What easy tropical fishes to keep in 10 Gallon? Any suggestions?

[hihello405]

I will get a 10-gallon in the next week or 2. I already had a 10-gallon tank with goldfishes in them (I realize goldfishes are definitely not a good beginner fishes; So Messy!).

I heard something like 1 inch of a fish for every 1 gallon, isn’t this right? So I can get 10 small fishes for my new tank. My questions are:

1. What are some good beginner fishes to keep and easy to breed? I read an article saying Barbs, Cory, White Cloud Mountain Minnows, Danios and Rasboras are all easy to take care, isn’t this right?

2. How many fishes can I possibly get in a 10-gallon tank?

3. What fishes will you guys get as a beginner fishes, and how many?


I know everything about the cycle, therefore I will take care of that first. Thank you for all the helps, I really need some suggestions.

[OrionGirl]

The 1 inch of fish per gallon applies only to slim bodied fish, like neons. For other fish, much will depend on the temperment and territory needs of the fish.

For a 10, I would go with 4-5 silver tip tetras, and 3-4 smaller cories, like pandas or skunks. Always plan tanks for the adult size of the fish.

[PumaWard]

There are several good beginner fish out their on the market, however there are also several not so good beginner fish which are sold right along side the beginners.

Dwarf gourami are one good option. You can keep a pair in a 10 gallon along with a small shoal of mid-dwelling fish like danios or neons which are also good beginner fish. Or, Dwarf gourmi with some bottom dwellers, I highly recommend Kuhli Loaches.

A paradise fish (I recommend females over males because they don't have that bad attitude) however, I wouldn't get something small like neons for them, because they may try to eat them. A pair of Cherry Barbs would also go nicely again with a pair a Kuhli Loaches or some smaller species Cory cats like OrionGirl mentioned for the bottom.

You could also go for purely shoaling fish like neons. You could have 8 neons and a few bottom dwelling species. Same thing with Danios and other smaller tetras. I also have read that the Black Tetra (aka Black Skirt Tetra/Black Widow) make excellant beginner fish and are very resiliant.

Fish I would avoid are Guppies(many books say they are hardy, but petstore bought Guppies often have been inbreed leaving them with things like immune system problems, excetra, excetra.) Also avoid the pure Black Mollies, as they are very prone to diseases such as fungus if they are not kept in perfect water conditions. I have also had experience that Mollies are not the peaceful little dolls they are made out to be... they can be quite cruel to each other and others in the aquarium. I had one that killed 2 dwarf gourami and ripped several scales off a third. Her daughters and nieces have had that aggressiveness passed on to them.

Also, in general, avoid cichlids until you have a little experience under your belt. While most are very, very hardy and adaptable, it is very hard to find non-cichlid tank mates for them. Most will also outgrow your 10 gallon. Exceptions to this rules are Apistograms, but, while they are small and community fish, they are not the hardiest choice.

But, with all fish, you must be patient when setting up your tank. Let it fully cycle before adding fish. I also highly recommend that you research the fish you choose to get in advance to help reduce the amount of surprise you may recieve.

....sorry for the lengthy post :D , hope it helps though:)

Link to an article about fishless cycling:http://www.willasark.com/nofishcycle.cfm

[blitzen25bm]

you should hold off until you can get a 20 gallon or so if you can then you can get a pair of convict cichlids or some of the other smaller ones. maybe firemouths? they are pretty cool to watch. really hardy and they can be more interesting than some of the smaller fish. then add a couple other fish to add more motion to the tank.

[dolcemezzanote]

Figure 8 puffers do very well in a 10gal brackish tanks, they have a very easy diet and are fun to have.... I have two puffers in a 10 gal, they only get about 3" so for the two of them and a pleco... you will be just fine.

[fwiffo]

you could do paradise fish in a 10 gallon. tetras would be fine as well. smaller cichlids like keyhole cichlids could be kept in that tank as well.

[Coler]

as the thread is from 2003, hopefully the OP has been enjoying a sensibly stocked 10 gallon for almost 5 years now :D

edit : can't ever let it pass without saying the inch per gallon rule is misleading at best, dangerous nonsense at worst.

[avatar]

You could try glo light tetras, or cardinals. I wouldn't keep two dwarf gouramis togeather in a 10 gal as almost all of the dwarf's sold are male and will fight with either other. Also gouramis have become weak from inbreeding and the hormones used to turn females into males since the males are more brilliant so they are not the most sturdy fish. Bettas can be a good centerpiece fish for a 10 gal, and are very hardy. Although they may attack the cardinals, I have kept them very successfully with white clouds.

[BoredAgain]

as the thread is from 2003, hopefully the OP has been enjoying a sensibly stocked 10 gallon for almost 5 years now :D

I think you are the only one who noticed...as the stocking posts keep rolling in.

[avatar]

LOL I just noticed that, right after I posted oops

[jm1212]

Figure 8 puffers do very well in a 10gal brackish tanks, they have a very easy diet and are fun to have.... I have two puffers in a 10 gal, they only get about 3" so for the two of them and a pleco... you will be just fine.
10 gallon will be hoplessly overstocked with two puffers and a pleco, not to mention that plecos can be sensative to salt.

one figure 8 needs at least a 20 gallon tank...more if you are keeping more than one.

[Beowulff83]

how does one not know they are posting on a topic 5 years old??

[platytetrafan]

Some suggestions neons, black skirts or glolights, platies, white clouds, cardinals are nice but very sensitive each fish in a school depending on what you decide. You can do barbs but most are aggressive so you would only be able to put them in your tank. The tiger barbs are really nice. Beowullf I love your avatar LOL.

[Yadokari]

how does one not know they are posting on a topic 5 years old??


LOL... how did this even come back up?

[platytetrafan]

5 years old??....LOL Ooopsssssssss:lol2:

[Lupin]

Old and closed.:)