The Best Fish for a 10 Gallon Aquarium
Aquariums can be very relaxing to watch, but not if the fish are attacking each other or quickly die. Most fish sold in stores are juveniles, so when purchasing them, you need to keep in mind just how big they can get as adults. Many species of fish are not suitable for a ten-gallon tank because they grow incredibly large. Be sure the tank is up and running for a month before adding any fish.
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Freshwater--Goldfish
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According to "Goldfish," by Bernice Brewster and Nick Fletcher, goldfish species need to be kept separate from other fish species. Goldfish not only tend to like colder water than tropical freshwater fish but also put out so much waste material that they can kill other fish. "Goldfish" recommends the common goldfish or the black moor for a ten-gallon aquarium. Do not mix fish that swim quickly with fish that swim slowly because the fast swimmers will eat all of the food.
Freshwater--Tropical
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Chinese algae eater
Small community fish good for ten-gallon aquariums include fancy guppies, small tetras, platies, small mollies and danios. Chinese algae eaters also do well in community tanks, but keep in mind that they can grow to be 2 inches long. Dwarf gouramis, swordtails and female bettas can work, but occasionally they become aggressive, so be sure there are hiding places for harassed fish in the tank if you are adding these species.
Brackish Water
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Brackish water requires the addition of some salt to the tank water. Freshwater fish and saltwater fish will die in brackish water. According to "The Everything Aquarium Book," by Frank Indiviglio, good brackish water fish for a ten-gallon tank would be killifish, the bumblebee goby, small pufferfish and halfbeaks.
Saltwater
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Sharknose goby
Good saltwater fish for a small tank include the indigo hamlet, the gold hamlet, the neon blue goby, the brown clown goby and the sharknose goby. Blue damselfish can work only if they are the only species of fish in the tank, otherwise they will eat the other fish. According to RateMyFishTank.com, these saltwater or marine fish will grow to be less than 4 inches long. They may not be available in pet stores, but will be in fish shows and online fish breeding websites.
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