaiting question of whether or not it is impossible to keep a male and a female betta fish together in a single 10 gallon tank.
One can put a male and a female betta fish together in one tank, but not for long. Moreover, this should only be done for breeding purposes and should only be done by professional breeders. This is not at all recommended for beginners as the procedure is very detailed and sophisticated.
As previously stated, male betta fish are especially hostile towards other betta fish. Thus, by keeping a male and female betta fish together, you are risking your female betta’s life as the male may tend to be the aggressor if provoked, which may prove to be fatal for the female betta.
Therefore, it is not advisable for you to keep a male and a female betta fish in a single 10 gallon tank because of the added aggression and hostility. Even if you are able to contain both of the bettas in one tank, you should break the pair as soon as possible because they tend to show aggression over time.
What Other Fish Can I Keep With My Betta Fish?
Apart from other betta fish, one can also consider putting other kinds of fish with your bettas. Betta fish are considered aggressive and hostile but the matter of fact is that it is possible for them to live with other tank mates as long as all the required tank conditions are met properly.
Here are some of the more suitable tank mates for your betta fish for a 10 gallon tank.
- Ember Tetras
- Kuhli Loaches
- Harlequin Rasboras
- Shrimps
- Snails
FAQs On How Many Betta Fish In A 10 Gallon Tank
How many betta fish in a 10 gallon tank?
Depending on the gender and temperament of the betta fish, you may keep around 2-3 male bettas together in a partitioned tank and around 4-5 female bettas in a single tank.
How many gallons does a betta fish need?
Betta fish needs at least 3 gallons of water to stay healthy and fit.
Is 1 gallon enough for a betta fish?
A 1-gallon tank is enough for a betta fish if it is properly maintained regularly.
Final Thoughts
Wondering how many betta fish in a 10 gallon tank can I put? The answer depends on the type and hostility of the betta fish. In the case of a male betta fish, you may add about 2-3 male bettas, provided the tank is partitioned accordingly. In the case of female bettas, you can consider adding around 4-5 female bettas together in one tank.
