US-gallon tank guide
What can you keep in a 10 US-gallon tank?
A 10 US-gallon tank suits one nano school or a shrimp colony. It is too small for guppies, amano shrimp, honey gouramis, ember tetras and neon tetras. Aqueon's 10-gallon has an outer base of 20¼ × 10½ in (51.4 × 26.7 cm), about 3 cm narrower than the 45 × 30 cm base Seriously Fish asks for one male betta. A differently shaped 10-gallon tank is not ruled out by that width.
US gallons. About 37.9 litres, for anyone comparing with a litre tank.
Plan your 10-gallon tank
Add your species and the numbers you plan to keep. The builder starts empty, at 10 US gallons.
The main decision
Pick one plan: a nano school or a shrimp colony. Each of them fills this tank on its own.
Check the tank’s shape
Aqueon's published 10-gallon tank has an outer base of 20¼ × 10½ in (51.4 × 26.7 cm). Seriously Fish asks for a 45 × 30 cm base for one male betta. This tank is long enough on the outside and about 3 cm narrower, so it is not that betta tank. Those figures are the outside of the glass, not the swimming space. The tank builder checks volume only.
Manufacturer’s size and dimension guide →Compare species for 10 US gallons
Each species here meets this tank on volume. The smaller line is the litre minimum, rounded up into US gallons. It does not measure length or width.
Planning minimum
20 litres (5.29 US gal)
Planning minimum
20 litres (5.29 US gal)
- Celestial Pearl Danio →
Fish · intermediate care · peaceful
This 10-gallon tank is large enough on volume.
Planning minimum
30 litres (7.93 US gal)
Planning minimum
20 litres (5.29 US gal)
Planning minimum
20 litres (5.29 US gal)
Planning minimum
20 litres (5.29 US gal)
- Malaysian Trumpet Snail →
Snail · beginner care · peaceful
This 10-gallon tank is large enough on volume.
Planning minimum
20 litres (5.29 US gal)
Planning minimum
20 litres (5.29 US gal)
Show all 9 species in this shortlist
Planning minimum
30 litres (7.93 US gal)
Plans worth checking on their own
Each idea is a separate plan, not a list to combine. Check the species and the numbers in the tank builder before you buy.
One nano school
Eight chili rasboras, or eight celestial pearl danios, or six pygmy corydoras. Choose one. A 10-gallon tank is only a little above the size for celestial pearl danios and pygmy corydoras.
A shrimp colony
Ten or more cherry shrimp or blue dream shrimp in a mature tank with no fish. A 10-gallon tank gives a small shrimp colony room to grow. Shrimp die from copper, so check every treatment first.
Other species need a closer look
These meet the volume minimum too, but fall outside the shortlist above because of their care needs, size or behaviour. A volume match does not make them suitable tank mates.
- Assassin Snail →
Snail · beginner care · peaceful · may eat smaller animals
This 10-gallon tank is large enough on volume.
Planning minimum
30 litres (7.93 US gal)
Species that need a larger tank
A 10-gallon tank is too small for guppies, white cloud mountain minnows, honey gouramis, ember tetras, neon tetras, harlequin rasboras and corydoras.
Each of these needs a larger tank than 10 US gallons. Buying a small juvenile does not change that.
- Amano Shrimp →
Needs a larger tank than 10 US gallons.
Planning minimum 40 litres (10.57 US gal).
- Endler's Livebearer →
Needs a larger tank than 10 US gallons.
Planning minimum 40 litres (10.57 US gal).
- Ghost Shrimp →
Needs a larger tank than 10 US gallons.
Planning minimum 40 litres (10.57 US gal).
- Guppy →
Needs a larger tank than 10 US gallons.
Planning minimum 40 litres (10.57 US gal).
- Honey Gourami →
Needs a larger tank than 10 US gallons.
Planning minimum 40 litres (10.57 US gal).
- Mystery Snail →
Needs a larger tank than 10 US gallons.
Planning minimum 40 litres (10.57 US gal).
- Pea Puffer →
Needs a larger tank than 10 US gallons.
Planning minimum 40 litres (10.57 US gal).
- Sparkling Gourami →
Needs a larger tank than 10 US gallons.
Planning minimum 40 litres (10.57 US gal).
- White Cloud Mountain Minnow →
Needs a larger tank than 10 US gallons.
Planning minimum 40 litres (10.57 US gal).
Common mistakes at this size
- Buying neon tetras or guppies because they look as small as nano fish. A 10-gallon tank is too small for both.
- Adding a betta to Aqueon's 10-gallon because the volume looks generous. Its outer base is 51.4 × 26.7 cm, narrower than the 45 × 30 cm base Seriously Fish asks for one male, and a betta may eat smaller shrimp.
Have a few species in mind?
Check them together, with the numbers you plan to keep. The builder checks group sizes, water ranges and every pair, with a stocking estimate.
Build a 10 US-gallon planExplore another tank size
The gallon figure beside a planning minimum is the litre figure, rounded up. A tank at that gallon figure meets the litre minimum. It is not a separate biological limit. The lists use the tank’s nominal volume. Read how the checks work and their limitations.