Best Fish for a 5 Gallon Tank
Five gallons is the floor for keeping fish at all, and it is a floor, not a target — a single betta, a small group of chili rasboras, or a shrimp colony is the realistic ceiling. Water chemistry swings fast in this little volume, so every species here is one that tolerates a small planted tank rather than merely surviving it.
46 species · ordered by how many Shoal & Stem keepers have them · every card links to a full care guide
Halfmoon Betta
Betta splendens 'Halfmoon'
5 gal min · 2.5" adult · Semi-aggressive
Plakat Betta
Betta splendens 'Plakat'
5 gal min · 2.5" adult · Semi-aggressive
Betta
Betta splendens
5 gal min · 2.5" adult · Semi-aggressive
Clown Killifish
Epiplatys annulatus
5 gal min · 1.5" adult · Peaceful
Galaxy Koi Betta
Betta splendens 'Galaxy Koi'
5 gal min · 2.5" adult · Semi-aggressive
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
Veiltail Betta
Betta splendens
5 gal min · 3" adult · Semi-aggressive
Double Tail Betta
Betta splendens 'Double Tail'
5 gal min · 2.5" adult · Semi-aggressive
Elephant Ear Betta
Betta splendens 'Dumbo'
5 gal min · 2.5" adult · Semi-aggressive
Exclamation Point Rasbora
Boraras urophthalmoides
5 gal min · 0.8" adult · Peaceful
Least Killifish
Heterandria formosa
5 gal min · 1.5" adult · Peaceful
Ruby Tetra
Axelrodia riesei
5 gal min · 0.8" adult · Peaceful
Strawberry Rasbora
Boraras naevus
5 gal min · 0.7" adult · Peaceful
Betta Coccina
Betta coccina
5 gal min · 1.8" adult · Semi-aggressive
Betta Mahachaiensis
Betta mahachaiensis
5 gal min · 2.5" adult · Semi-aggressive
Black Bar Endler
Poecilia wingei
5 gal min · 1.2" adult · Peaceful
Blue Star Endler
Poecilia wingei
5 gal min · 1.2" adult · Peaceful
Bluefin Killifish
Lucania goodei
5 gal min · 1.5" adult · Peaceful
Campoma Endler
Poecilia wingei
5 gal min · 1.2" adult · Peaceful
Cuban Rivulus
Rivulus cylindraceus
5 gal min · 2.2" adult · Peaceful
El Tigre Endler
Poecilia wingei
5 gal min · 1.2" adult · Peaceful
Endler Guppy
Poecilia wingei × Poecilia reticulata
5 gal min · 1.5" adult · Peaceful
Feathertail Betta
Betta splendens
5 gal min · 3" adult · Semi-aggressive
GloFish Betta
Betta splendens
5 gal min · 2.5" adult · Aggressive
Green Neon Rasbora
Microdevario nanus
5 gal min · 0.6" adult · Peaceful
Half Sun Betta
Betta splendens
5 gal min · 3" adult · Semi-aggressive
Japan Blue Endler
Poecilia wingei
5 gal min · 1.2" adult · Peaceful
Kilombero Notho
Nothobranchius kilomberoensis
5 gal min · 1.5" adult · Semi-aggressive
Laguna de Patos Endler
Poecilia wingei
5 gal min · 1.2" adult · Peaceful
Least Rasbora
Boraras urophthalmoides
5 gal min · 0.8" adult · Peaceful
Marble Betta
Betta splendens 'Marble'
5 gal min · 2.5" adult · Semi-aggressive
Orchid Endler
Poecilia wingei
5 gal min · 1.2" adult · Peaceful
Palmqvist's Notho
Nothobranchius palmqvisti
5 gal min · 1.5" adult · Semi-aggressive
Peacock Endler
Poecilia wingei
5 gal min · 1.2" adult · Peaceful
Phoenix Rasbora
Boraras merah
5 gal min · 0.8" adult · Peaceful
Pygmy Rasbora
Boraras maculatus
5 gal min · 0.8" adult · Peaceful
Red Chest Endler
Poecilia wingei
5 gal min · 1.2" adult · Peaceful
Rosetail Betta
Betta splendens 'Rosetail'
5 gal min · 2.5" adult · Semi-aggressive
Snake Chest Endler
Poecilia wingei
5 gal min · 1.2" adult · Peaceful
Spade Tail Betta
Betta splendens
5 gal min · 3" adult · Semi-aggressive
Strawberry Betta
Betta albimarginata
5 gal min · 1.5" adult · Semi-aggressive
Super Delta Betta
Betta splendens
5 gal min · 3" adult · Semi-aggressive
Turquoise Killifish
Nothobranchius furzeri
5 gal min · 1.5" adult · Semi-aggressive
Yellow Tiger Endler
Poecilia wingei
5 gal min · 1.2" adult · Peaceful
Not sure your combination fits?
Put your tank size and stock into the calculator — it checks bioload, schooling numbers and compatibility together.