Which Tetra fish is suitable for a 10 gallon planted tank?

Question

Please suggest some Tetra fishes and quantity suitable for a 10 gallon (24in X 12in X 12in) planted tank.

Except Neon and Cardinal Tetra please... Thanks

How many Tetra fish can I keep in my tank?

Answer 1

Any of the small tetras (2.5 inch or less as adults) would be fine. These like to school and shouldn't be kept in groups less than 5. If these will be your only fish in the tank (other than a small bottom cleaner or two), you could get 5-7 2.5 incher, a few more if the adult size will be smaller.

Any of these would be okay: rummynose, glowlight, lemon, black neon, bleeding hearts, red-eye, black & white skirts, diamond, bloodfin, Colombian, serape, pristella,or green fire are all about 2" - 2.5" Flame tetras and head & tail light are <2".

A little larger/heavier bodied as adults: emperor, congo, penguin tetras

Rasboras, marble hatchets, and guppies, as others have mentioned, male platies, small danios, and small corydoras would also work.

I'm adding 2 links for photos & info on these species (and others): http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/categ.cfm?pcatid=830
http://www.elmersaquarium.com/000tropfishcareguides.htm

Answer 2

I've had great success with the Black Phantom and Serpae/Red Minor Tetras. I currently have 2 Black Phantom and 1 Serpae Tetra with 2 Peppered Corys and they are really healthy and colorful since I feed them brine shrimp and bloodworms as supplements. Other types can be a school of Neon Tetras or Cardinal Tetras. Also, Glowlight Tetras are very small and hardy making them ideal.

Answer 3

Small Peaceful Tetras: Black Neon Tetra, Black Phantom Tetra, Bleeding Heart Tetra, Diamond Tetra, Emperor Tetra, Flame Tetra, Glass Tetra, Glowlite Tetra, Gold Tetra, Head & Tail Lite Tetra, Lemon Tetra, Pristella Tetra, Red Eye Tetra, Red Phantom Tetra, Ruby Tetra , Rummynose Tetra

(Note: Black Tetras and Bloodfin Tetras may be too active for this tank.)

Answer 4

In truth the rule is 2 gallons per inch of fish. But this does not take into account for the plants and decor either. At present I have 1 koi and 3 asst'd fancy breed goldfish. They are all about 2-21/2" long. They seem to be OK at present with 1 plant and 1sm. and 1 med-lg. decor item. I'm sure by summer they'll want more room so I'll have either another tank or my pond ready for at least a couple of them. I'll have to check to see if two of them will be OK in a pond environment before I introduce them into it. The fantails are said to have a hard time in a pond so we'll see. You might want to start with 1 or 2 fish that you find appealing and see how they do. Some of us don't really care for the large grouping community type fish. There are many freshwater fish that are very unique and much more enjoyable than the standard communal tanks. Upside-down catfish, elephant fish, shovel nosed cats, puffers, and there are more that are very neat for small tanks like yours. Whatever you do buy the fish you like not just the kind others tell you to buy. You are the one who has to look at them!!!!

Answer 5

Lemon tetras, Glowlights, hatchetfish are pretty cool, rummynose tetras, black skirt tetras, not to mention the color variants of neons such as black neons and gold neons. There are tons of different species to look for, just be sure to get a species thats small and have at least six of them as tetras need to be in decent schools. If they are not kept in large enough groups, they are usually much more stressed and skittish and can even parish.

Good luck!

Answer 6

I have had all manner of tetras in my 10 gallon tank. I really enjoyed the bleeding heart tetras. The black tetras are fun too. They are calm enough to not attack other fish.

Answer 7

Black Neon Tetra,should be kept in odd numbered schools of 5 or more.

Answer 8

Blackskirt Tetras

Painted Glass Fish (beautiful colors)

Fruit Salad Tetras (beautiful colors)

I wouldn't do more than 6 in a ten gallon!

Answer 9

I have had success with red eye tetra in my 25 gallon planted tropical tank.

Answer 10

Why not guppies they are awesome. They reproduce like crazy and are colorful too. When I first saw your question I thought cardnal tetras. I have had no luck with neon tetras because they got the neon tetra disease but cardnal tetras have not been known to get the disease. Also mollies are great too.