Best Fish for a 10 Gallon Tank
Ten gallons is where a real community becomes possible — one small school plus a bottom dweller, or a betta with company — but stocking discipline matters more here than anywhere. Every fish listed has a minimum tank size at or under ten gallons; check adult size and schooling needs before combining them.
96 species · ordered by how many Shoal & Stem keepers have them · every card links to a full care guide
Otocinclus
Otocinclus vittatus
10 gal min · 1.5" adult · Peaceful
Pygmy Corydoras
Corydoras pygmaeus
10 gal min · 1" adult · Peaceful
Celestial Pearl Danio
Danio margaritatus
10 gal min · 1" adult · Peaceful
Guppy
Poecilia reticulata
10 gal min · 2" adult · Peaceful
Halfmoon Betta
Betta splendens 'Halfmoon'
5 gal min · 2.5" adult · Semi-aggressive
Ember Tetra
Hyphessobrycon amandae
10 gal min · 0.8" adult · Peaceful
Neon Tetra
Paracheirodon innesi
10 gal min · 1.5" adult · Peaceful
Fancy Guppy
Poecilia reticulata
10 gal min · 2" adult · Peaceful
Honey Gourami
Trichogaster chuna
10 gal min · 2" adult · Peaceful
Black Neon Tetra
Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi
10 gal min · 1.5" adult · Peaceful
Endler's Livebearer
Poecilia wingei
10 gal min · 1.5" adult · Peaceful
Harlequin Rasbora
Trigonostigma heteromorpha
10 gal min · 2" adult · Peaceful
Peaceful Betta
Betta imbellis
10 gal min · 2.5" adult · Peaceful
Platy
Xiphophorus maculatus
10 gal min · 2.5" adult · Peaceful
Plakat Betta
Betta splendens 'Plakat'
5 gal min · 2.5" adult · Semi-aggressive
White Cloud Mountain Minnow
Tanichthys albonubes
10 gal min · 1.5" adult · Peaceful
Betta
Betta splendens
5 gal min · 2.5" adult · Semi-aggressive
Clown Killifish
Epiplatys annulatus
5 gal min · 1.5" adult · Peaceful
Emerald Dwarf Rasbora
Danio erythromicron
10 gal min · 1" adult · Peaceful
Galaxy Koi Betta
Betta splendens 'Galaxy Koi'
5 gal min · 2.5" adult · Semi-aggressive
Green Neon Tetra
Paracheirodon simulans
10 gal min · 1" adult · Peaceful
Salt & Pepper Corydoras
Corydoras habrosus
10 gal min · 1.5" adult · Peaceful
Zebra Danio
Danio rerio
10 gal min · 2" adult · Peaceful
Chili Rasbora
Boraras brigittae
5 gal min · 0.8" adult · Peaceful
Crowntail Betta
Betta splendens 'Crowntail'
5 gal min · 2.5" adult · Semi-aggressive
Delta Betta
Betta splendens
5 gal min · 3" adult · Semi-aggressive
Kerri Tetra
Inpaichthys kerri
10 gal min · 1.2" adult · Peaceful
Veiltail Betta
Betta splendens
5 gal min · 3" adult · Semi-aggressive
Cobra Guppy
Poecilia reticulata
10 gal min · 2" adult · Peaceful
Double Tail Betta
Betta splendens 'Double Tail'
5 gal min · 2.5" adult · Semi-aggressive
Glowlight Tetra
Hemigrammus erythrozonus
10 gal min · 1.5" adult · Peaceful
Lambchop Rasbora
Trigonostigma espei
10 gal min · 1.75" adult · Peaceful
Lemon Tetra
Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis
10 gal min · 1.5" adult · Peaceful
Silvertip Tetra
Hasemania nana
10 gal min · 1.5" adult · Semi-aggressive
Sparkling Gourami
Trichopsis pumila
10 gal min · 1.5" adult · Peaceful
Sunset Honey Gourami
Trichogaster chuna
10 gal min · 2" adult · Peaceful
Bumblebee Goby
Brachygobius xanthomelas
10 gal min · 1.5" adult · Semi-aggressive
Elephant Ear Betta
Betta splendens 'Dumbo'
5 gal min · 2.5" adult · Semi-aggressive
Emerald Eye Rasbora
Brevibora dorsiocellata
10 gal min · 1.5" adult · Peaceful
Exclamation Point Rasbora
Boraras urophthalmoides
5 gal min · 0.8" adult · Peaceful
Forktail Rainbowfish
Pseudomugil furcatus
10 gal min · 2" adult · Peaceful
GloFish Danio
Danio rerio
10 gal min · 2" adult · Peaceful
Glowlight Rasbora
Trigonostigma hengeli
10 gal min · 1.2" adult · Peaceful
Gold Honey Gourami
Trichogaster chuna
10 gal min · 2" adult · Peaceful
Hastatus Corydoras
Corydoras hastatus
10 gal min · 1" adult · Peaceful
Least Killifish
Heterandria formosa
5 gal min · 1.5" adult · Peaceful
Mickey Mouse Platy
Xiphophorus maculatus
10 gal min · 2.5" adult · Peaceful
Mosquitofish
Gambusia affinis
10 gal min · 2.5" adult · Semi-aggressive
Neon Blue Dwarf Gourami
Trichogaster lalius
10 gal min · 3.5" adult · Peaceful
Neon Rasbora
Sundadanio axelrodi
10 gal min · 1.5" adult · Peaceful
Norman's Lampeye
Poropanchax normani
10 gal min · 1.5" adult · Peaceful
Ornate Tetra
Hyphessobrycon bentosi
10 gal min · 1.5" adult · Peaceful
Pea Puffer
Carinotetraodon travancoricus
10 gal min · 1.5" adult · Aggressive
Ricefish
Oryzias woworae
10 gal min · 1.5" adult · Peaceful
Ruby Tetra
Axelrodia riesei
5 gal min · 0.8" adult · Peaceful
Rummy Nose Rasbora
Sawbwa resplendens
10 gal min · 1" adult · Peaceful
Spotted Danio
Danio nigrofasciatus
10 gal min · 1.8" adult · Peaceful
Strawberry Rasbora
Boraras naevus
5 gal min · 0.7" adult · Peaceful
Threadfin Rainbowfish
Iriatherina werneri
10 gal min · 1.5" adult · Peaceful
Tuxedo Guppy
Poecilia reticulata
10 gal min · 2" adult · Peaceful
Amazon Molly
Poecilia formosa
10 gal min · 2.5" adult · Peaceful
Argentine Pearlfish
Austrolebias bellottii
10 gal min · 1.5" adult · Semi-aggressive
Asian Stone Catfish
Hara jerdoni
10 gal min · 1.2" adult · Peaceful
Banded Panchax
Epiplatys fasciolatus
10 gal min · 1.5" adult · Peaceful
Banner Lyretail
Aphyosemion calliurum
10 gal min · 1.5" adult · Semi-aggressive
Betta Coccina
Betta coccina
5 gal min · 1.8" adult · Semi-aggressive
Betta Hendra
Betta hendra
10 gal min · 2.5" adult · Semi-aggressive
Betta Mahachaiensis
Betta mahachaiensis
5 gal min · 2.5" adult · Semi-aggressive
Betta Patoti
Betta patoti
10 gal min · 1.5" adult · Peaceful
Betta Persephone
Betta persephone
10 gal min · 2.5" adult · Semi-aggressive
Betta Pugnax
Betta pugnax
10 gal min · 3.5" adult · Semi-aggressive
Betta Rubra
Betta rubra
10 gal min · 3.5" adult · Semi-aggressive
Betta Smaragdina
Betta smaragdina
10 gal min · 3" adult · Semi-aggressive
Black Bar Endler
Poecilia wingei
5 gal min · 1.2" adult · Peaceful
Black Harlequin Rasbora
Trigonostigma heteromorpha
10 gal min · 1.75" adult · Peaceful
Black-Winged Hatchetfish
Carnegiella marthae
10 gal min · 1.5" adult · Peaceful
Blackedge Tetra
Tyttocharax madeirae
10 gal min · 0.8" adult · Peaceful
Blackfin Pearlfish
Austrolebias nigripinnis
10 gal min · 1.5" adult · Semi-aggressive
Blue Axelrodi Rasbora
Sundadanio axelrodi blue
10 gal min · 1.2" adult · Peaceful
Blue Badis
Badis badis
10 gal min · 1" adult · Peaceful
Blue Grass Guppy
Poecilia reticulata
10 gal min · 2" adult · Peaceful
Blue Medaka
Oryzias latipes
10 gal min · 1.5" adult · Peaceful
Blue Platy
Xiphophorus maculatus
10 gal min · 2.5" adult · Peaceful
Blue Star Endler
Poecilia wingei
5 gal min · 1.2" adult · Peaceful
Blue Wag Platy
Xiphophorus maculatus
10 gal min · 2.5" adult · Peaceful
Bluefin Killifish
Lucania goodei
5 gal min · 1.5" adult · Peaceful
Bluefin Notho
Nothobranchius rachovii
10 gal min · 2.5" adult · Semi-aggressive
Bumblebee Platy
Xiphophorus maculatus
10 gal min · 2.5" adult · Peaceful
Calico Platy
Xiphophorus maculatus
10 gal min · 2.5" adult · Peaceful
Campoma Endler
Poecilia wingei
5 gal min · 1.2" adult · Peaceful
Cape Lopez Lyretail
Aphyosemion australe
10 gal min · 2.5" adult · Semi-aggressive
Coral Red Pencilfish
Nannostomus mortenthaleri
10 gal min · 1.5" adult · Peaceful
Croaking Gourami
Trichopsis vittata
10 gal min · 2.8" adult · Peaceful
Cuban Rivulus
Rivulus cylindraceus
5 gal min · 2.2" adult · Peaceful
Dageti Killifish
Epiplatys dageti
10 gal min · 1.2" adult · Peaceful
Dalmatian Platy
Xiphophorus maculatus
10 gal min · 2.5" adult · Peaceful
Not sure your combination fits?
Put your tank size and stock into the calculator — it checks bioload, schooling numbers and compatibility together.