Can Betta Fish Live with Snails?

Some species of snails are excellent tank mates for Betta fish, as long as they thrive in the same water conditions. Snails stay out of their fish neighbors, so even territorial Bettas do not mind their presence, in general.

Why Betta Fish And Snails Can Be Good Tank Mates

Betta fish and certain species of snails can coexist peacefully, as long as the water parameters are appropriate for the fish and the snail.

Bettas are notorious for their aggressive, territorial personalities, so it is essential to choose their tankmates carefully.

Many fish species cannot live with Bettas because they either fight or Betta fish attack their more timid tankmates. Therefore, it is good to add bottom-dwelling neighbors that stay out of Betta’s way but in a way that comes naturally to them.

Snails are a great option because they do not bother Betta fish, occupy very little space, and usually stay out of Betta’s way. Most Betta fish do not attack snails, if there is sufficient nutrition and the environment in the tank is optimal.

Luckily, several species of snails need the same environmental conditions to be comfortable in one aquarium with Betta fish.

Do Betta Fish Attack Or Eat Snails?

Usually, Bettas do not attack snails. However, Betta fish can eat small snails. So, it is better to avoid adding small species of snails to your aquarium, unless you want your Betta to add them to its diet.

Most Bettas will eat hatchling snails of many species.

Can Snails Kill Betta Fish?

Snails do not attack fish. It would be highly unusual for a snail to cause harm to Betta or most other species of fish.

3 POPULAR SNAIL SPECIES THAT CAN LIVE WITH BETTA FISH

Snails that can live with Betta must be large enough so your fish does not see them as food. The fish and the snails need to share their living space, so the water parameters must be optimal for both Betta and your snails.

Most snail species are susceptible to copper in the water, so it is important to avoid any copper products.

Bettas like calm, warm water. 76-82 °F/ 25-28°C is the ideal temperature range for Bettas. Their acidity range is also rather narrow 7-7.5, harness in the range of 5-20 GH.

Mystery Snail

Mystery snails are beautiful, peaceful, and useful for most aquariums.

These snails are excellent at keeping a tank with natural plants clean and they can live well with most pet fish, including Bettas.

Mystery snails’ diet is composed of waste and biofilm, algae wafers, fish pellets, and small blanched pieces of vegetables, such as cucumber and spinach. These snails can sense the presence of food and hurry toward anything they consider eatable as soon as they notice it.

Nerite Snail

Nerites are extremely effective at keeping algae under control in any aquarium. They excel at maintaining the tank’s decorations, substrate, and walls clean and polished for the other inhabitants of the aquarium.

Nerites are hardy and small – their shells are about an inch (2.5 cm) in diameter. They are easy to maintain and do not reproduce in freshwater, so you do not need to worry about controlling their population.

These snails are also pleasant to see, given their peculiar shell patterns. Peaceful and timid, Nerites coexist without any issues with other snails, most fish, and shrimp species.

Nerites need plenty of algae. You can supplement their diet with algae wafers and blanched greens, such as kale and spinach. Calcium supplements help maintain a good shell.

These snails are climbers, so your tank needs either a lid or the water should not reach the top of the tank.

Assassin Snail

Assassin snails are particularly useful because they eliminate pest snails without using any chemicals in your aquarium.

Assassin snails are relatively small (up to 1 in/ 2.5 cm), and they prey on smaller snails, so if you have a Mystery snail or a large Nerite snail in your tank, they are safe around Assassins. However, a small Nerite could be at risk, particularly if you do not supplement the Assassin snails’ diet.

Most fish keepers do not have large numbers of snails in their tanks, so Assassin snails need additional food.  You can feed them meaty foods, such as fish flakes and blood worms.

Assassin snails are safe for fish but they can eat dwarf shrimp. These snails will eat any dead fish in the aquarium. These snails need sand substrate to hide in when they need rest.