how many fish go in a fish tank per gallon?

Answer 1

the rule most beginners go by is an inch per gallon for freshwater tropicals.. however this rule far from exact... The number of fish for a certain tank size depends more on the type of fish you plan on owning. Things such as max size, temperment, oxygen intake, waste production, etc are more important. In addition, the filtration type, water parameters, tank style and aquascaping can also play a role in what type of fish is best for your tank.

There are many problems with relying solely on the 1 inch per gallon rule. For example, a 20 gallon tall tank can fit less fish than a 20 gallon long tank.. Tall tanks hold less dissolved oxygen which limits the number of fish that it can hold... it also provides less horizontal swimming space....another example, you don't want to put a 24" arowana in a 30 gallon tank (even though it fits below the inch per gallon rule) because 30 gallons does not provide adequate swimming space... On the other hand, a 30 gallon tank with adequate filtration can contain more than 30 inches of peaceful tropicals such as neon tetras... for some species such as gouramis or bichirs, the dissolved oxygen level is less important because they take atmospheric air making the size of their tank more dependent on swimming space.. still other fish like goldfish and common plecos require more water because of their high waste production...

As you can see, the best way to go about stocking a tank, is to pick a few fish you like... find out what you can about them, and make educated guesses of whether or not they would be ok for your tank... rather than relying on the inch per gallon rule...

Answer 2

Answer: It depends on the type of fish and the size of the tank.

The 1" of fish per gallon of water is a rough guideline at best (and in my opinion best used if stocking small tetras and small livebearers and the like). Larger tanks provide more leeway than smaller tanks. Tank environement and filtration also play a major role.

In regards to fish there is no "one size fits all" answer.
Compatibility, social nature and needs of the particular species play a significant part as well whether we are talking about saltwater fish or freshwater fish.

Some fish require large volumes of water per fish regardless of how big the fish is (for example 1 [particular fish] per 30gals; while others thrive in schools and do best in groups.

Finally, stock a tank by the potential adult size of the fish rather than the size at purchase. Getting three 1-inch fish for a 10gal may be fine for peaceful fish that max out at 3". Getting three 1-inch fish for a 10gal that grow to 8 inches and are aggressive just won't work.

Answer 3

For tropical fish, you can do roughly 1 inch of ADULT SLIM-BODIED fish per 1 gallon of water. This means you look at the average size of what the fish will be as an adult and calculate that into how many fish you can put in your tank. This does NOT apply to cichlids (usually too aggressive), sharks (usually grow to be quite large), plecos (produce far too much waste and grow very large).

Goldfish need at least 20 gallons per fish as juveniles, and will need anything from a 55-gallon tank for a single fish to a pond as adults.

Saltwater fish are generally wild-caught and need more room. If you're interested in saltwater fish, you'll have to look up requirements for each individual fish.

Answer 4

For every 1 inch a fish measures = gallons in your tank....for example. If you have a 10 gallon tank and 5 fish that measure approx 2 inches each, you shouldn't have more than 5 fish in it.

Answer 5

I always heard an inch of fish per gallon. Sometimes you can get a little more in a 5 or 10 gallon tank if you keep it clean, filtered and aerated.

Answer 6

the only inch in accordance to gallon is in basic terms meant to assist novices. And it doesnt even try this nicely. Any fish that grows over one inch, the rule of thumb receives thrown out the window. heavily, if its a rule, this is going to word to each and every thing. in spite of the undeniable fact that it doesnt. You cant placed a 10 inch Oscar in a 10 gallon tank. Or a 36 inch Arowana in a 36 gallon tank. there's no rule for fish stocking. you want to study each and every individual fish you want. you want to provide one and all acceptable room. some fish require extra room than others because they are territorial. even as some require extra because they are in basic terms messy. and some prefer to swim. It relies upon.

Answer 7

the general rule is one inch of fish per gallon. Goldfish are dirty so less is better and some community tropicals like Tetras thrive in at least groups of three. Also, even if all the fish you select are "community" if a fish can fit another fish in his mouth there is a good chance he will eat it.

Answer 8

There's a lot if different views on this. I used to believe that it was 1" of fish per gallon of water, but this varies depending on the actual size of the fish, and whether you are talking about a freshwater system or a saltwater/marine system.

Answer 9

No more then 3 fishes.

Answer 10

depends on the fish, if you have bettas then one male fish per tank, but other wise i inch per gallon