If you’re going to be setting up and stocking a 10-gallon tank, you may be asking a few of the following questions:
- How many fish can be in a 10-gallon tank?
- What types of fish can live in a 10-gallon tank?
- What are good fish for a 10-gallon tank?
- 10-gallon fish tank stocking ideas?
- 10-gallon tank fish combos?
- How many Betta Fish can I put in a 10-gallon tank?
- How many betta fish can I put in a 10-gallon tank?
- How many male guppies can I put in a 10-gallon tank?
- How many goldfish can fit in a 10-gallon tank?
Overall a 10-gallon tank is still on the small side, so you’ll want to be careful with how many and the types of fish you keep.
If you’re still wondering what you should do?
Good news!
Below we will answer all these questions and even show you some other tiny things that you can fit comfortably in your 10-gallon tank.
Let’s begin.
Further Reading: Best freshwater aquarium fish
Question #1:
How many fish can be in a 10-gallon tank?
Ah, the classic question!
And it deserves a definitive answer: It depends!
Seriously though, how many fish can you put in a 10-gallon tank?
Try to aim for a tiny fish per gallon of water; by “small” fish, I mean a Neon Tetra-sized fish.
So basically, approximately 1 inch of fish per gallon.
But it’s not always that easy; you can see my thoughts on that here to see what I think.
That said, you should be able to fit about 5-10 small fish in your tank first, and as the tank matures, you get better at fish keeping. After that, keep 10-20 if you don’t mind some work.
However, this is what most beginners do; they buy a 10-gallon tank and fill it with a few fish without doing a little bit of research.
But you’re not like most people, and you at least asked the question, so good on you.
The problem most beginners don’t realize is that you need to consider a few things like;
- The growth rate for your fish
- Their temperament, how aggressive are they?
- How dirty are they
For example, a small goldfish can grow up to 6″ in size in less than a year.
Can you see a huge 6″ goldfish living comfortably in a 10-gallon tank?
I can’t.
What if you could find a few examples of what you could put in your 10-gallon tank?
Well, you’re in luck; that’s what I’ve prepared below.
Question #2
What types of fish can live in a 10-gallon tank?
There are so many peaceful fish you can keep in your tank. It just really depends on your skill.
If you’re here, I assume you’re somewhat new to fishkeeping and looking for some guidance.
So, a few ideal choices for a 10-gallon aquarium would be:
Tetras
Some great Tetras would be the Neon, Cardinal, or the Glowlight.
Corydoras.
Dwarf and Panda Corydoras would be a fun addition.
Sparkling Gourami.
These guys are small but beautiful.
Guppies
Try not to get males and females; these guys will breed like crazy and quickly overtake your 10 gallons.
Betta.
Seriously only one of these guys; it’s not fight club.
But as you’ll see below, we throw a few unexpected fish into the mix, so keep reading.
Question #3:
What are good fish for a 10-gallon tank?
Here are a few more popular Fish for a 10 Gallon Fish Tank.
Check Them Out!
- Neon Tetras
- Cardinal Tetras
- Kuhli Loach
- Cherry Barb
- White Cloud Minnow
- Rasboras
- Zebra Danios
- Dwarf Gouramis
- Guppies
- Red Cherry Shrimp
- Nerite Snails
- Dwarf Corydoras
- Brown Pencil Fish
- Apistogramma
- Killifish
- Tea Cup Platy
As mentioned above, small tanks are easily contaminated due to the small amount of water, so you must pay close attention to the bioload and water parameters.
If none of the above peaceful fish species are what you’re looking for in terms of fish, then you should explore a larger tank.
A larger tank is not only ideal and easier to maintain but will provide you with the opportunity to keep a more comprehensive selection of fish.
Question #4:
10-gallon fish tank stocking ideas?
This is an excellent video from Aquarium Co-Op, where they show you some popular ideas for your tank and walk you through selecting some fabulous fish to create something stunning.
In the video, they explain how to select a centerpiece fish along with some schooling fish, bottom dwellers, and some plants.
Here are a few more peaceful options for a 10-gallon tank:
- Three female bettas & an African Dwarf Frog
- Four male guppies, six black skirt tetras, two clown loaches
- One male betta, 3-5 danios
- 3 Dwarf Puffers
- 7-9 white cloud minnows
- 5-10 neon tetra would be fine in a 10-gallon tank.
- Two dwarf gouramis (3 in)
- Six platy (2 in)
- Six mollies (2-4 in)
- Four swordtails (up to 5 in)
Question #5:
How many Betta fish can I put in a 10-gallon tank?
Unless you plan on splitting your tank with a divider like this one, you should never keep more than one male Betta in one tank.
Question #6:
How many female Bettas can you put in a 10-gallon tank?
However, female Bettas are not nearly as aggressive as males, and you can have what’s called a sorority tank.
The trick to keeping the drama to a minimum between the sisters is to keep odd numbers when stocking your tank.
Try to hold 3 or 5 betta fish in a 10-gallon tank.
Question #7:
How many male Guppies can I put in a 10-gallon tank?
Guppies are great peaceful little fish, especially the fancy varieties available in many colors and combos.
You could fit about 4-6 guppies in a 10-gallon tank. But like I said earlier, keep with one sex to avoid unwanted babies.
I was hoping you could read my article on How many guppies can be kept in a 1o gallon tank for more information.
Question #8:
How many Goldfish can fit in a 10-gallon tank?
So, in this case, many sites like this one will say you can keep 2-4 “Small” goldfish in a 10-gallon tank.
I completely disagree with this!
Although the rule of thumb may be 1 inch of fish per gallon, goldfish grow far too large and are foul fish that will pollute a 10-gallon tank quickly.
You can read my article on How many goldfish can fit into a 10-gallon tank to see some better recommendations.
Question #9:
The Best 10-gallon tank fish combos
In most cases, ten gallons isn’t suitable for a large community tank, but here are a few options you can try:
Combo-One:
- 3 Tea Cup Platies
- 5 Neon Tetras
- 1 Nerite Snail
Combo-Two:
- 1 Dwarf Gouramis
- 4 Rasbora
- 4 Corydoras
Combo-Three:
- 4 Cardinal Tetras
- 3 Corydoras
A 10-gallon tank is not for beginners, so make sure you know what you are getting into.
Understanding the nitrogen cycle and how to maintain healthy water conditions for your fish is essential.
Need more ideas for a bigger or smaller tank? Try these articles:
- Fish For A 1 Gallon Tank (10 Best Fish)
- Fish For A College Dorm (Student Friendly Options)
- Fish For Your Office (Cubicle Friendly Options)
- Stocking a 5-gallon tank
- Stocking a 15-gallon tank
