One of the most difficult thing when you planning your first fish tank can be choosing the right fish.
It’s not just important what kind of fish you want to keep in your fish tank, but also how many you want to keep.
How many fish can fit in a 10 gallon tank? Here are some useful tips to help you make the right choice.
Key storage guidelines based on experience:
- Lightly stocked for beginners
- Moderately stocked for intermediates,
- Densely stocked for experienced fish keepers
- Each fish species has specific water parameter requirements and tank level preferences.
- The “one inch of fish per gallon of water” guideline is not entirely accurate.
10 gallon tanks are the most popular tank size for beginner fish keepers. In a tank this size, you need to think carefully about which fish you want to keep in it.
You probably know the popular saying “add one inch of fish per gallon of water”. This principle is not completely useless, but it does not quite work in reality. It appears that this guideline isn’t enough. So what really matters when it comes to selecting the most suitable fish for your 10 gallon tank?
For a 10-gallon tank, the actual amount of water in the tank will be less than you think. If we follow the one inch of fish per gallon rule, we can easily lead to overcrowd. This is why many novices add too much fish to the tank.
REMEMBER!
The substrate, decorations and other equipment of the tank take up the water capacity. To fill a 10 gallon tank you need about 10 pounds of gravel which displaces about 2 liters of water. After arranging the decorations and filling the tank, it turns out that there is less than 8 gallons of free capacity for your fish. The water capacity will be smaller if you have more gravel, or if you put in a lot of decorations like rocks, stones or wood.
It is also important whether you will cycle the tank with or without fish. You can read more here.
The water chemistry of a new tank and that of a mature tank differs significantly. This means that the number of fish will vary even if we have the same 10 gallon tank.
Some fish species are resistant to high ammonia fluctuations, such as Zebra Danios. As long as there is a nitrogen cycle going on, the good bacteria will be thriving. During this time an unexpected spike of ammonia and other toxins can appear in the tank.
Once the water chemistry has stabilized, your tank is ready to receive a certain amount of fish. However, this is a time where chemistry can fluctuate and some fish may experience stress (Neon tetras, Fancy guppies).
About 4 months after setting up the tank, the water chemistry is stabilized that even the most delicate species of fish will feel great.
So what is the conclusion? The amount of fish in a 10 gallon tank without a cycle will be significantly lower than in a stabilized tank.
When selecting fish, it is also worth considering the filtration system and conservation. If you keep a single 1 inch fish in a 10 gallon tank, but neglect filtration and water change, don’t expect success.
A good HOB filter in a 10 gallon tank will reduce the bioload and support the health of more community. Frequent water changes will also help to maintain the biological balance in the aquarium. This doesn’t mean you can buy any type of fish you like. Too many different fish types will stress your fish tank.
Tip
As an experienced aquarist, I stick to the rule: the bigger the tank, the better.
What are the types of fish that can live in a 10- gallon aquarium?
When stocking a 10 gallon tank, you must consider the fish’s activity and temperament.
Of course, the size of the fish also matters, but it is not a determining factor. Let’s take a closer look at the minnows. They are small but very mobile fish and will not be suitable for a 10 gallon aquarium. They swim in shools and need a lot of space to swim.
For a 10 gallon aquarium we should choose:
– small nano fish with a gentle and calm temper
– fish that prefers to be alone or do not require large groups
– low-activity or lazy fish
– 0.5 to 5 inch fish with the above characteristics and similar water requirements
Let’s also note that fish can stick to different parts of your tank.
How to build a community in 10-gallon tank?
It’s good to balance your community and choose some surface or mid-level fish and bottom feeders. It will therefore reduce stress and competition. Algae eaters are always a great choice for a 10 gallon aquarium.
Selecting species that share the same area can prove to be a disaster.
Based on your experience level and the current conditions in your tank, I can give you general guidelines on how many fish should live together:
- If you are beginner fish keeper or have recently cycled tank your aquarium should be lightly stocked – choose 1 or 2 medium fish and 3 – 6 small fish
- If you are intermediate fish keeper and have cycled and mature tank your aquarium may be moderately stocked – choose 1 – 3 medium fish and 5 – 10 small fish.
- If you are experienced fish keeper and have mature tanks that are well maintained your aquarium may be densely stocked – you can choose 4 or more medium fish and 10 or more small fish.
I strongly recommend to wait for your aquarium to mature. You can read more about cycle a tank here.
As you can see, there are many factors to consider when selecting a 10 gallon aquarium population. Below I will present you tips on the correct configuration of the tank.
If we plan to ride a tank with fish, we should choose more hardy species in the first place. At the end of the cycle, we can add more sensitive species of fish.
Examples of hardy fish:
- Betta fish
- Cory catfish
- Dwarf gourami
- Kuhli loach
- Neon tetra
- Platy
- Molly
- Guppy
- Zebra danios
15 best fish and invertebrates for 10 gallon tank
Below you will learn about 15 species of fish that are perfect for a 10 gallon aquarium. Some fish may be a bit more demanding, such as kuhli loach, but most species are cool fish.
Ghost Shrimp
The ghost shrimp or glass shrimp is a small and friendly species among aquarists.
It got its name because of the translucent, clear color. Glass shrimp is very popular in the aquarium hobby. They are easy to care for, and moreover, they act as fish tank cleaners.
Ghost shrimp ideally settle in a tropical community consisting of small, non-aggressive fish. Avoid predators in the tank!!! Ghost shrimps can be a tasty snack for them.
| Common name(s) | Ghost shrimp, glass shrimp, eastern glass shrimp |
| Binomial name | Palaemonetes paludosus |
| Size range – length | 1,5 inches |
| Water parameters | Temperature 68 – 82F; pH 6,5 – 8,4 dGH 3,0 – 12,0 |
| Tank level | Bottom |
| Diet | Omnivore |
| Lifespan | 1 year |
| Tank mates | Freshwater snails, other shrimp, kuhli loaches, cory catfish |
Red Cherry Shrimp
The name of cherry shrimps is related to their color. There are five color grades available: standard cherry shrimp, sakura cherry shrimp, fire red cherry shrimp in low grades, fire red cherry shrimp in high grades and painted fire red cherry shrimp.
Cherry shrimp are small invertebrates that are easy to care for. They are affordable and they also clean the water. They are perfect for a 10 gallon aquarium.
| Common name(s) | red cherry shrimp, Cherry shrimp, fire cherry shrimp, fire shrimp |
| Binomial name | Neocaridina davidi |
| Size range – length | 1,5 inches |
| Water parameters | Temperature 65 – 85F pH 6,5 – 8,0 dGH 4,0 – 8,0 4.0H |
| Tank level | Bottom |
| Diet | Omnivore |
| Lifespan | 1 – 2 years |
| Tank mates | Small plecos, catfish, small tetras, dwarf gouramis, other shrimp, snails |
Nerite Snails
Nerite snails are the perfect addition to any small aquarium. They are less than 1 inch long.
They will strengthen the clean-up crew in your aquarium. Nerite snails are very popular for their minimum tank requirements and care needs.
| Common name(s) | Nerite snail, spotted nerite |
| Binomial name | Vittina natalensis |
| Size range – length | 1 inch |
| Water parameters | Temperature 72-78F pH 8.0 – 8,4 dGH 6 – 12 |
| Tank level | All |
| Diet | Herbivore |
| Lifespan | 1 – 2 years |
| Tank mates | Shrimps, barbs, neon tetras, guppies, bettas |
Kuhli Loach
Kuhli loach is a peaceful fish that works well with other mates in the tank. They have a unique appearance, which makes them a highly sought-after fish in freshwater tanks.
| Common name(s) | Kuhli loach, coolie loach, leopard loach |
| Binomial name | Pangio kuhlii |
| Size range – length | 3 – 5 inches |
| Water parameters | Temperature 73 – 86F pH 5,5 – 6,5 dGH 0 – 10 |
| Tank level | Bottom |
| Diet | Omnivore |
| Lifespan | 7 – 10 years |
| Tank mates | Corydoras, mollies, gouramis (non-aggressive), danios, rasboras, tetras, guppies, shrimp, African dwarf frogs |
Otocinclus Catfish
These small fish can appear in many various colors. There are 22 known species of otocinulus catfish.
It is a calm and relatively skittish fish. Fish keepers like Otocincluses because they efficiently eats algae from the tank. They grow up to 2 inches and are therefore ideal for a 10 gallon aquarium.
| Common name(s) | Otocinclus catfish, Otocinclus, oto cat, otto, dwarf sucker, dwarf armored catfish |
| Binomial name | Otocinclus sp. |
| Size range – length | 1 – 2 inches |
| Water parameters | Temperature 72 – 79F pH 6,8 – 7,5 dGH 7 – 15 |
| Tank level | Mostly bottom |
| Diet | Herbivore |
| Lifespan | 3 – 5 years |
| Tank mates | Other oto catfish, cherry barbs, angelfish, danios, Corydoras, tetras, mollies, guppies, harlequin rasboras, dwarf gouramis, zebra loaches |
Corydoras Catfish
There are over 160 different types of cory catfish. Corys are fish that feed at the bottom of the aquarium. Corys help keep your aquarium clean by finding and eating any remaining food that’s not eaten yet.
| Common name(s) | Cory catfish, cory, cory fish, corydora catfish, corydora, armored catfish |
| Binomial name | Corydoras paleatus |
| Size range – length | 1 – 4 inches |
| Water parameters | Temperature 70 – 78F pH 5,5 – 7,00 dGH 5 – 10 |
| Tank level | Bottom |
| Diet | Omnivore |
| Lifespan | 3 – 5 years |
| Tank mates | Tetras, mollies, guppies, swordtails, other catfish, freshwater snails, filter shrimp, small crabs |
Least Killifish
The Least Killifish is one of the smallest species of fish. It’s a peaceful type of fish, and it’s pretty darned easy to find. As an algae eater, it can eliminate unwanted algae in tank. If you’re a beginner who’s getting started with fishkeeping, you should consider keeping a least killifish.
| Common name(s) | Least Killifish |
| Binomial name | Heterandria Formosa |
| Size range – length | 0,8 – 1,2 |
| Water parameters | Temperature 68 – 79F pH 6,0 – 7,5 dGH 5 – 20 |
| Tank level | Middle |
| Diet | omnivore |
| Lifespan | 3 years |
| Tank mates | Freshwater Shrimp, Pencil fish, Dwarf Corydoras, Otocinclus |
Harlequin Rasbora
Hobbyists of tropical fish love the harlequin rasbora. School of rasbora make tanks vibrant and active. These small fish make nice additions to community tanks. It is a smaller fish, so keep it with like-sized fish.
| Common name(s) | Harlequin Rasbora, Harlequin, Red rasbora, harlequin fish, harlequin rasbora |
| Binomial name | Trigonostigma heteromorpha |
| Size range – length | 1,75 – 2 inches |
| Water parameters | Temperature 72 – 81F pH 6,0 – 7,8 dGH 2 – 15 |
| Tank level | Middle |
| Diet | Omnivore |
| Lifespan | 5 – 8 years |
| Tank mates | Snails, shrimps, neon tetra, rummy nose tetra, danios, dwarf gourami, cherry barbs, cory catfish, honey gourami, bolivian ram, mollies, kuhli loach, guppies, hatchetfish, platies |
Platy Fish
Platy fish are a type of tropical fish that’s easy to care for and they’re very fun to observe. They’re one of the most adaptable freshwater fish for first-time aquarium owners. Because of the many varieties available, seasoned hobbyists enjoy them.
| Common name(s) | Platy fish, platyfish, platies, southern platy, variable platy, swordtail platy, common platy, spike tail platy |
| Binomial name | Xiphophorus maculatus |
| Size range – length | 2,5 – 3 inches |
| Water parameters | Temperature 70 – 77F pH 6,8 – 8,0 dGH 10 – 28 |
| Tank level | Middle |
| Diet | Omnivore |
| Lifespan | 3 – 4 years |
| Tank mates | Tetras, swordtails, snails, shrimps, mollies, guppies, gouramis, danios, crabs, corydoras |
Fancy Guppy
The guppy is a small fish with beautiful, flowing fins and colorful body that make it a popular choice amongst aquarists. Guppies are easy to maintain, relatively hardy, and comes in a wide variety of colors. They are low-maintenance fish and excellent for beginner aquarium fish keeper.
| Common name(s) | Guppy, millionfish, rainbow fish |
| Binomial name | Poecilia reticulata |
| Size range – length | 0,6 – 2,5 inches |
| Water parameters | Temperature 74 – 82F pH 6,8 – 7,6 dGH 8 – 12 |
| Tank level | Middle and top |
| Diet | Omnivore |
| Lifespan | 2 – 3 years |
| Tank mates | Nerite snails, shrimp, cardinal tetras, cory catfish, harlequin rasboras, mollies, dwarf chain loaches, rummy nose tetras, kuhli loaches, sparkling gouramis, zebra danios |
Zebra Danio
A lot of fishkeepers hobbyist are crazy about zebra danios. They’re easy to care for and don’t have that much in the way of competition. With their attractive zebra-patterned bodies, they are easy to recognize. The zebra danios are the easiest types of egglayers to breed. Zebra Danios are easy to keep in an aquarium and will live happily in tanks that hold 10 gallons of water. You’ll likely have to upsize their tank as they grow.
| Common name(s) | Zebra Danio, zebrafish |
| Binomial name | Danio rerio |
| Size range – length | 1,2 – 2,5 inches |
| Water parameters | Temperature 64 – 77C pH 6,8 – 8,0 dGH 5 – 19 |
| Tank level | Middle |
| Diet | Omnivore |
| Lifespan | 3 – 5 years |
| Tank mates | Gouramis, rosy barbs, scarlet badis, rummy nose tetras, ember tetras |
Neon Tetra
Neon tetras are a shoaling species so we should kept them in groups. In a 10-gallon tank we should kept 6 to 10 fish. Neon tetras are colorful fish and easy to recognize. They have a relatively long lifespan, which can be as little as five years. Neon tetras are very easy to keep and don’t get aggressive. They are excellent options to include in your aquarium.
| Common name(s) | Neon tetra |
| Binomial name | Paracheirodon innesi |
| Size range – length | 1 – 1,5 inches |
| Water parameters | Temperature 70 – 81F pH 6,0 – 7,0 dGH 2 – 10 |
| Tank level | Middle |
| Diet | Omnivore |
| Lifespan | 6 – 10 years |
| Tank mates | Mystery snails, shrimp, crabs, barbs, small catfish, gourmis, dawes cichlids, other tetra species |
Dwarf Gourami
They’re one of the most popular freshwater fishes. They add life to an aquarium and make it a much more attractive. The Dwarf Gourami is a perfect beginner fish for any novice aquarium owner because they are fairly easy to raise and care.
| Common name(s) | Dwarf Gourami |
| Binomial name | Trichogaster lalius |
| Size range – length | 3,5 – 4,5 inches |
| Water parameters | Temperature 77 – 79F pH 6 – 8 dGH 10 – 20 |
| Tank level | Middle |
| Diet | Omnivore |
| Lifespan | 5 years |
| Tank mates | Mystery snails, amano shrimp, plecos, other gouramis, mollies, swordtails, platies, rasboras, loaches, tetras, catfish |
Betta fish
Betta fish are quite different from the other types of fish that you’d typically see at your local pet store. It’s an exotic, tropical fish, and it’s very popular as a pet. They’re easy to care for and relatively inexpensive to own, although they will require a 10-gallon tank. A male or female Betta can be kept in a community with some live plants.
| Common name(s) | Betta, Siamese fighting fish, Japanese fighting fish |
| Binomial name | Betta splendens |
| Size range – length | 3 inches |
| Water parameters | Temperature 76 – 82F pH 6,8 – 7,4 dGH 5 – 20 |
| Tank level | Middle and top |
| Diet | Carnivore |
| Lifespan | 3 – 5 years |
| Tank mates | Tetras, Corydoras, cherry barbs, mystery snails, ghost shrimp, feeder guppies, harlequin rasboras |
In conclusion
Fish require special care to ensure they stay healthy, happy and productive in your tank. They have specific needs, so you must have tank stocked at the right level.
Some fish are best for 10-gallon tanks, while others are better suited for smaller or larger tanks. Here’s what you need to know to pick the best fish for 10-gallon tank. What kind of fish do you have in a 10 gallon tank?
