In this article we will discuss betta fish and dwarf gourami.We will also discuss their relationship & other tank parameters which are suitable for them to survive together in aquarium settings.
Overview
In this blog
- Can betta fish and dwarf gourami live together?
- Key specifications of betta fish and dwarf gourami
- Where are betta fish and dwarf gourami found?
- How long do betta fish and dwarf gourami live?
- What tank size do betta fish and dwarf gourami need?
- Are betta fish and dwarf gourami aggressive in nature?
- What do betta fish and dwarf gourami eat?
- Are water parameters the same for betta fish and dwarf gourami in aquarium conditions?
- Do betta fish and dwarf gourami need the same aquarium plants in their tanks?
- Do betta fish and dwarf gourami need the same light intensity in their tanks?
- Do betta fish and dwarf gourami need similar substrates in their tank?
- Is it easy to care for betta fish and dwarf gourami together in the same aquariums?
- Are betta fish and dwarf gourami both perfect community fish?
- Are betta fish and dwarf gourami beginner friendly or for experienced aquarists?
- Can betta fish and dwarf gourami live in the same aquariums?
- Summary
- Frequently asked questions
- Reference
Can betta fish and dwarf gourami live together?
No, betta fish cannot be kept with dwarf gouramis, these fish may come from the same family, but they are not compatible aquarium companions for aquarium hobbies.
Bettas are very aggressive and dwarf gouramis can get intimidated by their aggressive behavior.
It is better to not keep them together and never keep male bettas with female betta fish.They can adjust to some extent,when monitored constantly but it’s better to keep them in a separate tank or with a tank divider, but never together.
Key specifications of betta fish and dwarf gourami
| Key specifications | Betta fish | Dwarf gourami |
| Scientific nameTypes Family | Betta splendensDragon scale Butterfly bettaMarble bettaKoi bettadumbo bettaDifferent tailedOsphronemidae | Trichogaster laliusNeon blue dwarf gouramiFlame dwarf gouramiRed dwarf gouramiHoney dwarf gouramiBlue dwarf gouramiPowder blueOsphronemidae |
| Temperament | Aggressive | Peaceful |
| Diet | Carnivore | Omnivore |
| Habitat | Southeast Asia | Southeast Asia |
Where are betta fish and dwarf gourami found?
Betta fish habitat
- Native- Southeast Asia/Tropical Asia.
- Nonindigenous Occurrences: Specimens ranging from 1-3 cm were taken from the Thames River drainage in Connecticut.
- Water type-Freshwater bodies.
- Water movement- Slow moving water bodies.
Dwarf gouramis habitat
- Native -Southasia
- Distribution- India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
- Water type- Freshwater bodies.
- Water movement- Slow moving water bodies.
How long do betta fish and dwarf gourami live?
Dwarf gourami can live upto 6 years in captivity.Correct aquarium set-up,water replacement routines,feeding habits and maintenance can help them live longer in aquarium settings.
Whereas bettas have a life span of 3-4 years due to their poor genetics.They are very sensitive to poor water conditions.They do well in spacious tanks with good oxygen circulation.
Bettas need a good and nutritious diet to maintain their finnage colouration and longevity.
What tank size do betta fish and dwarf gourami need?
Tank size for betta fish
- Minimum tank size for a single betta fish is 3 gallons.
- Additional tank size for each fully grown bettas is 1 gallons.
- The ideal tank size for single male or female betta is 5 gallons.
- Bettas do pretty well in bigger and spacious tanks
Tank size for dwarf gourami
- A 10 gallons/45 liters tank would be sufficient for dwarf gouramis.
- Additional gallons for each gouramis is 5 gallons.
- A 10 gallon tank can house 3 gouramis.More number of dwarf gouramis require more number of plants in the tank.
- Cover the tank with a hood, because they can jump out of the tank if threatened.
Are betta fish and dwarf gourami aggressive in nature?
Dwarf gouramis are peaceful in nature and live in trios,with one male and two females, or flock in equal proportions.
Vulnerable to aggression from other gourami species while bettas are famous for their aggressive nature especially male bettas.
It’s very difficult to keep male bettas with other tank mates in the aquarium.
Male bettas fight with each other to death,if too many male bettas are kept together which out numbers females in the tank.
Female bettas are less aggressive than male bettas and can co-exist with other tank mates in the aquarium.
What do betta fish and dwarf gourami eat?
Dwarf gouramis are not picky eaters and being omnivores they accept plant based, algae based diets and meaty diets whole-heartedly.
Dwarf gouramis are famous for their hunting skills, so provide them food which encourages their skills at least once a week in a tank environment. They need more vitamins in their diet.
- Freeze dried food – Brine shrimp,bloodworms,tubifex
- Algae based flakes/marimo moss
- Tropical flakes
- Vegetable tablets
- Live food
- Frozen food
Bettas are not picky eaters and happily accept whatever you give them but don’t start eating immediately after putting them in the aquariums, they take their own sweet time to adjust in the tank.
Food preference for betta fish:
- Protein enriched floating pellets
- Frozen or dried brine shrimp
- Frozen Bloodworms (small pieces)
- Small insects
- Larvae
Are water parameters the same for betta fish and dwarf gourami in aquarium conditions?
| Water parameters | Betta fish | Dwarf gouramis |
| Water typeTemperature Breeding temperatureWater pH Water hardness Water movement | Freshwater 75F-80F78F6.8-7.5 3 to 4 dGH and 3 to 5 dKHCalmer water | Freshwater72F-81F80F-82F6.0-7.5 (soft acidic water, lower pH4-10 dGH Slow movement |
Do betta fish and dwarf gourami need the same aquarium plants in their tanks?
List of tank plants for dwarf gouramis:
- Floating plants- hornworts,amazon frogbit and duckweed etc
- Drifting plants
- Stem plants
- Rooting plants
- Tree branches
- Big, broad-leafed plants like bacopa
List of tank plants for betta fish:
- Live and overhanging plants are best for your bettas as they act as a natural oxygen purifier and can help them to conceal themselves to avoid aggressive tank mates or predators.
- Live plants can provide good hiding space for your bettas when they feel threatened or stressed.
- Hydrilla aka waterthymes can be used in bettas aquariums because it gives bush like views in the tanks.
- Indian almond leaves are recommended as they can keep their immune system strong.
Do betta fish and dwarf gourami need the same light intensity in their tanks?
Dwarf gouramis don’t prefer bright lighting.Subdued lighting is sufficient for them.
Keep standard aquarium lights turned on for 6-8 hours, while betta fish like both natural and artificial light in their tank and they need enough light during day time and proper dimness during night time.
Exposing them to direct sunlight can increase algal growth in their aquarium.
Do betta fish and dwarf gourami need similar substrates in their tank?
Substrates are not so important in case of dwarf gouramis.But if you’re keeping them with bottom dwellers, you can add a substrate in the tank.
Dark substrate can enhance their colouration.Dark gravels (small sized) and sand grains (large sized) can be added to their tank.
Bettas don’t need substrate,as it doesn’t really matter in bettas tanks.They don’t interact with the bottom that much.Some sand or gravel substrate would be fine.
Is it easy to care for betta fish and dwarf gourami together in the same aquariums?
Dwarf gouramis are hardy and undemanding aquarium fish.Being undemanding doesn’t mean they don’t need proper care.Like any other aquarium fish they also need good amount of care to thrive in artificial conditions.
They need care because they are sensitive to poor water conditions, especially organic pollutants like ammonia and nitrite, loud noise and being all alone in a solitary tank.
Bettas are not so easy to care for,since they are very aggressive and intimidate other species alongside similar tanks.They need a spacious tank to swim freely.
Bettas need proper tank filtration,warm water,lots of hiding space to hide when they feel threatened,nutritious food to maintain their colors and tank maintenance practice.
Are betta fish and dwarf gourami both perfect community fish?
Dwarf gourami is known for its very peaceful attitude when living with other fish. They grow well in non-aggressive tanks and contain fish of almost the same size or smaller as long as their temperament and attitude towards each other are compatible.
Dwarf gouramis work very well in community tanks. In general, it’s not a difficult species to take care of.
Bettas can be a good community fish but they cannot live with brightly coloured species,finnippers, aggressive fish and multiple male bettas together.
Female bettas are more sociable than male bettas.Male bettas get aggressive with one another and fight with each other to death.It is very important to have male and female bettas ratio maintained in tanks to avoid clashes.
Are betta fish and dwarf gourami beginner friendly or for experienced aquarists?
The dwarf gourami is an easy-to-care fish that does not require large aquariums.They are also a hardy species and are relatively forgiving of water quality.They get along well with other peaceful species, making them ideal for beginner aquarists.
While bettas are good for both newcomers and experienced fishkeepers.They are very attractive,especially male bettas.These have specific water parameters and food habits to maintain their finnage colourtion.
Summary
- Both bettas and dwarf gouramis come from freshwater of south east asia and have a wide range of distribution.
- Both bettas and dwarf gouramis belong to the same family.
- Both bettas and dwarf gouramis come from areas with slow water movements, so they prefer slow water currents in their tanks too.
- Both bettas and dwarf gouramis are not picky eaters and eat lots of vitamins and proteins in their diet.
- Dwarf gouramis can fit into a community tank, but bettas don’t fit into community tanks because of their aggressive behavior.
- Male bettas should never be kept with other male bettas or with dwarf gouramis.It better to keep them in solitary aquariums.
- Both bettas and dwarf gouramis don’t make good tank mates and should not be kept together at any cost.
Frequently asked questions
Can we use tanks smaller than 10 gallons to house dwarf gouramis?
It is advised to not use tanks smaller than 10 gallons, it will lead to the accumulation of organic pollutants, which will badly affect their health.
Where do dwarf gouramis spend most of their time in tanks?
Dwarf gouramis occupy the middle and top regions of the tank and they spend most of their time in those levels only.
