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16 Responses to “How many fish can I fit in a 10 gallon tank?”
it depends on the surface area of the tank not the gallons as many people would say but a normal 10 gallon tank can take 1 3 inch fish and tropical because goldfish aren’t good fish
Gallons do matter, as the more clean water the more the dirt spreads out. Surface area can be taken into account, though, since that is how the air will get into the water. Basically 1 in of fish per gallon. If you want a supper clean tank, 1/2 in per gallon.
Fresh water 2in of fish per gal saltwater 1in of fish per gal. If you just set the tank up today i would wait a week before adding fish. If u add fish tomorrow good chance their not going to live. Hope that help and good luck with the tank.
tropical tank will give you more color. I always heard 1 fish per gallon. But I have about 20 in mine. I have smaller fish like Neon’s and I have a frog and some shrimp as well as a Placostomos (algae eater). Just keep your filter clean
It can be whatever kind of tank you wish for it to be. The rule of thumb is that you should have at least 1 square inch per fish. You could get a “school” of fish like guppies or neon tetras. You could 20 or so of these. I would buy some “sucker fish” which **** the sides of the tank and clean it. Make sure that you have some sort of castle or rocks or something. Some fish like to hide and this will make them more comfortable in their new home.
You may already know this but when yuo put the water in the tank, first treat it with Aquasafe or something of the sort. Ask for it at Walmart of the pet store.
When you get the fish, you should float the bag that they’re in, in the water (it will float) for about 15. Then cut open the top of the bag and pour them in. They will be fine.
the general rule is 1 gallon per fish, however it totally depends on the size of fish. smaller fish like neons, you could have 10 of…but i have 8 in my 10 gallon…and it’s a mix of sizes. everyone seems very happy as well.
you should do a little research online to see what fish get along best. also note that goldfish are awesome, but they like cooler water and different ph levels than the average tropical fish. i recommend getting a placostemous to keep your tank clean. another bottom feeder like a friendly catfish of some sort….maybe some platties, drarf frogs, tetras, etc. anything that’s mellow. otherwise you’ll get an agressive tank and that’s no good and not easy to manage as a starter.
the thumb rule is one inch of fish per gallon. but i have 10 full ygrown fish and 2 baby fish in my ten gallon tank and it very clean. also they all get along just fine. another thing is i would get a tropical fish tank because you can get more than one species of fish and if you get mollies, platies, guppies, or swordtails they will breed alot. another thing is if you get one of those types of fish be sure to get 2-3 females per male. i have 7 females and 1 male in my tank. as for the other two fully grown fish im not sure what they are. (they are egg layers) and i have a pleco (common algae eater) and im not sure what he/she is but its name is Charley. Also remember that you will need a heater and air pump for tropical fish but you can get both of those for under 20 dollars at Wal-Mart
Don’t get fish yet! The tank isn’t cycled, the fish may not live through the cycle. You need to get a test kit for ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates and look up fishless cycling. It is very important to cycle to build up beneficial bacteria so the water doesn’t build up toxins. Fish produce ammonia and without the bacteria they die quickly. It can take a week or more to cycle right.
Don’t make this a goldfish tank either, its too small. Goldfish make more ammonia than most other fish.
Everyone is right about how many fish to put in there I just recently got a 10g too and mine is a tropical type tank it adds more color to the place but its up to you. I have 3 tiger barbs and 3 otos they are very lively fish ^^
go tropical. when u go back to wal mart tomarrow get a small 25w, or a 50w heater. they’re less than $10. if u want to breed fish u can get guppies, platies, or mollies.
About 4 fish at the most. Otherwise they will get sick a lot. Also, be very careful about buying fish from Wal-mart. They don’t take care of their fish properly and a lot of them end up dying. Make sure to keep the reciept for the fish and get a refund if any of them die in the next few weeks.
research the fish you’d think you’d like b/c you should wait 2 weeks before adding fish.
10 female bettas or 1 male or 5-7 tropical schooling fish (1 type of tetras, danios or rasboras) or school bottom feeders like cute cory cats or 12 guppies
an african frog w/ a small school or a newt or lizard or a crab or two
saltwater
1 goby
or cold water fish
1 or 2 dwarf puffers or 5 white clouds & 3 ghost shrimp
dwarf cichlids or dwarf or croaking gourami pair
No goldfish
freshwater – 7 inch
saltwater – 3 inch
February 13th, 2009 at 3:51 pm
Louise Contreras
it depends on the surface area of the tank not the gallons as many people would say but a normal 10 gallon tank can take 1 3 inch fish and tropical because goldfish aren’t good fish
February 14th, 2009 at 2:20 am
Olivia Hill
Gallons do matter, as the more clean water the more the dirt spreads out. Surface area can be taken into account, though, since that is how the air will get into the water. Basically 1 in of fish per gallon. If you want a supper clean tank, 1/2 in per gallon.
February 15th, 2009 at 1:35 am
Daisy Craver
Fresh water 2in of fish per gal saltwater 1in of fish per gal. If you just set the tank up today i would wait a week before adding fish. If u add fish tomorrow good chance their not going to live. Hope that help and good luck with the tank.
February 16th, 2009 at 12:29 pm
Krista Swope
tropical tank will give you more color. I always heard 1 fish per gallon. But I have about 20 in mine. I have smaller fish like Neon’s and I have a frog and some shrimp as well as a Placostomos (algae eater). Just keep your filter clean
February 17th, 2009 at 2:30 pm
Jeremy Comeaux
It can be whatever kind of tank you wish for it to be. The rule of thumb is that you should have at least 1 square inch per fish. You could get a “school” of fish like guppies or neon tetras. You could 20 or so of these. I would buy some “sucker fish” which **** the sides of the tank and clean it. Make sure that you have some sort of castle or rocks or something. Some fish like to hide and this will make them more comfortable in their new home.
You may already know this but when yuo put the water in the tank, first treat it with Aquasafe or something of the sort. Ask for it at Walmart of the pet store.
When you get the fish, you should float the bag that they’re in, in the water (it will float) for about 15. Then cut open the top of the bag and pour them in. They will be fine.
February 17th, 2009 at 10:46 pm
Tameka Desouza
the general rule is 1 gallon per fish, however it totally depends on the size of fish. smaller fish like neons, you could have 10 of…but i have 8 in my 10 gallon…and it’s a mix of sizes. everyone seems very happy as well.
you should do a little research online to see what fish get along best. also note that goldfish are awesome, but they like cooler water and different ph levels than the average tropical fish. i recommend getting a placostemous to keep your tank clean. another bottom feeder like a friendly catfish of some sort….maybe some platties, drarf frogs, tetras, etc. anything that’s mellow. otherwise you’ll get an agressive tank and that’s no good and not easy to manage as a starter.
good luck!
February 18th, 2009 at 8:34 am
Loraine Patenaude
the thumb rule is one inch of fish per gallon. but i have 10 full ygrown fish and 2 baby fish in my ten gallon tank and it very clean. also they all get along just fine. another thing is i would get a tropical fish tank because you can get more than one species of fish and if you get mollies, platies, guppies, or swordtails they will breed alot. another thing is if you get one of those types of fish be sure to get 2-3 females per male. i have 7 females and 1 male in my tank. as for the other two fully grown fish im not sure what they are. (they are egg layers) and i have a pleco (common algae eater) and im not sure what he/she is but its name is Charley. Also remember that you will need a heater and air pump for tropical fish but you can get both of those for under 20 dollars at Wal-Mart
February 18th, 2009 at 12:45 pm
Rodney Stockdale
Don’t get fish yet! The tank isn’t cycled, the fish may not live through the cycle. You need to get a test kit for ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates and look up fishless cycling. It is very important to cycle to build up beneficial bacteria so the water doesn’t build up toxins. Fish produce ammonia and without the bacteria they die quickly. It can take a week or more to cycle right.
Don’t make this a goldfish tank either, its too small. Goldfish make more ammonia than most other fish.
February 19th, 2009 at 1:51 am
Lori Mcneill
DON’T get your fish tomorrow… your tank needs to cycle first. check out this site
tropical, it’s not nearly big enough for goldfish. common goldfish needs ponds and fancy goldfish need 20+gallons when adults.
I’d suggest 5 female bettas so you don’t have clone fish. they come in many colors and have quite a few different fin varieties.
however you could also try 4 or 5 guppies or tetras, or 3 or 4 mollies or platies. if you get 3 mollies or platies you can add one male betta.
February 22nd, 2009 at 12:39 pm
Gerald Bee
I always heard one for each gallon so about ten small fish and you should let hte tank run for a week with no fish in it
February 24th, 2009 at 7:44 pm
Guy Kamm
Everyone is right about how many fish to put in there I just recently got a 10g too and mine is a tropical type tank it adds more color to the place but its up to you. I have 3 tiger barbs and 3 otos they are very lively fish ^^
February 27th, 2009 at 3:40 pm
Travis Devries
they say 10 is the max
March 2nd, 2009 at 3:14 pm
Veronica Mai
3
March 3rd, 2009 at 8:40 am
Edwina Pappan
go tropical. when u go back to wal mart tomarrow get a small 25w, or a 50w heater. they’re less than $10. if u want to breed fish u can get guppies, platies, or mollies.
March 5th, 2009 at 4:10 pm
Jimmy Fiedler
About 4 fish at the most. Otherwise they will get sick a lot. Also, be very careful about buying fish from Wal-mart. They don’t take care of their fish properly and a lot of them end up dying. Make sure to keep the reciept for the fish and get a refund if any of them die in the next few weeks.
March 6th, 2009 at 9:06 pm
Marian Kim
research the fish you’d think you’d like b/c you should wait 2 weeks before adding fish.
10 female bettas or 1 male or 5-7 tropical schooling fish (1 type of tetras, danios or rasboras) or school bottom feeders like cute cory cats or 12 guppies
an african frog w/ a small school or a newt or lizard or a crab or two
saltwater
1 goby
or cold water fish
1 or 2 dwarf puffers or 5 white clouds & 3 ghost shrimp
dwarf cichlids or dwarf or croaking gourami pair
No goldfish
freshwater – 7 inch
saltwater – 3 inch