Unfortunately, with a tank this small there is also the possibility of making some serious mistakes. If you don't completely understand the needs and temperaments of your fish you could end up with some aquarium inhabitants who have no business in your 10-gallon tank. This will lead to premature death for your fish, and heartache for you.
Don't rely on staff at your local pet store to help you make the right choices here. Some are very knowledgeable, but others have no idea what they are talking about. Worse still, sometimes the little cards on the front of the display tanks that are supposed to give you information about a fish can be flat-out wrong.
So how are you supposed to know which fish to choose for your 10-gallon tank? You do your own research. Reading this article is a good start! Here you will find some information on good fish to stock, and others you ought to avoid.
But don't stop there. Learn as much as you can about your fish and aquarium care. It takes a little work, but it will make the hobby much more fun in the long run.
Also, keep in mind that just because some fish are appropriate for a 10-gallon aquarium doesn't necessarily mean they are easy to care for. If you are a newbie to fish keeping you may want to check out this article on the Best Tropical Fish for Beginners.
How Many Fish for a 10-Gallon Tank? The "One Inch per Gallon" Rule
So how do you decide how many fish you should put in your 10-gallon tank? You research the fish you are interest in, and learn as much about them as you can. This way you will know their care requirements, space requirements and temperaments. It takes a little work on your part, but there really is no better way.
You may have heard a "rule of thumb" that suggests one inch of adult fish per gallon of water. Therefore, if you wish to stock fish that reach an adult length of one inch, you can have ten of them in your tank.
That makes enough sense, but what if you choose a pair of five-inch fish for your 10-gallon tank? How about one nine-inch fish and a one-inch fish? Or, a single ten-inch fish?
Those are silly examples, but hopefully the point is made that this "rule of thumb" isn't worth a whole lot of thought. It's much better to do some research and understand the fish you plan to stock rather than rely on a simplistic method that doesn't take their needs into consideration.
Corydoras (Cory Catfish)
Cories are spunky little bottom-feeding catfish that only grow to about 2-3 inches in length. They're peaceful, fun to watch, and best of all they serve as the "clean-up crew" for your tank.
Cories subsist on food that falls to the bottom of the tank. You may wish to provide them with sinking pellets to make sure they are getting the nutrients they need, but generally they will scavenge anything edible that falls into their domain.
They are schooling fish, so they're happiest when there at least six of them together.
Neon Tetra
Neons are small, vibrant fish and a school of them really makes a tank pop. Like cories they prefer to be with more of their kind, so plan for a small school. However, if you intend to have a neon-only tank you can go up to 10 or so in a 10-gallon aquarium.
Make sure your water conditions are pristine and don't overcrowd them. Even though they are docile toward other fish species, they can get nippy at each other when stressed, and this leads to death in their ranks.
Dwarf Gourami
You may have heard a "rule of thumb" that suggests one inch of adult fish per gallon of water. Therefore, if you wish to stock fish that reach an adult length of one inch, you can have ten of them in your tank.
That makes enough sense, but what if you choose a pair of five-inch fish for your 10-gallon tank? How about one nine-inch fish and a one-inch fish? Or, a single ten-inch fish?
Those are silly examples, but hopefully the point is made that this "rule of thumb" isn't worth a whole lot of thought. It's much better to do some research and understand the fish you plan to stock rather than rely on a simplistic method that doesn't take their needs into consideration.
5 Fish for Your 10-Gallon Tank
The following fish are good choices for your 10-gallon aquarium. Remember, when deciding how many to stock be sure to consider the other fish you plan to have in the tank.
Under ideal conditions most of these fish ought to live peacefully with each other, but remember that no situation is typical. If you overstock your tank, or if it simply turns out two fish aren't getting along, you may need a backup plan.
Also, hopefully it's clear that I'm not suggesting all of these fish should be in your tank together at the same time. Learn about the fish and decide how to mix and match your stock.
Under ideal conditions most of these fish ought to live peacefully with each other, but remember that no situation is typical. If you overstock your tank, or if it simply turns out two fish aren't getting along, you may need a backup plan.
Also, hopefully it's clear that I'm not suggesting all of these fish should be in your tank together at the same time. Learn about the fish and decide how to mix and match your stock.
Corydoras (Cory Catfish)
Cories are spunky little bottom-feeding catfish that only grow to about 2-3 inches in length. They're peaceful, fun to watch, and best of all they serve as the "clean-up crew" for your tank.
Cories subsist on food that falls to the bottom of the tank. You may wish to provide them with sinking pellets to make sure they are getting the nutrients they need, but generally they will scavenge anything edible that falls into their domain.
They are schooling fish, so they're happiest when there at least six of them together.
Neon Tetra
Neons are small, vibrant fish and a school of them really makes a tank pop. Like cories they prefer to be with more of their kind, so plan for a small school. However, if you intend to have a neon-only tank you can go up to 10 or so in a 10-gallon aquarium.
Make sure your water conditions are pristine and don't overcrowd them. Even though they are docile toward other fish species, they can get nippy at each other when stressed, and this leads to death in their ranks.
Dwarf Gourami
These mini-gouramis have been bred to exhibit some beautiful colors, and you can find some amazing blues, reds and oranges if you choose wisely. A pair of these in a planted 10-gallon tank would make for an amazing setup.
However, be aware that these guys are considered a semi-aggressive fish species, and there can be trouble if one decides to pick on the other. Be sure to include hiding spots and plenty of decorations in your tank in case one becomes dominant
However, be aware that these guys are considered a semi-aggressive fish species, and there can be trouble if one decides to pick on the other. Be sure to include hiding spots and plenty of decorations in your tank in case one becomes dominant
Fancy Guppy
A guppy tank is lively, colorful, and a lot of fun to watch, and like neons you can have a bunch of them in 10-gallons. Fancy guppies comes in many different colors and you can really get creative when choosing your stock. They are active swimmers in the top third of the water column, so they don't require much in the way of hiding spots and decorations, especially if they are in a species-only tank.
Be careful if combining them with other fish species, as they can become lunch for bigger tankmates
Betta Fish
Contrary to their reputation as the kung-fu wrecking machines of the aquarium world, Betta can live in a community tank with other fish in certain situations. The key is understanding their behavior, keeping a close eye on things and having a back-up plan if things don't go well.
That said, I do not think a 10-gallon tank is the right environment for keeping Betta with other fish. But they may do well with certain critters such as Apple Snails or Ghost Shrimp.
A single Betta in a planted 10-gallon is a great setup, for him and you. Of course it should go without saying that you should never, ever, put two male Betta fish in the same tank together
A guppy tank is lively, colorful, and a lot of fun to watch, and like neons you can have a bunch of them in 10-gallons. Fancy guppies comes in many different colors and you can really get creative when choosing your stock. They are active swimmers in the top third of the water column, so they don't require much in the way of hiding spots and decorations, especially if they are in a species-only tank.
Be careful if combining them with other fish species, as they can become lunch for bigger tankmates
Betta Fish
Contrary to their reputation as the kung-fu wrecking machines of the aquarium world, Betta can live in a community tank with other fish in certain situations. The key is understanding their behavior, keeping a close eye on things and having a back-up plan if things don't go well.
That said, I do not think a 10-gallon tank is the right environment for keeping Betta with other fish. But they may do well with certain critters such as Apple Snails or Ghost Shrimp.
A single Betta in a planted 10-gallon is a great setup, for him and you. Of course it should go without saying that you should never, ever, put two male Betta fish in the same tank together
5 Common Mistakes When Stocking a 10-Gallon Tank
Angelfish
Baby angelfish are adorable, and it can be tempting to add a couple to your tank. But these guys grow over a foot tall, and their adult size is much too large for a 10-gallon aquarium. In addition, they are aggressive, new-world cichlids best housed with similar large species, or in species-only tanks. If you want angelfish, consider a tank 55 gallons or bigger.
Bala Shark
Next to the Betta fish, the bala shark is possibly the most abused aquarium fish out there. They start out as cute little three-inch fish and end up in some kid's 10-gallon tank because they are so cool.
But bala sharks grow a foot long and need to be kept in schools. They are fast-moving, powerful fish that are easily startled, and there are even rumors of spooked adult Bala sharks cracking aquarium glass. Unless you have a truly massive tank, these guys don't belong in your home aquarium.
Angelfish
Baby angelfish are adorable, and it can be tempting to add a couple to your tank. But these guys grow over a foot tall, and their adult size is much too large for a 10-gallon aquarium. In addition, they are aggressive, new-world cichlids best housed with similar large species, or in species-only tanks. If you want angelfish, consider a tank 55 gallons or bigger.
Bala Shark
Next to the Betta fish, the bala shark is possibly the most abused aquarium fish out there. They start out as cute little three-inch fish and end up in some kid's 10-gallon tank because they are so cool.
But bala sharks grow a foot long and need to be kept in schools. They are fast-moving, powerful fish that are easily startled, and there are even rumors of spooked adult Bala sharks cracking aquarium glass. Unless you have a truly massive tank, these guys don't belong in your home aquarium.
Gourami
Dwarf gourami can do fine in a small tank, but their bigger cousins should be avoided unless you have the space to care for them properly. Gourami are large, aggressive fish with complex behaviors, and a pair should be kept in no tank smaller than 55 gallons. They may be colorful and attractive, but if you add them to your small tank you'll get more than you bargained for.
Plecostomus
When it comes to plecos, you a really need to know what you're getting yourself into. This is the fish commonly thought of as the "sucker fish". Most species grow very large, up to several feet - way too big for most aquariums. They require driftwood to rasp on, and will demolish any live plants.
They also don't do as good a job of cleaning algae as typically thought. If you want a more tank-friendly algae eater, skip the pleco and consider a small school of Otocinclus catfish instead.
African Cichlids
African Cichlids are the closest thing you can get to the vibrant colors of saltwater fish in a freshwater environment. Some aquarium owners specialize in cichlids, and they make for some beautiful tanks. But they are also very aggressive, very complex fish and, except for a few species, do not belong in a tank smaller than 55 gallons. Even then you need to know what you're doing to prevent them from killing each other.
Don't let their pretty colors lure you into popping a couple into your 10-gallon tank. They are not appropriate, and they can potentially devastate any tropical fish you already own.
Don't let their pretty colors lure you into popping a couple into your 10-gallon tank. They are not appropriate, and they can potentially devastate any tropical fish you already own.
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