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A 10-gallon fish tank just like the 20-gallon fish tank, is perhaps the largely famous fish tank, especially for any new fish owners. Also, it’s not too difficult to clean and maintain the quality of the tank.
Wherever beginner or experienced, any aquarist requires to realize what type of freshwater fish for a 10-gallon tank.
Otherwise, it’s common to come out with a deadly tank and miscellaneous dead fish. In this article, we will discuss freshwater fish that you can easily keep in a 10-gallon tank. Also how many freshwater fishes will fit in this 10-gallon tank?
Freshwater Fish For 10 gallon Tank
Freshwater fish that’ll fit in your 10-gallon tank is usually small in size. They are absolutely adaptable to a large range of water conditions.
Along with this, many have particular organs that support them to live well in small spaces. Here are some freshwater fish that will easily suit a 10-gallon tank.
They are one of the most popular small fish originating from South America. These are mainly popular for their ease of care and excellent vibrant colors. They are typically grown to a regular size of 1.5 inches with slender torpedo-shaped bodies.
Accordingly, they will suitably live in a 10-gallon fish tank. However, your structure should be completely adopted with reliable water chemistry. Due to the fact that they will not sustain alterations happening during the startup process.
Always keep the water between the range of 68°F to 79°F. They can live in soft acidic (under 7 pH) and 10dGH hardness water. You can also add blackwater extracts to soften the water and sustain the acidic pH. Any 10-gallon fish tank will hold a one-inch length of ten neon tetras fish.
Overall, the Neon Tetras is a fish that you can consider keeping in a 10-gallon fish tank without any tension.
1. Endler’s Livebearers
Endler’s Livebearers are another small freshwater fish originating from Venezuela. They are also known as Poecilia Winger.
Endler’s Livebearers are wonderful breeders and continuously hybridize with guppies. They are quite healthy and simple to look after as beginner fish as well.
They will usually grow up to 1.8 inches which makes them more suitable for small fish tanks.
For that reason, you can maintain them in a tank as small as 10 gallons. However, bigger aquariums are sometimes suggested due to their prolific character. You can maintain them in a community tank, but their small size gives rise to them too vulnerable.
Due to that reason, it is also important to consider putting them in a sample tank. When it comes to water conditions, this fish needs moderate to hard water. This water is in addition to a temperature of 66°F to 84°F and a pH range between 5.5 to 8.0.
You can easily keep up to ten Endler’s Livebearers in your 10-gallon fish tank. Always be careful about their reproduction rate, because a single pair will overfill the tank. Especially when you’re energetically breeding them.
2. Dwarf Gourami
Dwarf gourami is widely known as peaceful freshwater aquarium fish. They are adaptable in any small to low oxygen level of water.
They have a labyrinth organ that benefits them by breathing up to the top surface of the water.
Dwarf gourami will grow on average in 3.5 inches size. So, they are so small that many will fit within a 10-gallon tank.
This colorful fish needs a pH of 6.0 to 7.5 and 4 to 10-dGH hardness. But, Dwarf gourami can resist moderately high temperatures up to 86°F. Moreover, they will require mild care and it will be difficult for beginners. It’s well kept by hobbyists with earlier dwarf gourami maintaining experience.
3. Betta Fish
They are widely popular for their stunning colors and tail. This fish doesn’t require any intro because they are one of the most famous freshwater fish in the aquarium.
Similar to gourami fish, they have a labyrinth organ. So, they don’t have any difficulty living in a 10-gallon tank. You can easily keep three to five betta fish in your 10-gallon aquarium.
Another thing you have to be concerned about is that male betta become aggressive towards each other.
For the reason that never keeps two betta boys in the same tank.
Although when you like to keep multiple male bettas, take an aquarium divider to diversify their areas. You can also keep only female betta fish. Because female betta largely lives together and are slightly aggressive to each other.
Moreover, betta fish are known to survive at 56°F for a short time. But, keeping the temperature of water between 75°F to 82°F range is better. Along with this, they are also influenced by water pH levels. Accordingly, the suitable range is neutral pH of 7.
Always try to avoid brightly-colored fish whenever you need to keep your betta in combination with tropical fish. That is to say, the Betta Fish is a species that you can consider keeping in a 10-gallon fish tank with no tension.
4. Harlequin Rasboras
These small freshwater fish are of relatively famous origins from South East Asia. They are quite adjustable to water range and widespread from the rasboras family.
Any mature harlequin rasboras will grow up to two inches in length. So, you can keep up to six to ten harlequin rasboras in your 10-gallon fish tank. They will live well at 72°F to 81°F water temperature. Their acceptable pH range is from 6.0 to 7.8 and Hardness is from 0 to 15dGH.
5. White Cloud Mountain Minnows
Mountain minnows are one powerful freshwater fish that do good in any cold or tropical fish tank. These freshwater fish are originally from China but recently these are nearly extinct for pollution and tourism.
Any adult can grow nearly 1.5 inches in all-around length. Accordingly, you can keep at least six in your 10-gallon tank.
When it comes to water temperature, the 64°F to 72°F range is perfect for them. Although, they will survive in water temperatures below 41°F. It makes them more suitable for any beginner to maintain in unheated tanks.
However, they will be healthier and strong while maintained at temperatures down than maximum tropical tanks. The aquarium’s pH level should be between 6.0 to 8.0 and hardness between 5 to 19 dGH,
Another thing, these fish are often used as a substitute for Neon tetras. For the reason that they are more reasonable, that’s why. They are called “Poor Man’s Neon Tetras.”
6. Pearl Danios
Pearl Danios originate from Thailand, Myanmar, and Sumatra with such a tropical background. They are tropical fish from the minnow family but not as broad as other species.
Pearl danios are part of the larger zebra danio family but among the smallest in the group growing up to 2.6 inches only. Preferable temperature between 68°F to 77°F with a pH of 6.0 to 8.0 and hardness 5 to 19dGH.
Altogether, you can keep eight pearl danios with five cherry shrimp and one dwarf gourami. Although, keeping 6-pearl danios is safer in your 10-gallon fish tank. Always maintain 74 percent of stocking levels with a lot of filtration capacity.
7. Golden Dwarf Barb
Dwarf golden barbs are small, peaceful fish originating from Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan. They are confused with either gold-finned barbs or the gold barbs of the Barb family.
Golden dwarfs live in tropical waters from 68°F to 77°F. This water’s pH ranges from 6.0 to 6.5 and Hardness from 8 to 15 dGH. This small fish can grow up to two inches in length, so 4-5 fish will easily fit in your 10-gallon tank.
Normally, it’s suggested to keep 4 to 5 dwarf barb fish in your 10-gallon tank. Your aquarium should also be heavily planted due to the fact that golden dwarf barbs are egg scatterers.
After all, the Golden Dwarf Barb is one of the most suitable fish species that you can consider keeping in a 10-gallon fish tank.
8. Pygmy Corydoras
Pygmy catfish (also known as pygmy corydoras) is a tropical freshwater fish from South America. Anyhow, they grow up to 1.3 inches in length.
Males are usually 0.75 inches in size and 1.0 inches in size in females. They are peacefully kept with other small fish in your 10-gallon tank.
Pygmy corydoras live in a tropical environment, so you can keep them in a heated fish tank. That means the temperature of your aquarium has to be a bit high. They need 72°F to 79°F of temperature, and a neutral pH level (6.0 to 8.0), as well as the Hardness from 2 to 25dGH.
You can keep at least four pygmy corydoras fish up to groups of ten in your 10-gallon fish tank. They will swim in the midwater regions to lower regions in your fish tank.
9. Guppies
Guppies are excellent candidates for your 10-gallon fish tank. They are one of the widely popular and most spread freshwater fish.
They originate from North-East South America and are also known as a rainbow or million fish. Most males are normally 0.6-1.4 inches long whereas females are 1.2 -2.4 inches long.
In general, you can add nearly seven adult guppies to your 10-gallon fish tank. But it’s safer to add five adult guppies in a 10-gallon tank. This totally depends on your design, substrate, filtration, and water-changing frequency.
This fish will prefer to live in hard water with a temperature range from 78°F to 82°F. Importantly, they can tolerate up to 150% of salinity levels that say they will surely stay in saltwater tanks.
Guppies’ fish habitat in the water of pH from 6.8 to 7.8, so it’s best to keep this pH range in your fish tank. But, take into consideration that these guppies are quite adaptable.
Wrapping Up
All the fish discussed above are excellent candidates as freshwater fish for a 10-gallon tank. There is a huge fish you can keep in your aquarium, once you’ve enough skill or experience in fish keeping. You can also include other animals such as snails, lizards, amphibians, crayfish, etc. Happy fishkeeping!
