With their bright red-orange colors and small size, ember tetras make a beautiful and active addition to many home aquariums. Betta fish, also known as Siamese fighting fish, are extremely popular aquatic pets known for their long, flowing fins and vibrant appearances.
If you’re considering keeping these two types of fish together in the same tank, there are a few important factors to take into account first.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: ember tetras and bettas can potentially live together peacefully if certain tank requirements are met and if both fish seem to get along well initially. Special care should be taken to prevent aggressive betta behaviors.
Ideal Tank Conditions for Housing Ember Tetras and Bettas
Tank Size
When keeping ember tetras and bettas together, aim for at least a 20 gallon tank. This allows adequate swimming space for both species as well as room to create hiding spots and visual barriers to prevent aggression. Larger is always better, so a 30-40 gallon tank is ideal if space permits.
Water Parameters
Both ember tetras and bettas thrive in soft, slightly acidic water with the following parameters:
- Temperature: 75°F – 82°F
- pH: 6.0 – 7.0
- Hardness: 5 – 12 dGH
Perform regular partial water changes of 25-30% weekly to replenish minerals and prevent nitrate buildup. Use an adjustable heater, test kits, water treatments, and gravel vacuums to maintain ideal water quality.
Tank Setup and Hiding Spaces
Provide plenty of plants such as java ferns, java moss, and anubias to break up sight lines and create territories. These low-light plants also offer protection if aggression occurs. Floating plants like hornwort are great too. Arrange decor strategically to form barriers and hideaways.
Some excellent tankmates to reduce confrontation include Corydoras catfish, snails, shrimp, and other peaceful community fish in schools. Having 6-8 ember tetras distracts aggressive behaviors while ensuring security in numbers.
| Tank Size | 20+ gallons |
| Temperature | 75°F – 82°F |
| pH | 6.0 – 7.0 |
| Hardness | 5 – 12 dGH |
With the proper tank size, water conditions, territories, and tank mates, ember tetras and bettas can coexist peacefully. Perform regular maintenance and monitor fish health daily for success.
Betta Fish Aggression and Compatibility Issues
Betta aggression towards other fish
Betta fish, also known as Siamese fighting fish, are well known for their aggressive tendencies, especially towards other male bettas. Male bettas display combative actions like flaring their gills and chasing or nipping fins when they encounter another betta in their territory.
However, the level of aggression can vary between individual fish.
In a community tank, male bettas may show aggressive behavior towards fish with bright colors and flowing fins like guppies or fancy guppies, since they resemble male bettas and could be seen as competition. Tetras and similar small shoaling fish are generally not targeted by aggressive bettas.
Signs of betta and tetra stress or aggression
It’s important to monitor both bettas and tetras closely for signs of stress or aggression when housing them together. These include:
- Hiding or staying at the top or bottom of the tank
- Rapid gill movements or heavy breathing
- Loss of color or pale appearance
- Torn or nipped fins
- Chasing other fish persistently
These behaviors indicate the fish are not comfortable with their tank mates and action should be taken to diffuse aggression between incompatible fish.
Introducing fish properly
When adding any new fish to an established betta tank, proper acclimation and introduction is crucial. Some tips include:
- Rearrange decor and plants when introducing new fish so territories are reset
- Consider tank dividers to separate the betta initially if very aggressive
- Add juvenile tetras or small shoals at a time to reduce perceived competition
- Provide plenty of hiding spots with plants and caves
Additionally, an adequately sized tank is important – most recommend at least a 10 gallon tank when housing bettas with other fish to dilute aggression and create distinct territories.
With close observation, proper tank conditions, and slow introductions, ember tetras and betta fish can make suitable community tank mates in many cases.
Alternatives to Keeping Embers and Bettas Together
Other tetra tankmates for bettas
While ember tetras may not be the best tankmates for bettas, there are some other tetra species that can work well with bettas in a community tank setup (source: https://www.thesprucepets.com/good-tank-mates-for-betta-fish-1378797):
- Neon tetras – A classic tetra species that grows to about 1.5 inches. Their bright colors contrast nicely against bettas.
- Cardinal tetras – Very similar to neon tetras but with more red coloration. They also grow to around 1.5 inches.
- Elongated tetra – A bit larger than neon tetras at 2 inches, but calm and peaceful by nature.
- Black phantom tetra – A striking black and white tetra that grows to 1.5-2 inches. They swim in tight schools which bettas tend to leave alone.
- Rummy nose tetra – Named for their bright red noses, these tetras grow to around 2 inches and prefer schools of 6 or more fish.
The key things to look for are tetras that are not too small, as they may be seen as prey, and tetras that are not fin nippers. Also avoid any tetras that are too active or colorful, as this may provoke aggression from bettas.
Fish that can live with ember tetras
While ember tetras may not get along with bettas, there are some fish that make great tankmates for a school of embers (source: https://aquariumtidings.com/ember-tetra-fish/):
- Small rasboras like chili rasboras, galaxy rasboras, and emerald dwarf rasboras
- Pygmy cory catfish – small bottom feeders that help clean up extra food
- Otocinclus catfish – algae eating fish that stay small and peaceful
- Dwarf gourami – colorful labyrinth fish that are usually peaceful towards tetras
- Ram cichlids – dwarf cichlids with bold colors who do well in planted community tanks
- Harlequin rasboras – larger rasboras at 2 inches, but very peaceful
Tankmates should be chosen carefully to ensure they thrive in the same water conditions as ember tetras. Other small, peaceful community fish that enjoy planted tanks tend to make the best companions. Bottom dwellers like catfish and loaches can work nicely to utilize different areas of the tank.
Feeding and Caring For Ember Tetras and Bettas
Dietary needs
When it comes to feeding ember tetras and bettas, it’s important to meet the dietary needs of both species. Ember tetras are omnivores that need both plant and animal matter in their diet. They enjoy live, frozen, and freeze-dried foods like brine shrimp, bloodworms, daphnia, and micro pellets.
Bettas are carnivores that thrive on protein-rich foods like bloodworms, brine shrimp, and daphnia. Here are some tips for feeding them together:
- Feed them 2-3 small meals per day and remove any uneaten food to avoid fouling the water.
- Offer a mixture of freeze-dried, frozen, and micro pellet foods to provide variety.
- Soak freeze-dried foods before feeding to rehydrate them.
- Supplement their diet with blanched vegetables like zucchini, spinach, and peas 1-2 times per week.
- Fast them 1 day per week to support digestion.
The key is providing a balanced, varied diet for both fish. With multiple feedings and a mix of protein-rich live or frozen foods and plant-based fare, ember tetras and bettas can thrive together.
Water changes and tank maintenance
Ember tetras and bettas do well in planted tanks with clean, warm, soft water. Here are some tips for ideal water parameters and tank maintenance when keeping the species together:
- Perform 25-30% water changes 1-2 times per week, or as needed to keep nitrates under 20 ppm.
- Maintain a temperature between 76-82°F – a heater is recommended.
- Keep pH between 6.0-7.0 and hardness under 10 dGH to mimic their natural environments.
- Use aquatic plant fertilizers as needed to support live plants and control algae growth.
- Test water regularly and treat with products like Seachem Prime at water changes to detoxify ammonia and nitrites.
- Gravel vacuum substrate weekly to remove waste and prevent dead spots.
- Clean or replace filter media monthly to keep water flow strong.
With good tank husbandry, ember tetras and bettas can stay healthy for years. The keys are maintaining warm, clean water and using live plants to absorb nitrates. By following these care tips, both species can thrive together in a community aquarium.
Conclusion
In the right sized and structured aquarium, ember tetras and betta fish may coexist without issues. However, betta aggression is always a possibility so extra steps should be taken during introduction. Watch closely for signs of stress or confrontation.
Make sure to meet the specific care requirements of each species as well. When in doubt, consider alternative tankmates instead to ensure health and safety.
With some cautious preparation and planning, the brilliant colors and graceful movements of these two popular freshwater fish can combine to bring great life and beauty to your home aquarium environment.
