10-Gallon Tank Setup: What to Buy and What Fits
The 10-gallon is the most common starter tank. It holds one small school of fish or a centerpiece fish with a few companions. It is too small for most bottom-dwelling catfish and for any fish that grows past about 3 inches.
- Dimensions
- 20 × 10 × 12 inlength × width × height
- Weight when full
- ~111 lbswater, substrate, gear
- Heater
- 50 wattsfor 76°F in a 68°F room
- Substrate
- 18 lbsfor a 1.5 inch layer
3 stocking ideas for a 10-gallon tank
Each one passes our checks for tank size, group size, temperature and temperament. Open one in the builder to adjust it.
Neon school with shrimp
One bright school and a clean-up crew.
- 6 × Neon tetra
- 5 × Cherry shrimp
- 1 × Nerite snail
Betta community
A betta with a calm group on the bottom.
- 1 × Betta
- 6 × Pygmy corydoras
Colour mix
Guppies up top, embers in the middle.
- 3 × Guppy
- 6 × Ember tetra
Shopping list for a 10-gallon tank
Sized for the “Neon school with shrimp” idea above. Change the fish in the builder and the list updates.
10-gallon tank
- These fit a 10-gallon tank and get along. Aim for about 76°F.
Equipment, sized for this tank
Starter supplies
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Fish that fit a 10-gallon tank
The most of each you could keep if it were the only species in the tank.
| Fish | Kept alone, up to | Group size | Temperature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Betta | 1 | One per tank | 76–82°F |
| Neon tetra | 7 | 6 or more | 70–79°F |
| Ember tetra | 16 | 6 or more | 73–82°F |
| Guppy | 5 | 3 or more | 72–82°F |
| Endler's livebearer | 9 | 3 or more | 72–82°F |
| Platy | 3 | 3 or more | 70–80°F |
| White cloud minnow | 8 | 6 or more | 60–72°F |
| Harlequin rasbora | 6 | 6 or more | 73–82°F |
| Chili rasbora | 22 | 6 or more | 72–82°F |
| Pygmy corydoras | 13 | 6 or more | 72–79°F |
| Dwarf gourami | 1 | One per tank | 72–82°F |
| Honey gourami | 3 | One or more | 72–82°F |
| Cherry shrimp | 40 | 5 or more | 65–80°F |
| Amano shrimp | 22 | 3 or more | 68–80°F |
| Nerite snail | 16 | One or more | 72–80°F |
| Mystery snail | 4 | One or more | 68–82°F |
Too big for 10 gallons: cardinal tetra (20+ gal), rummy-nose tetra (20+ gal), black skirt tetra (20+ gal), molly (20+ gal), swordtail (29+ gal), cherry barb (20+ gal), tiger barb (29+ gal), corydoras catfish (20+ gal), bristlenose pleco (29+ gal), otocinclus (20+ gal), kuhli loach (20+ gal), pearl gourami (29+ gal), angelfish (29+ gal), german blue ram (20+ gal), fancy goldfish (20+ gal).
10-gallon tank questions
How many fish can I put in a 10-gallon tank?
It depends on the fish. As examples, a 10-gallon tank comfortably holds 1 betta, or 7 neon tetras, or 5 guppies if kept alone. Mixed tanks hold fewer of each. The builder shows the stocking level for any combination.
What size heater does a 10-gallon tank need?
About 50 watts to hold 76°F in a 68°F room. A colder room or warmer target needs more.
What size filter does a 10-gallon tank need?
Look for a filter rated for at least 50 gallons per hour, which turns the tank over about 5 times an hour. Go higher for messy fish such as goldfish or plecos.
How much does a 10-gallon tank weigh?
About 111 pounds when filled with water, substrate and equipment. Standard dimensions are 20 × 10 × 12 inches.