FTC GUIDELINES PLEASE NOTE: we act as an affiliate for several companies that feature on our website. In some cases we may earn a commission from referrals to those companies. For further information please refer to our Privacy page.

 Best fish for A 10 gallon tank

What are the best fish for a 10 gallon tank? A trip to the pet store and you'll be faced with a myriad of choices. To get you started we've compiled a list of our 6 favorite species suitable for a 10 gallon aquarium.

Our Choice of 6 Best Fish For A 10 Gallon Tank

Danios - Unique and Peaceful fish

Danios are some of the more peaceful and relaxed fish that you can buy for your aquarium. That makes them much easier to care for than other species. They’re relatively new to being used as pets, however, as the species was first discovered more than 15 years ago.

As a result, they aren’t too commonly used among pet owners. That could be a benefit for you, though, as they could be one of the more unique fish for 10 gallon tank that’s available. Typically a metallic blue color, they have splashes of orange on their fins, which adds a nice bit of color.

They usually prefer habitats that are well-planted, so you should add driftwood, rocks, and other features to the aquarium.

Golden Barbs Add Color to Your Fish Tank

These aren’t well-known among pet owners, although they could add a nice bit of color to your aquarium. Coupled with this, Golden Dwarf Barbs only grow to about 1.5 inches long, so they won’t take up much space in your tank.

Typically a golden shade of yellow, they have black splashes across their body. That color could make them one of the best fish for a 10-gallon tank if you want it to be full of life. Similar to the above, they prefer tanks with some plant life, so they’ll fit in great with the Danios.

Neon Tetras Like Places to Hide in Their Tank

These may be the most well-known freshwater fish to keep in an aquarium. Their blue bodies and a bright red stripe about halfway across their body make them instantly recognizable. Like some other fish of the same size, they like having somewhere to hide should they feel threatened.

As such, you should make sure to add driftwood and some other water features. Using these, they’ll usually try to recreate the habitat that they’re used to. Given that many other freshwater fish have similar preferences, this shouldn’t be an issue.

They also prefer being in schools of fish, usually around 10 at a time. Given that they usually grow to about 1.25 inches, having them in a 10-gallon tank shouldn’t be too much of an issue.

Corydoras - Bright, Colorful and Easy to Care For

One of the main reasons that Corydoras is one of the best fish for 10-gallon tank is that they’re one of the easiest fish species that you can care for. They’re also one of the more peaceful and maintenance-free options, while also being bright and colourful enough to grab your attention.

To keep them happy in the tank, you’ll need to add hiding places, such as driftwood and wide-leaved plants. That’s because they can be scared relatively easily, which causes them to swim off. If they have nowhere to hide, then they could panic.

It’s also recommended that you have about 10 of them at any given time, as they prefer to swim in groups and can get lonely, even if there are other species there.

Betta Fish - Expensive and Complex But Oh So Pretty

Betta Fish are one of the more popular pets to have, so they’re not exactly the best fish for 10-gallon tank. On the other hand, they’re quite difficult and complex to care for and can come in a wide range of colors. As a result, they’ll be one of the more visually appealing species to buy, but they can be expensive for a novice fish keeper.

In many cases, it’s recommended that they be kept by themselves. That can depend significantly on the fish itself, as some are known to live peacefully with other species. They should be kept with a species that looks similar, however, such as a guppy.

Keeping two males together will result in them attacking each other, so it is best to have female betta fish to start off with, if your'e keen to have one in your fish tank.

Dwarf Gourami for the Experienced Fish Owner

Like some other fish species, the Dwarf Gourami needs a certain amount of care. If you’re a first-time fish owner, then you might want to consider some other fish. But if you’ve owned them in the past, however, and you know what you’re doing, then they could be a species to show off in your aquarium.

The males of the species are a blend of orange and red with vertical blue stripes. Interestingly, the females are more of a blue-gray with vertical yellow stripes. If you pick up a few of them, then your aquarium will light up with the colors.

It’s recommended that, if you’re putting a Dwarf Gourami in a tank with other fish, then you only include one of them. If it’s just gourami in your fish tank, however, then you can include up to three or four of them.

Conclusion

Choosing the best fish for a 10-gallon tank can be more difficult than many people might assume. That’s because you’ll have your preferences of what kind of fish that you want. Coupled with this is that you might not want to get the same fish as everyone else.

Some of the above will be some of the more unique fish for a 10-gallon tank, which will help your aquarium stand out more than everyone else's. Different fish will need different amounts of care. As such, you’ll need to get some that are of roughly the same temperament.

By doing so, you’ll make sure that no unwanted incidents happen between the fish once you’ve set up your 10-gallon aquarium.

---