TankBud

Best freshwater fish for a 10 gallon tank

A 10 gallon freshwater tank fits one school of small fish with shrimp or a snail, or a single betta with snails. Every fish in the list is widely sold, rated for community tanks and lists a minimum tank of 10 gallons or less. The three plans below were checked in the stocking calculator, which counts adult size and each species' minimum tank.

Keeping a saltwater tank? Saltwater fish for a 20 gallon tank →

At a glance

Tank size
7–10 gal
7 gal (25 L) to 10 gal (38 L); half the list needs 10 gal (38 L) or more
Temperature
72–80°F
22–27°C, most of the list
pH
6.0–7.5
Most of the list
Difficulty
12 easy
8 medium

20 species

At this size

What a 10 gallon holds

Ember tetras and celestial pearl danios list 9 gallons (35 liters) and stay at 0.8 inches (2 cm). The chili rasbora and the pygmy cory list 10 gallons (38 liters), one for open water and one for the bottom. The dwarf gourami lists 10 gallons (38 liters) as well and makes a single centerpiece. Guppies and white cloud mountain minnows list 10 gallons too, and white clouds need no heater.

Stocking plans

Three ways to stock a 10 gallon tank

Each plan below ran through the stocking calculator, which reads every fish at its adult size against its minimum tank. Open one to change the counts or swap in your own fish.

By the numbers

Smallest

  1. 01
    Celestial Pearl danio (Danio margaritatus)

    Celestial Pearl danio

    Danio margaritatus

    0.8 in (2 cm)
  2. 02
    Chili rasbora (Boraras brigittae)

    Chili rasbora

    Boraras brigittae

    0.8 in (2 cm)
  3. 03
    Ember tetra (Hyphessobrycon amandae)

    Ember tetra

    Hyphessobrycon amandae

    0.8 in (2 cm)
  4. 04
    Green neon rasbora (Microdevario kubotai)

    Green neon rasbora

    Microdevario kubotai

    0.8 in (2 cm)

Largest

  1. 01
    Dwarf gourami (Trichogaster lalius)

    Dwarf gourami

    Trichogaster lalius

    3 in (7.5 cm)
  2. 02
    Southern platy (Xiphophorus maculatus)

    Southern platy

    Xiphophorus maculatus

    2.8 in (7 cm)
  3. 03
    Guppy (Poecilia reticulata)

    Guppy

    Poecilia reticulata

    2.4 in (6 cm)
  4. 04
    Endler's livebearer (Poecilia wingei)

    Endler's livebearer

    Poecilia wingei

    1.6 in (4 cm)

Easiest to keep

FAQ

Common questions

How many fish can go in a 10 gallon tank?

Eight to ten small schooling fish, such as ember tetras or chili rasboras, fill a 10 gallon tank. The plans above add cherry shrimp to an ember school, or pair six chili rasboras with six pygmy cories. Run your own mix through the stocking calculator, which checks each fish against its minimum tank.

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

A betta lists 5 gallons (19 liters), so a 10 gallon gives it room for two mystery snails, as the third plan shows. The stocking calculator reads a betta with six ember tetras as too full for 10 gallons, and a 15 gallon fits them.

Can neon tetras live in a 10 gallon tank?

Neon tetras list 11 gallons (40 liters), a little more than a 10 gallon tank, so they start on the 20 gallon page. Ember tetras and black neon tetras are two small schoolers that fit.

Can a goldfish live in a 10 gallon tank?

No. A fantail goldfish lists 20 gallons (75 liters) and a common goldfish 50 gallons (190 liters). White cloud mountain minnows and medaka are cool-water fish that fit a 10 gallon tank.

Which shrimp and snails fit a 10 gallon tank?

Cherry shrimp, bee shrimp, mystery snails and zebra nerites list 5 gallons (19 liters), and Amano shrimp 8 gallons (30 liters). Gouramis and bettas eat dwarf shrimp, so keep a shrimp colony with nano fish only.

Index

All freshwater fish for a 10 gallon tank

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