How manny Fish are acceptable to have in a 10 gallon tank?

Question

I will soon be participating in a kids aquarium contest and i need to know so i know how manny fish to buy. i want 2-3 angel fish and like other bright tropical looking fish. i need answeres asap. please and thankyou :)

ok just so yall know, and i do appreciate your answers, i am 13 and i am very capable of maintaning the aquqruim, I am competing in the natural division and i have a tropical theme, the tank HAS TO BE 10 GALLONS, BIGGER IS NOT AN OPTION. i have also looked at Dwarf Gouramis and i would like to know what other colorful, tropical looking fish could be housed with the gouramis. Thanks again for all your help!

Answer 1

I think you're seeing the pattern here - a 10 gallon tank isn't a size that would be appropriate for an angelfish. These have tall fins and would need a tank much larger. If you would like something with bright colors, two-3 platys or swordtails will be fine. You can find these in bright oranges and reds. If these are young children, look for a "Mickey Mouse" platy - they have a marking on their tail that when turned sideways looks like Mickey's head.

See the links below for photos - click on any photo for care info: http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/scateg.cfm?pCatId=1103 http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?pCatId=1098

I like the idea of plants and as well - maybe some silk so they'll last. Some gravel and a filter and heater for the tank, too.

Answer 2

If you get a dwarf gourami, that is pretty much full stocking for a 10 gallon tank. You might be able to get away with either 3 small cory cats or 3 otos with your gourami, but I wouldn't recommend it as these are both schooling fish and are happier with at least 6 of their own kind.

I have a 10 gallon tank with 5 platies (all males so they don't breed), and this is a fun, colorful setup! You could do this with guppies or endler's livebearers as well.

White cloud minnows--you could have about 8 of these fish in a 10 gallon.

You could also have a school of 10-12 neon tetras, or ember tetras if you can find them (really neat looking fish!)

Another option for a 10 gallon is a single male betta with 3 african dwarf frogs. You will be amazed at how active and beautiful the betta is in a roomy aquarium, compared to the tiny bowls that are usually marketed for them! Doing this will also raise awareness about how bettas should be responsibly kept in a heated, filtered aquarium--just like any other tropical fish.

If you are participating in a contest, I agree that plants and decorations are what will make or break the way your tank looks. Lots of green usually looks great!

Good luck!

Answer 3

A 10 gallon aquarium won't house many fish, so my suggestion would be to go for an aquarium style that focuses more on plants rather than fish. I would recommend attaching some java fern, Anubis and java moss to driftwood, some wisteria in the back, some dwarf sag around the front and sides, and more java moss on the gravel. Then add about 10 neon tetras or cardinal tetras and as they school through the plants it should be a beautiful sight.

Answer 4

in case you get a dwarf gourami, this is exceedingly lots finished stocking for a ten gallon tank. you will possibly have the skill to ruin out with the two 3 small cory cats or 3 otos at the same time with your gourami, yet i does no longer recommend it as those are the two education fish and are happier with a minimum of 6 of their very own variety. I also have a ten gallon tank with 5 platies (all adult males so they do no longer breed), and it rather is a exciting, colourful setup! you are able to desire to try this with guppies or endler's livebearers as nicely. White cloud minnows--you have gotten approximately 8 of those fish in a ten gallon. you are able to desire to also have a school of 10-12 neon tetras, or ember tetras in case you will discover them (rather neat finding fish!) yet another selection for a ten gallon is a single male betta with 3 african dwarf frogs. you would be surprised at how lively and pleasing the betta is in a roomy aquarium, while in comparison with the tiny bowls that are often marketed for them! Doing this additionally will boost know-how approximately how bettas must be responsibly stored in a heated, filtered aquarium--merely like all different tropical fish. while you're partaking in a contest, I agree that vegetation and decorations are what's going to make or ruin the way your tank seems. lots of green often seems great! sturdy success!

Answer 5

For goldfish, two inches per a gallon= 5inches on a heavy filter
Tropical freshwater, one inch per a gallon= 10 inches
Saltwater= I think you should just get a bigger tank.

For children, I would suggest just getting five or so per a tank.
And NOT angelfish. No matter how beautiful they are, its hard to keep them with children. Also, they can grow to over six inches with a high back and anal fin. It may be smarter just to get a bunch of assorted male guppies. Careful, also, how many you add at a time. Putting more then three in at a time may result in ammonia shock, killing all the fish on that filter string/tank. That would be devastating, especially to kids.

Answer 6

Angel fish definitely won't work in a 10 gallon tank. They get very large and need a minimum of 30 gallons (full grown, with their fins, they can get over 12" in height). You can only put about 10" of adult fish so 4 or 5 tetras, rasboras or other smallish (2.5" max adult length), community fish is about it.

Answer 7

Angelfish should never be kept in a 10 gallon, no matter how small they are. The species simply needs more swimming space. You aren't going to win this contest if you use the inch per gallon rule. You need to learn proper stocking.

Answer 8

Common Glass Aquarium Sizes

5.5 Gallon 16x8x10 (128 sq. in.)
10 Leader 20x10x12 (200 sq. in.)
10 Hexagon 14x12x18 (127 sq. in)
15 Gallon 24x12x12 (288 sq. in.)
20 High 24x12x16 (288 sq. in.)
20 Long 30x12x12 (360 sq. in.)
25 Gallon 24x12x20 (288 sq. in.)
29 Gallon 30x12x18 (360 sq. in.)
30 Gallon 36x12x16 (432 sq. in.)
30 Breeder 36x18x12 (648 sq. in.)
33 Long 48x13x12 (624 sq. in.)
37 Gallon 30x12x22 (360 sq. in.)
38 Gallon 36x12x20 (432 sq. in.)
40 Long 48x13x16 (624 sq. in.)
40 Breeder 36x18x16 (648 sq. in.)
45 Gallon 36x12x24 (360 sq. in.)
50 Gallon 36x18x18 (648 sq. in.)
55 Gallon 48x13x20 (624 sq. in.)
65 Gallon 36x18x24 (648 sq. in.)

Petite body fish
1” per gallon or 1” per 12 sq. in. of surface
For example 20 long has 360 sq. in. surface area
360/12=30
Can a 20 long support 30” of fish? Probably not.
A 20 high has only 288 sq. in. surface area
288/12=24
Can a 20 long support 20” of fish? Probably not.
A 25 is also 288 sq. in. surface area
288/12=24
Can a 25 support 24” of fish. Probably.

I like to average the two for a more accurate capacity.
For the 20 long, 30 by surface area, 20 by volume averages to 25”
Can a 20 long support 25” of fish? Probably.
For the 20 high, 24 by surface area, 20 by volume averages to 22”
Can a 20 high support 22” of fish? Probably.

Why does the 20 long support 3” more fish that the 20 high?
A larger surface area allows a greater oxygen exchange, which is as important as volume of water.

Large bodied fish, such as gold fish you need to double or even triple these numbers, i.e. 3 gallons per inch or 36 sq. in. of surface per 1” of fish.
This is not the only consideration for fish tanks. Types of fish will appreciate one type of tank over another. For example, fast swimmers like Zebra Danios and Blue Danios will do best in a tank that is at least 30” long. They would be better kept in a 20 long rather than a 25. Giant Danios would do best in a tank at least 48” long. They would be better kept in a 55 rather than a 65.
On the other hand, slow, tall bodied fish like Angel Fish and Discus will do best in a deep tank. They would be better kept in a 65 rather than a 55.
They, like other cichlids also need a bit more than the 1” per gallon and/or 12 sq. in. surface.

Answer 9

A good rule to follow is 1 inch of fish per gallon of water. This means adult size, so even though an angel fish is only 1/2 inch now, it will grow to be 4-6 inches so that fish will take up 4-6 gallons in your tank. If you want to have a lot of colorful fish, stick with guppies or platys since they stay pretty small you can have more.

Answer 10

For every inch of fish that you have you need 1 gallon of water. So if you get an Angel fish that is going to grow upto 3 inches then you need 3 gallons of water.