How many fish in a 10 gallon tank?
The classic starter tank. Good for nano fish, but it has less room for error than bigger tanks.
A 10 gallon tank (38 L) is too small for most schooling fish. It suits betta fish, guppy, celestial pearl danio, chili rasbora and ember tetra, kept in small numbers.
10 gallon stocking ideas
Each plan is checked by our calculator for space, water and compatibility. Add fish gradually to a cycled tank.
Betta community
- 1 × Betta fish
- 6 × Pygmy corydoras
- 1 × Nerite snail
Choose a calm betta and give it plenty of plants.
Nano school
- 10 × Chili rasboras
- 10 × Cherry shrimp
- 1 × Nerite snail
Dense plants help the shrimp babies survive the rasboras.
Endler colony
Keep males only, or expect lots of babies.
Equipment for a 10 gallon tank
Sized for a 10 gallon tank (20 × 10 × 12 in) with tropical community fish. Your fish may need extras: the stocking calculator builds a list for your exact plan.
- 10 gallon aquarium (tank or kit) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Bigger tanks are more stable and easier for beginners. How to choose
- Adjustable heater, 50 W (opens Amazon in a new tab)Holds about 78 °F (25.5 °C) in a room at 65 °F (18 °C). How to choose
- Aquarium thermometer (opens Amazon in a new tab)Check it daily: heaters can fail stuck on or off. How to choose
- Hang-on-back filter rated 40–60 GPH (opens Amazon in a new tab)Community tank: 4–6 times the tank volume per hour. How to choose
- About 25 lb of aquarium gravel (opens Amazon in a new tab)Enough for a layer about 2 in (5 cm) deep. Smooth gravel suits most community fish. How to choose
- Water conditioner (dechlorinator) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Removes chlorine and chloramine from tap water. Seachem Prime is a popular, concentrated choice. How to choose
- Liquid test kit (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Liquid kits are more accurate than strips. The API Freshwater Master Test Kit is the common choice. How to choose
- Gravel vacuum (siphon) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Cleans the gravel and does the water change in one go. How to choose
- LED aquarium light, about 20 in long (opens Amazon in a new tab)Match the light to the tank length. Basic LEDs grow easy plants. How to choose
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Fish that suit a 10 gallon tank
The number is the most you could keep of that species alone, by bioload. Mix species and you'll need fewer of each.
| Species | Adult size | Keep |
|---|---|---|
| Betta fish | 6.5 cm (2.6 in) | 1 male |
| Guppy | 5 cm (2 in) | 3–9 |
| Celestial pearl danio | 2.5 cm (1 in) | 8–27 |
| Chili rasbora | 2 cm (0.8 in) | 10–38 |
| Ember tetra | 2 cm (0.8 in) | 8–38 |
| Honey gourami | 5 cm (2 in) | 1 male |
| Pea puffer | 2.5 cm (1 in) | 1 male + 2 or more females |
| Pygmy corydoras | 2.5 cm (1 in) | 10–27 |
| Clown killifish | 3.5 cm (1.4 in) | 6–16 |
| Endler's livebearer | 3 cm (1.2 in) | 3–20 |
| Gardneri killifish | 6 cm (2.4 in) | 1 male + 2 or more females |
| Scarlet badis | 2 cm (0.8 in) | 1 male + 2 or more females |
| Shell dweller cichlid | 4 cm (1.6 in) | 2–13 (few males) |
| Sparkling gourami | 3.8 cm (1.5 in) | 2–12 |
| Dwarf rasbora | 2.5 cm (1 in) | 10–27 |
| Green neon tetra | 2.5 cm (1 in) | 10–27 |
| Least killifish | 2.5 cm (1 in) | 6–27 |
Shrimp, snails and other invertebrates
Cherry shrimp, Nerite snail, African dwarf frog, Amano shrimp, Assassin snail, Ghost shrimp, Malaysian trumpet snail, Mystery snail, Ramshorn snail, Crystal red shrimp, Dwarf orange crayfish, Thai micro crab.
Fish that need a bigger tank
- Angelfish: at least 29 gallons (110 L)
- Bristlenose pleco: at least 20 gallons (76 L)
- Bronze corydoras: at least 20 gallons (76 L)
- Common goldfish: at least 75 gallons (284 L)
- Common pleco: at least 150 gallons (568 L)
- Dwarf gourami: at least 15 gallons (57 L)
- Fancy goldfish: at least 20 gallons (76 L)
- Neon tetra: at least 15 gallons (57 L)
- Oscar: at least 75 gallons (284 L)
- Panda corydoras: at least 15 gallons (57 L)
Frequently asked questions
How many fish can go in a 10 gallon tank?
A 10 gallon tank (38 L) is too small for most schooling fish. It suits betta fish, guppy, celestial pearl danio, chili rasbora and ember tetra, kept in small numbers.
What are the best fish for a 10 gallon tank?
Good choices include betta fish, guppy, celestial pearl danio, chili rasbora, ember tetra and honey gourami. Pick one centerpiece or one school plus a few bottom dwellers, then check the mix in our stocking calculator.
How big is a 10 gallon tank?
A standard 10 gallon tank is about 20 × 10 × 12 inches (51 × 25 × 30 cm). Full of water it weighs at least 83 lb (38 kg) before glass, gravel and decor.
What fish should not go in a 10 gallon tank?
Angelfish, bristlenose plecos, bronze corydoras, common goldfish and common plecos need more room. For example, angelfish need at least 29 gallons (110 L).
What size heater do I need for a 10 gallon tank?
About 50 W keeps a 10 gallon tank at 78 °F (25.5 °C) in a room at 65 °F (18 °C). Use a bigger heater for a colder room, or check yours with our heater size calculator.
What size filter do I need for a 10 gallon tank?
Choose a filter rated about 40–60 gallons per hour (GPH), which is 4–6 times the tank volume for a typical community tank. Messy fish like goldfish need more; bettas need gentle flow.