There are many things to consider when planning your first aquarium, and one of the most challenging could be figuring out how to store it. What are the best fish for a 10 gallon tank and how many fish can fit inside one? As you will see, there is an art and a science to building a healthy freshwater tank, so check out these tips!
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW WHEN STORE 10 GALLON TANKS
While 10-gallon aquariums have long been the most popular size for first-time fish keepers, they also come with some challenges. Novice aquarists can easily find tips on equipping and maintaining Nano Tanks, but choosing good fish for a 10-gallon tank and learning how to gradually build a new aquatic community is more complicated.
DEBRISING THE INCHES PER GALLON MYTH
You may have heard of the popular quasi-scientific rule of thumb for stocking a freshwater aquarium that goes something like » add one inch of fish per gallon of water.» Just add up the length of each fish, keep the total under 10 inches and you’ll be fine, right?
It’s not totally useless, but as a general rule, it has some problems.
The inches per gallon guideline falls short because it is too simplistic. It ignores some essential but overlooked facts about aquariums that directly affect the number of fish you can safely keep inside a 10-gallon tank. Let’s take a look at what really matters when it comes to selecting the freshest freshwater fish for your 10 gallon tank.
Aquariums hold less water than you think
10-gallon aquariums don’t actually hold 10 gallons of water, so if you’re using the inch-per-gallon calculation to stock your tank, the math will be wrong from the start. This is one of the reasons many beginners add too many fish to their new tanks and then suffer huge losses. How can this be?
- Keep in mind that your tank’s substrate, decorations, and equipment take up space and reduce its water capacity.
- About 10 pounds of gravel is needed to fill a standard 10-gallon tank or “leader tank” 3 inches deep, which displaces between 1.5 and 3 gallons of water.
- You’ll most likely only have about 8 gallons of free capacity left for your aquatic animals once you’ve assembled and filled your tank, and you definitely won’t be close to 10 unless you skip the substrate.
New aquariums can hold fewer fish than mature or cycling aquariums
The rule also assumes that all 10-gallon tanks can safely hold the same number of fish. But the water chemistry in a new aquarium is very different from that which has been cycled, and both are quite different from mature systems:
- It takes a few weeks for the good bacteria to establish themselves and start regulating the nitrogen cycle in a new aquarium, so these tanks often experience wild and unpredictable spikes in ammonia and other toxins, even when sparsely populated with fish. Tough boot like Zebra Danios.
- Once the water chemistry stabilizes (3-6 weeks), your aquarium is considered cycled and ready to handle a modest community of fish. But their chemistry can still fluctuate enough for stress-sensitive species like Neon Tetras, Fancy guppies, and some freshwater invertebrates.
- After 3 to 6 months, diverse populations of bacteria, algae, and other organisms form a symbiotic matrix of biofilm throughout your mature aquarium, further stabilizing water chemistry and supporting a larger community.
Ignores filtration, maintenance and total number of animals
I would also say that your filtration system and maintenance routine have a much bigger impact on the number of healthy fish you can keep in your little community than just the overall length of the fish. Even a 10 gallon fish with a single 1 inch fish will eventually crash if you don’t filter and change the water:
>
WHAT TYPES OF FISH CAN LIVE IN A 10 GALLON AQUARIUM?
Activity and temperament are the key characteristics in determining the best fish for a 10 gallon tank. Its size also influences, but it is not definitive. Minnows are small fish, for example, but they are also very active and live in large schools, so they are not a good choice for 10 gallons. What should you look for?
Characteristics of the ideal nano fish
- Mild, mild-tempered, and peaceful community species
- Fish that are not very active or downright lazy
- Animals that prefer to be alone orthey do not require large groups.
- Small (0.5 to 2.2 inches) and medium sized (2.5 to 5.5 inches) fish with the above characteristics and similar water requirements
Balance your community
You can often accommodate a larger community in a small tank by adding a mix of top or mid-level swimmers and bottom feeders instead of fish using the same area. This reduces stress and competition as they mostly stick to different parts of your tank.Functional fish like algae eaters are also a good idea!
Density and calculation of how many fish
My advice for stocking your tank depends on your level of experience and the setting and setup of your aquarium. Here are some guidelines to help you calculate the ideal population of your 10 gallon tank:
| community density | How many fish? | Ideal for: |
| lightly stocked | 1 to 2 medium fish | New or Recently Recycled Tanks Breeders |
| 3 to 6 small fish | fish for the first time | |
| moderately stocked | 1 to 3 medium fish | Cycled and mature tanks |
| 5 to 10 small fish | ||
| densely stocked | 4 or more medium fish | Experienced fish breeders |
| 12 or more small fish | mature aquariums | |
| Tanks with robust filtration and diligent maintenance |
HOW TO BUILD YOUR COMMUNITY TANK: 10 GALLON TANK-MATE COMBOS
It is best to err on the side of caution when storing a new tank to avoid deadly and costly accidents. Once your tank cycles, you can gradually add more fish, and once it’s mature, you can finish stocking your tank with the sensitive species ideal for established communities.
Here are some examples of how your 10-gallon community can evolve over time:
Tank centered on betta or Gourami
Initial setup
1 Betta Fish OR
1 Dwarf Gourami
1 Nerite Snail
Cycled tank (~1 month)
2 to 3 Cory cats
1 to 2 otocinclus
Mature (3 to 6 months)
5 to 10 shrimp with male betta OR
5 Neon Tetras with female betta OR
additional Dwarf Gourami
Initial setup
1 Betta Fish OR
1 Dwarf Gourami
1 Nerite Snail
Cycled tank (~1 month)
2 to 3 Cory cats
1 to 2 otocinclus
Mature (3 to 6 months)
5 to 10 shrimp with male betta OR
5 Neon Tetras with female betta OR
additional Dwarf Gourami
planted loach tank
Initial setup
1 kuhli loach 1 otocinclus
Cycled tank (~1 month)
1 or 2 Loaches plus
3 to 5 Fancy Guppies OR
4 Platy Fish
Mature (3 to 6 months)
1 to 2 Nerite snails or
5 to 10 cherry or ghost shrimp
Initial setup
1 kuhli loach 1 otocinclus
Cycled tank (~1 month)
1 or 2 Loaches plus
3 to 5 Fancy Guppies OR
4 Platy Fish
Mature (3 to 6 months)
1 to 2 Nerite snails or
5 to 10 cherry or ghost shrimp
hard water community
Initial setup
5 Less Killifish OR
3 Beckford’s Pencil Fish OR
3 Molly Fish
Cycled tank (~1 month)
5 Killifish plus OR
5 Pencilfish plus OR
3 Mollys plus
1 to 2 Nerite Snails
Mature (3 to 6 months)
5 additional Killifish OR
5 Pencilfish OR
3 Mollys OR
5 to 10 Cherry or Ghost Shrimp
Initial setup
5 Less Killifish OR
3 Beckford’s Pencil Fish OR
3 Molly Fish
Cycled tank (~ 1 month)
5 Killifish plus OR
5 Pencilfish plus OR
3 Mollys plus
1 to 2 Nerite Snails
Mature (3 to 6 months)
5 additional Killifish OR
5 Pencilfish OR
3 Mollys OR
5 to 10 Cherry or Ghost Shrimp
15 BEST FISH AND INVERTEBRATES FOR 10 GALLON AQUARIUMS
Here is a list of the 15 best fish to stock 10 gallon freshwater aquariums. All are friendly and placid species, ideal for beginners and little people, except the slightly more challenging Kuhli Loach and active Zebra danio.
1. betta fish
>10 gallons is the ideal capacity for a Betta tank, and you can easily keep a male or female Betta fish in a community with a few tank mates and some live plants. This is our favorite pick to start with.
Species: Betta fish (Betta splendens)
Size Range (Length)
3.5 to 5.5 inches
water parameters
75 to 86°F
pH 6.0 to 8.0
soft water 5 to 20 dGH
tank level
middle and top
Life expectancy
3 to 5 years
2. DWARF GOURAMI
The gorgeous Dwarf Gourami comes in a rainbow of colors and makes a stunning centerpiece for a 10 gallon community. They are easy to carry and you can keep up to 3 of these larger fish in your tank.
Species: Dwarf Gourami (Trichogaster lalius)
Size Range (Length)
3.5 to 4.5 inches
water parameters
77 to 79°F
pH 6.0 to 8.0 10 to 20 dGH
tank level
Medium
lifespan _
up to 5 years
3. NEON TETRA
>The beautiful Red and Blue Neon Tetras are an easy and popular choice for small tanks. They are sensitive and do best in mature, cycling communities and are best kept in groups of 6 to 10 in a 10 gallon.
Species
Neon Tetra (Paracheirodon innesi)
Size Range (Length)
1 to 1.5 inches
water parameters
70 to 81°F
pH 6.0 to 7.0
soft water below 10 dGH
tank level
Medium
Life expectancy
up to 10 years
4. Zebra danio
>Zebra danios are hardy, active fish ideal for new aquariums, but you’ll likely need to improve their habitat as they mature. 10 gallons is a bit tight for adults, and these fish prefer groups larger than 15+.
Species
Zebra Danio (Danio rerio)
Size Range (Length)
1.5 to 2 inches
water parameters
64 to 77°F
pH 6.0 to 8.0
soft or hard water
tank level
Medium
Life expectancy
3 to 5 years
5. FANCY GUPPY
The sensitive Fancy Guppy prefers mature, cycling tanks, but these lively, colorful minnows are easy to care for (and breed) for beginners! Add a few for a splash of color or keep 8 to 15 adult fish in a group.
Species
Fancy guppy (Poecilia reticulata)
Size Range (Length)
1 to 2.5 inches
water parameters
75 to 82°F
pH 5.5 to 8.58 at 12 dGH
tank level
middle and top
Life expectancy
3 to 5 years
6. PLATY FISH
>Another colorful and easy to breed live carrier is the Platy Fish, and can have up to 5 adults in a 10 gallon tank or a group of 3 in a mixed community. They are also a good option if you have hard water.
Species
Platy Fish (multiple species of Xiphophorus)
Size Range (Length)
2.5 to 3 inches
water parameters
72 to 70°F
pH 7.0 to 8.0
Hard Water 10 to 28 dGH
tank level
Medium
Life expectancy
3 to 4 years
7. COMMON MOLLY
>The Live Common Molly requires hard water, but is otherwise undemanding and easy to care for. You can keep these fish alone or in groups of up to 4 in a 10 gallon, but avoid the larger Sailfin morph, which needs more space.
Species
Common Molly (Poecilia sphenops)
Size Range (Length)
up to 4.5 inches
water parameters
72 to 82°F
pH 6.5 to 8.0
Hard water 15 to 30 dKH
tank level
Medium
Life expectancy
3 to 5 years
8. Least Killifish
>Least Killifish is a unique micro-fish ideal for communities with freshwater shrimp and snails. They often can’t compete with larger fish, but you can keep up to 20 of them in a 10 gallon tank!
Species
Least Killifish (Heterandria formosa)
Size Range (Length)
0.8 to 1.4 inches
water parameters
68 to 79°F
pH 7.0 to 8.0
Hard or soft water
tank level
Medium
Life expectancy
3 to 5 years
9. DWARF PENCIL FISH
>The Beckford or dwarf pencilfish is one of the few species of pencilfish ideal for beginning aquarists and small fixers. They have an entertaining way of darting around your tank and are available in vivid red and gold morphs.
Species
Beckford ‘s pencilfish (Nannostomus beckfordi)
Size Range (Length)
1 to 1.5 inches
water parameters
76 to 82°F
pH 6.5 to 7.2
Soft or hard water
tank level
Medium
Life expectancy
3 to 5 years
10. CATFISH otocinclus
>One of the most functional fish on the market is the algae-eating Otocinclus catfish, or Oto! They’re a great 10-gallon option, either singly or in a group, and will also keep problem algae at bay.
Species
otocinclus (multiple Otocinclus sp.)
Size Range (Length)
1 to 2 inches
water parameters
72 to 82°F
pH 6.0 to 7.5
Soft water below 15 dKH
tank level
mostly down
Life expectancy
3 to 5 years
11. DWARF CORYDORAS CATFISH
>Scavenging Corydoras or Cory Cats are fun bottom dwellers, but they are shy as bachelors and prefer to live in groups of 4 to 8. The Dwarf Cory is an excellent choice for a 10-gallon Cory, but the slightly smaller Pygmy Cory has requirements. Similar.
Species
Dwarf Cory cat (Corydoras hastatus) Pygmy Cory cat (Corydoras pygmaeus)
Size Range (Length)
1 to 1.5 inches
water parameters
72 to 79°F
pH 6.0 to 7.2
Soft water below 15 dGH
tank level
Background
Life expectancy
3 to 5 years
12. kuhli loach
Once you feel comfortable keeping an aquarium, you can try the slightly more challenging Kuhli Loach. They are usually shy and don’t come out during the day, but if you have moonlight, you can see them rummaging through the garbage at night!
Species
Size Range (Length)
3 to 5 inches
water parameters
75 to 84°F
pH 6.0 to 7.0
Soft water 2 to 10 dGH
tank level
Background
Life expectancy
up to 10 years
13. NERITE SNAILS
Once your tank has come full cycle, consider adding a zebra, tiger, or nerite olive snail to your cleaning crew. They are an ideal choice for hard water communities and will likely breed in your tank as well.
Species
Nerite snails (multiple Neritina sp.)
Size range (diameter)
0.5 to 2 inches
water parameters
72 to 78°F
pH 7 to 8.4 (8.1 ideal)
Hard water 6 to 12 dKH
tank level
All
Life expectancy
1 to 2 years
14. RED CHERRY SHRIMP
Red Cherry Shrimp (RCS) are brightly colored freshwater invertebrates perfect for small hardwater facilities. They are sensitive to nitrites and do best at mature 10 gallons, but are a quick and easy breeding option for beginners.
Species
Nerite snails (multiple Neritina sp.)
Size range (diameter)
0.5 to 2 inches
water parameters
72 to 78°F
pH 7 to 8.4 (8.1 ideal)
Hard water 6 to 12 dKH
tank level
All
Life expectancy
1 to 2 years
15. GHOST SHRIMP
Another freshwater invertebrate that looks good in a small tank is the glass or ghost shrimp. They are easy to care for and you can see right through their shell and even watch them digest their food.
Species
Ghost Shrimp (Paleomonetes multiples sp.)
Size Range (Length)
1 to 1.5 inches
water parameters
65 to 82°F
pH 7.0 to 8.0
Hard water 5 to 8 dGH
tank level
Background
Life expectancy
1 year
CONCLUSION
Storing a 10 gallon tank is more than just the size of your fish, and I hope this article has given you an idea of how to store your tank as it matures. What is your favorite fish for 10 gallon tanks? Comment below or join the great pool of social media online!
