Types of Nonaggressive Fish for a Ten-Gallon Tank

Several factors determine what type of fish you are able to keep in your tank. The small size of a 10-gallon tank will limit the size and number of fish you choose. Aggressive fish nip fins, bully other fish and in extreme circumstances remove flesh from or kill more passive fish. Additionally, fish that grow extremely large should not be kept in a 10-gallon tank. Consider the type of fish you want in your tank prior to making your first purchase. Many types of fish will peacefully cohabit.

  1. Live=Bearers

    • Live-bearers are probably the most commonly kept fish in the freshwater tank. They are called live-bearers because they bear live young instead of laying eggs. This group includes all species of guppies, mollies, platties and swordtails. They come in a myriad of colors. Some of the more striking choices include fancy guppies, black mollies and bright orange swordtails. Live-bearers are recommended for those without a lot of fish-keeping experience.

    Tetras

    • Tetras are a group of schooling fish with over 1,500 species. They are often brightly colored and nonaggressive. Some of the most popular tetra species include neon tetras, lemon tetras, bleeding heart tetras and hatchet tetras. Tetras remain relatively small. This makes them an ideal addition to a 10-gallon tank.

    Algae Eaters

    • Fish dwell in layers within a fish tank. Some hover near the surface like bettas and hatchetfish. Schooling fish dwell in the middle layers. Algae eaters are called bottom feeders for a reason; they spend most of their time on the bottom substrate of your tank. They spend their life consuming algae. This makes your job easier and helps maintain the correct pH balance in your tank by keeping algae growth in check. Commonly kept algae eaters include the Siamese algae eater, Amano shrimp and the common pleco.

    Cichlids

    • Cichlids are some of the most brightly colored freshwater fish kept in freshwater aquariums. The vast majority of cichlids grow too large and are too aggressive to keep in a 10-gallon tank with small nonaggressive species. However, several species of dwarf cichlids make an excellent addition to most freshwater tanks. Popular species include the blue ram, dwarf flag cichlid, kribensis and transvestitus.