Stocking list for 10 gallons


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Chocolate gouramis get enormous... Unless you're thinking of a different species than I am. Last I read their max size was 6", minimum tank size 20 gal. long.

ChilI rasboras could be added to the list, they are only a tiny bit bigger than dwarf rasboras, as could all species of microrasbora (that I know of)

There is no species of hatchetfish suitable to a ten gallon tank because of the school numbers and overall size. They are also really active. Even for pygmy hatchets, a 20 gallon long is the minimum tank size recommended.
 

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  • #3
Chocolate gouramis get enormous... Unless you're thinking of a different species than I am. Last I read their max size was 6", minimum tank size 20 gal. long.
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I'm thinking of a different species. Sphaerichthys osphromenoides. They get 2 inches. I have seen them on lists of this being their min tank size......
ChilI rasboras could be added to the list, they are only a tiny bit bigger than dwarf rasboras, as could all species of microrasbora (that I know of)
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Thanks!
There is no species of hatchetfish suitable to a ten gallon tank because of the school numbers and overall size. They are also really active. Even for pygmy hatchets, a 20 gallon long is the minimum tank size recommended.
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I know, which is why they aren't on the real list.
 
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  • #5
This is a great list, but it needs to be taken into consideration with number (amount) and compatibility. This list doesn't give license to stock a 10gal with a betta and 20 sparkling gouramis.
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I realize that, but that's not exactly the purpose of it. I'll add that when I have time.
 
I feel like there should be one of these for a 5 gallon as well. Also thaI micro crabs. And possibly certain shell dweller species and asian stone catfish.

Sent from my SM-N910V using Fish Lore Aquarium Fish Forum mobile app
 

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hampalong is there anything you'd add or change?
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Just wondering why you have Glowlights on the list and no other Hemigrammus... or Neons...

Personally I wouldn't keep anything in 10 gallon that grew more than an inch.

 
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  • #8
Just wondering why you have Glowlights on the list and no other Hemigrammus... or Neons...

Personally I wouldn't keep anything in 10 gallon that grew more than an inch.
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I have neons and cardinals on the questionable list. The other Hemigrammus like rummynose and Red base tetras get 2 inches or more... and the max? size for glowlights is 1.6 inches.
Edit: I have removed glowlights and have researched the other Hemigrammus.
 
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  • #10
I might have missed it, which is most likely, but what about pygmy sunfish?
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Nope, don't have that. I'll add it. Thanks!
 
Couple more (been doing nano fish research lately lol)

Micropoecilia picta (swamp guppy), dwarf pencilfish, neon blue rasbora -Sundadanio axelrodI (although I think that could be under the same as dwarf rasbora even if it is closer in family to a danio...) Any of the Danionella's (species only though, and the d.dracula type need lots of plants since the males have barbs/fangs and need room to flee after sparring), and last if you can even manage to find it- Paedocypris progenetica (smallest fish in the world, maxes at 7.7mm! id go species only lol)

The danioellas are technically small enough even to be in a five but not the d.draculas, the males spar and need more space to escape. but ten would be best. they are the second smallest fish in the world. something like 8mm.
 

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I have added a ton of stuff, but I'm not close to done yet.
Anyone have any suggestions, it'd be appreciated. And let me know if there's anything that should be removed from the list.
I have taken off the glowlights, and some other things too.
Here's what I'm going by:
Schooling fish that are 1 inch or less. Anything above 2.8 cm will not be added. Non-schooling fish that aren't active and are 2 inches or less I'm adding.

All right, so I've found two small plecos that are very tiny.
What are your opinions on them? Would they work in a 10g?
Nannoplecostomus eleonorae at 0.78 inches and Ancistrus salgadae at 0.87 inches.
 
One fiddler crab can be kept in a 10 gallon (BUT they are social and would be happier with multiple and in that case need a 20L min.) I didn't see them, but they could go on the questionable list.


 
All right, so I've found two small plecos that are very tiny.
What are your opinions on them? Would they work in a 10g?
Nannoplecostomus eleonorae at 0.87 inches and Ancistrus salgadae at 0.78 inches. Coradee hampalong your opinions?
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The sizes are the other way round according to FishBase, but they're Standard Lengths, so don't include the tail. And they're not maximum sizes, but the sizes of the specimen/s that are known. Without a picture on FishBase, you're unlikely to find them for sale...

I still wouldn't keep fish over an inch in 10 gallon US, and even then they would need to be very inactive fish...
 
Arent most plecos inactive fish to begin with? All I see them really do is slouch around on the tank floor most of the time..
 
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  • #16
Other way round? Oops.....
Yeah, I figured that they would be from the specimens that are known..... I would bet the Ancistrus gets bigger than 2 cm.
 
If I can be honest, I personally don't think adding fish species that can't easily be sourced to the list is a good idea & tbh I gave up reading it after the first dozen or so.
Most people asking for help stocking small tanks want suggestions that they can go to their local Lfs & get or order easily.
 
Highly agreed with Coradee, never even heard of some of those species, much less with their scientific names.
 
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Yeah, I know.... I should move all of the species that don't have a common name to a different section. I'll work on that.

Yeah, I'll do that. Thanks! I also think the rarely if ever seen ones should be noted that they may or may not get the size listed by fishbase, as hampalong mentions that's just the biggest they've been found....
 
Yeah, I know.... I should move all of the species that don't have a common name to a different section. I'll work on that.
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Good idea, it does need some editing & putting in a more easy to read format.
The easily available species should be put together, then some of the more unusual ones that can be ordered in another group & the rarely if ever seen ones if you have to have those on it put last
 
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  • #21
I see that I forgot to make the changes I said I would..... I'll get on it now.
 

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Keep in mind, its 1 inch of Fish per gallon (UNLESS fish are territorial, then it can vary on the size of the fish.). NOT 1 fish per gallon.

So, you could put 10 Neon Tetras in the 10 gallon. But say if you want Mollies or Platys, you can only put 5.

Id recommend 4 Cherry Barbs and 1 Dwarf Gourami for a nice color combo. Also a couple plants might look nice in there.
 
All I can say is wow! Great work on the list and thank you for putting so much time into compiling the information!!!


 
Keep in mind, its 1 inch of Fish per gallon (UNLESS fish are territorial, then it can vary on the size of the fish.). NOT 1 fish per gallon.

So, you could put 10 Neon Tetras in the 10 gallon. But say if you want Mollies or Platys, you can only put 5.

Id recommend 4 Cherry Barbs and 1 Dwarf Gourami for a nice color combo. Also a couple plants might look nice in there.
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Have to disagree with you there, since the inch-per-gallon rule is actually very inaccurate. How, you may ask? Well, let's explore why.

First off, it does not take into consideration the bioload of the fish in question. For instance, a 3 inch balloon molly will produce a lot more waste than a 3 inch betta.

Also, it does not take into consideration activity level. Neons for instance are very active fish, and therefore need at least a 20 gallon in order to be truly happy.

Additionally, the inch-per-gallon rule would say that a 1ft goldfish would be fine in a 12g tank (if taken to extremes), which it would not be.

The inch-per-gallon rule does not consider the social needs of other fish, either. Many schooling fish, such as neons, zebra danios, and cories require at least six per school. So if each fish got 2 inches (at smallest) then you'd need a 12g tank and that'd be all you could have and it still wouldn't be big enough.

Dwarf gouramis, mollies, neon tetras, and tmk, cherry barbs are all too big or active for a 10g. Platies would work though.
 
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  • #30
You're welcome!
I'm still not done.....

Yep, the inch per gallon rule is inaccurate....
Going by the inch per gallon rule you could have 2 mollies in a 10g. Not 5, which would suggest that they get two inches, when they actually can get 5 inches. They're too big for a 10g. The only thing you mention that would work are platies, as explained by BTWB....

Reasons why the fish won't work:
DGs - too big at 3 inches, several members on here have had them be happier in larger tanks than a 10 gallon after being kept in that size tank, then upgraded.
Mollies- too big, active, and they have a high bioload.
Neon tetras- too active, plus they should be kept in schools and they get 1.5-1.8 inches, too big imo for a schooling fish in a 10g.
Cherry barbs- same as above.
 

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  • #32
take 1 inch per gallon then times that number by 10
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What do you mean?
Edit: bassboy4444 do you mean 10 inches of fish per gallon? Or 1 inch of fish per 10 gallons? Neither of those would really be very accurate....
 
What do you mean?
Edit: bassboy4444 do you mean 10 inches of fish per gallon? Or 1 inch of fish per 10 gallons? Neither of those would really be very accurate....
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I understand. He's saying you could take a 3 inch fish for example and do 3 times 10 and then it needs 30 gallons. Even though this isn't accurate you just kinda use common sense I guess.


 
take 1 inch per gallon then times that number by 10
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1" per 10gal?

I understand. He's saying you could take a 3 inch fish for example and do 3 times 10 and then it needs 30 gallons. Even though this isn't accurate you just kinda use common sense I guess.
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this just doesn't add up... it would mean my 20H would be horribly overstocked with 8 mosquito fish... even though they are fine
 
Please stay on topic, this thread is for Stocking options for 10 gallons
 
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  • #38
Er.... let's just say I went through all the betta species assuming that they were all aggressive towards each other. I forgot about that one species..... I'll change it.

There's been a lot of changes to the stocking thread, please check it out and tell me what you think. (comments, opinions, criticisms....)
 
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  • #41
For a 10 gallon IMO,2 dwarf gouramis--5 platies assorted
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The DGs would kill each other, and that's just a bit too many platies. Only 3 max, imo.

No they would not cause I have a 10 gallon 5 plates and 2 dwarf flame gouramis
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How long have you had it this way?
Trust me, this is not a good stock to have long term. It's a short-term stock.
 

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No they would not cause I have a 10 gallon 5 plates and 2 dwarf flame gouramis
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What are your water parameters? How often do you change the water?
I imagine you would have to do quite a bit of water changes to keep the ammonia and nitrite at zero with that overstocked tank.

Unless you have a male and female dwarf gourami, yes they will eventually fight and possibly kill each other.
 
All right, so I've found two small plecos that are very tiny.
What are your opinions on them? Would they work in a 10g?
Nannoplecostomus eleonorae at 0.78 inches and Ancistrus salgadae at 0.87 inches. @Coradee @ your opinions?
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I don't recall seeing pygmy cories on the list (but could double check later) ... what about Otos?
 
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  • #45
I don't recall seeing pygmy cories on the list (but could double check later) ... what about Otos?
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Neither pygmy cories nor otos are suitable for a 10g, unfortunately.
The two species I have listed on there, in the genus otocinclus, are not the type we see in stores, I doubt they're in the hobby.
 
I had a wonderful idea! I know that you probably aren't making any changes, but I thought that it would be a nice idea. Assign a point value to certain fish. You can have up to X amount of points in a 10 gal, and if a fish isn't compatible with a certain fish type, make a note of that on the side and list possible other species (if possible).
 
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  • #47
I had a wonderful idea! I know that you probably aren't making any changes, but I thought that it would be a nice idea. Assign a point value to certain fish. You can have up to X amount of points in a 10 gal, and if a fish isn't compatible with a certain fish type, make a note of that on the side and list possible other species (if possible).
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Hmm..... you know that would be cool, but that would take a ton of time, which unfortunately I don't have. If I could I would, though, thanks!

The thing is, usually we give this list out then give suggestion on what to put together, so I think it works out there?
 
So on the new thread it lists for the 10 gal Platies and Guppies MALE ONLY. I since I have no fish in my 10 gal, I would like to move either my mixed Platies or mixed Guppies from the 45 gal since the 45 gal is at max stocking and the 10 gal is empty.

Is that no mixed sexes strongly recommended, not really, or what? I would think that mixed at 2 to 1 would be the same as male only stock.

That was my plan anyway...
 

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