Best fish for a 10 gallon tank (and how many)

Best fish for a 10 gallon tank

In order of how well they suit a 10 gallon tank. "Up to" is the most of that one species the tank holds on its own; mixing species splits it.

1. 1.Chili rasbora Boraras brigittae

   0.7" adult · groups of 10+ · 73–81 °F · pH 4.5–7 · up to 16 in a 10 gallon

   Under an inch long and at its best in a planted, soft-water tank. Seriously Fish recommends a group of at least 8–10 and a 45 × 30 cm footprint, close to a 10 gallon's.^[1]

2. 2.Ember tetra Hyphessobrycon amandae

   0.8" adult · groups of 8+ · 72–82 °F · pH 5.5–7 · up to 14 in a 10 gallon

   A glowing orange nano tetra; Seriously Fish suggests buying 8–10 and a footprint of at least 45 × 30 cm.^[2]

3. 3.Pygmy corydoras Corydoras pygmaeus

   1.2" adult · groups of 8+ · 72–78 °F · pH 6–7.5 · up to 9 in a 10 gallon

   The cory that fits a 10 gallon: about an inch long, where bronze and peppered corys reach 3 inches. Seriously Fish says to buy at least 6, preferably 10 or more.^[3]

4. 4.Celestial pearl danio Danio margaritatus

   0.8" adult · groups of 10+ · 72–78 °F · pH 6.5–7.5 · up to 14 in a 10 gallon

   Seriously Fish wouldn't keep a group in less than a 45 × 30 cm footprint and prefers larger groups, which spread out the males' sparring.^[4]

5. 5.Endler's livebearer Poecilia wingei

   1.25" adult · groups of 3+ · 75–82 °F · pH 7–8 · up to 9 in a 10 gallon

   A hard-water alternative to the nano schoolers. Keep more females than males to spread out the males' attention.^[5] Most Endler's sold today are crossed with guppies,^[6] so don't mix the two if you want pure stock.

6. 6.Sparkling gourami Trichopsis pumila

   1.5" adult · groups of 3+ · 76–82 °F · pH 6–7.5 · up to 7 in a 10 gallon

   A small gourami for planted tanks, best kept as a pair or small group with very peaceful fish.^[7] Some keepers report it eats baby shrimp.

7. 7.Scarlet badis Dario dario

   0.8" adult · one is fine · 68–79 °F · pH 6.5–8 · up to 9 in a 10 gallon

   Tiny and intensely red. Seriously Fish suggests one pair, or one male with several females, in a 45 × 30 cm footprint, kept alone or with small, peaceful fish; it needs live or frozen foods.^[8]

8. 8.Clown killifish Epiplatys annulatus

   1.4" adult · groups of 8+ · 68–77 °F · pH 5.5–7 · up to 8 in a 10 gallon

   A banded surface-dweller; Seriously Fish suggests a group of 8–10 and a 45 × 30 cm footprint.^[9] It jumps, so a tight lid is essential.^[10]

9. 9.Guppy Poecilia reticulata

   2.5" adult · groups of 3+ · 72–82 °F · pH 7–8 · up to 3 in a 10 gallon

   A 10 gallon is the smallest tank Seriously Fish allows for guppies, which also recommends several females per male.^[11] By bio-load it holds three adults.

10. 10.Betta Betta splendens

    2.5" adult · one is fine · 76–82 °F · pH 6.5–7.5 · up to 3 in a 10 gallon

    Still a good 10 gallon fish on its own; Seriously Fish's suggested 45 × 30 cm footprint is about a 10 gallon's, and it says bettas are best kept alone.^[12]

Shrimp and snails for a 10 gallon tank

Listed separately: the fish bio-load budget below doesn't describe invertebrates, so they aren't counted in it.

• Cherry shrimp Neocaridina davidi

  Aquarium Co-Op says 10 gallons or more is best for a breeding colony; start with at least 10.^[13]

• Amano shrimp Caridina multidentata

  A strong algae eater that doesn't need to be kept in a group, per Aquarium Co-Op; keep a tight lid on the tank.^[14]

• Nerite snail Neritidae (e.g. Vittina natalensis)

  Grazes algae off glass and decor; Aquarium Co-Op says nerites suit tanks as small as 2–3 gallons.^[15]

• Mystery snail Pomacea diffusa

  Needs hard water: Aquarium Co-Op suggests a pH of at least 7.2.^[16]

How many of each fish fit in a 10 gallon tank

A 10 gallon (20 × 10 × 12 in) holds about 9 gallons of water once you take off the glass. Our stocking calculator budgets that water by adult size and body shape: about 0.8 gallons per inch of slim fish (tetras, rasboras), 1.2 for medium-bodied fish (guppies, corys) and 2 for heavy, messy fish (goldfish, plecos). That works out to roughly 11 inches of small, slim adult fish in total. It is an upper limit, not a target: filtration, plants, territory and how often you change water all move it.

Stocking ideas for a 10 gallon tank

Stocking plans that fit the tank's bio-load budget, with a temperature and pH range that suits everything in them.

Fish to avoid in a 10 gallon tank

• Neon tetra · needs 15+ gallons

  Seriously Fish's minimum footprint for a group of 8–10 neons is 60 × 30 cm (24 × 12 inches), which is a 15 or 20 gallon.^[17]

• Zebra danio · needs 30+ gallons, 36 in long

  So active that Seriously Fish says even a small group needs a 90 × 30 cm (36 × 12 inch) footprint.^[18]

• Corydoras · needs 20+ gallons, 30 in long

  Bronze and peppered corys grow to about 3 inches and live in groups; Seriously Fish suggests an 80 × 30 cm footprint for bronze corys.^[19] Choose pygmy corydoras instead.

• Platy · needs 15+ gallons, 24 in long

  Seriously Fish gives platies a 60 × 30 cm (24 × 12 inch) footprint.^[20]

• Dwarf gourami · needs 15+ gallons, 24 in long

  Needs 15 gallons or more, and Seriously Fish reports that as many as 22% of dwarf gouramis from Singapore carried the untreatable dwarf gourami iridovirus.^[21]

• Fancy goldfish · needs 40+ gallons, 36 in long

  Grows to around 8 inches with heavy waste; our species data starts fancy goldfish at 40 gallons.

10 gallon tank FAQ

How many fish can you put in a 10 gallon tank?

About 11 inches of small, slim adult fish by our bio-load method, which in practice means one school: for example 12 chili rasboras, 8 pygmy corydoras or 3 guppies. Seriously Fish's recommended groups of 8–10 for most nano schoolers are why a second school rarely fits.^{[1, 3]}

How many guppies can you put in a 10 gallon tank?

Three adults: one male with two females, or three males if you don't want fry. Seriously Fish's smallest footprint for guppies is about 18 × 12 inches, close to a 10 gallon, and it recommends several females per male.^[11]

Can neon tetras live in a 10 gallon tank?

Not by Seriously Fish's standard: it recommends a group of 8–10 neons and a 24 × 12 inch footprint, which means a 15 or 20 gallon.^[17] Ember tetras and chili rasboras are the 10 gallon alternatives.^{[2, 1]}

Can a betta live with other fish in a 10 gallon tank?

Seriously Fish says bettas are best kept alone and aren't suited to a standard community tank.^[12] Snails are the usual companions.

What's the best fish for a 10 gallon tank?

For soft water and plants, a school of chili rasboras or ember tetras; for hard water, Endler's livebearers or guppies; for the bottom, pygmy corydoras. Each fits a 10 gallon at Seriously Fish's minimum footprint and group size.^{[1, 2, 5, 11, 3]}

Is the one-inch-per-gallon rule right?

It's a rough start that breaks down for anything bigger than a tetra, because waste grows with a fish's bulk, not just its length. Our calculator budgets about 0.8 gallons per inch for slim fish, 1.2 for medium-bodied fish and 2 for heavy ones, and each species' group size and swimming room still apply.