If you're considering bringing a fish tank home, you must ask the most common yet challenging question—"How many fish in a 10-gallon tank?" Well, several fish may fit into a 10-gallon tank. However, it is important to understand that an overcrowded fish tank makes it difficult for fish to move around freely, which, unfortunately, leads to the death of several fish.
The answer depends on several factors, such as the types of fish, size of the fish, space available, etc. In this article, we will discuss these factors in detail so that you have the answer to your question.
How Many Fish Can You Put in a 10-Gallon Tank?
The best way to calculate how many fish you can put in a 10-gallon tank is the one-inch-per-gallon rule. The rule considers the size of the aquarium and suggests one inch of adult fish for every gallon of water. This rule tells us that we can stock 10 fish that may grow to 1 inch (adult length). Also, it is possible to choose either five two-inch fish or two three-inch fish.
This rule of thumb has been really helpful for people thinking of keeping fish pets. Also, this makes the aquarium super easy to maintain. However, several other factors help you make the right decision, as relying on just one rule is not wise. So, here are some of them you can consider that will impact the fish stocking
Waste Load
Fish produce waste, which causes the good bacteria and plants in the tank to break down. This is called the aquarium nitrogen cycle. When the waste compound level starts building up, it reduces the water quality, causing fish to die. Hence, it is advisable not to overcrowd the tank. Here are some better ways to minimize waste load
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Use high-quality fish food.
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Change the water frequently.
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Use de-chlorinator in freshwater.
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Add live plants - the more, the better.
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Adding filtration depending on the aquarium size.
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Maintain the nitrogen waste level at 0 ppm ammonia, 0 ppm nitrite, and less than 40 ppm nitrate.
It is advisable to conduct a water test using ammonia test strips and multi-test strips to check the ammonia and other waste levels.
Swimming Space
As we have already discussed the thumb rule for determining the number of fish in a 10-gallon tank, unfortunately, there's a downside to that. Not all fish have the same body. For example, a 1-inch tetra does not have the same body as a 1-inch Oscar. Also, the 1-inch rule may not apply if you want bigger fish because they need a bigger room to swim.
Research each fish type and their size, and depending on that, move ahead with the best-suited aquarium (a mostly larger size is advisable if you're planning to stock 5-6 or more fish). Some fish, though they are small in size, for example, zebra danios, need additional room to swim. This is because of their swift activities. So, choose wisely!
| Some Tips | If you're thinking of putting goldfish in your 10-gallon tank, reconsider your decision. They don't survive in such small tanks. Instead, they need a 20-gallon tank to thrive. |
Aggression Level
Some fish are aggressive, so sometimes they tend to mark their territories and fight for them. You can add more fish to it to decrease the swim space. You can also add a few decorations and plants so smaller fish have less swim time to protect themselves if needed.
For example, betta fish love hanging out on the water's surface, and if they see any other fish swimming on the surface, they may get aggressive. So, it is better to choose companion fish that mostly swim in the middle or bottom of the tank.
Which Fish Are Best for a 10-Gallon Aquarium?
Small fish with low bioloads are best for a tank of this size. Examples of such fish are neon tetras, ember tetras, siamese fighting fish, platies, guppies, ghost shrimp, cherry shrimp, Amano shrimp, etc. If you want to have a bigger fish in the tank, it is advisable to keep either betta fish or dwarf gourami. They grow up to 2.5 inches. However, female dwarf gouramis can grow up to 3 inches in size.
If you're using a 10-gallon tank as a centerpiece, here are the fish you can opt for:
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1 female powder blue dwarf gourami.
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8 chili rasboras or 6-8 white cloud minnows (as middle dwellers).
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4-5 panda corydoras (as bottom dwellers).
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2-3 Amano shrimps (as algae eaters).
In addition, it is advisable to add approximately aquatic plants such as -
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Moss, marimo moss ball, Monte Carlo, micro sword (as foreground plants).
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Anubias nana, Java fern, Scarlet temple (as midground plants).
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Money wort, water sprite, water wisteria, Brazilian pennywort (as background plants).
Sometimes, it becomes difficult to maintain a community. Keeping one species of fish helps you focus on breeding and caring for them. So, here are the best choices for your species-only aquarium:
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3 pea puffers.
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10-20 cherry shrimps.
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10 white cloud mountain minnows.
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Breeding pair or trio of lyretail killifish.
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6 fancy guppies (2 males and four females).
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Breeding pair of Lamprologous Brevis shell dweller.
These are easy to spawn, but adults often prey on their offspring. So, ensure that you add enough hiding space, using dense plants such as guppy grass, water wisteria, pearl weed, water sprite, and java moss.
Conclusion
If you are using a 10-gallon tank, it is important to understand that some species breed rapidly, increasing the population, which leads to an increase in the waste load. Plants growing underwater can also consume space, cutting down the swim space for the fish. Also, adding any new fish will change the behavior of other residents. So, it is better to keep minimal fish with the right size or upgrade to a bigger tank.
