Keeping small pets can be a fun and rewarding hobby that brings joy to the whole family. If you’re looking for the perfect pet to keep in a 10 gallon tank, you have quite a few great options to choose from.

If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: Fish like bettas, guppies, tetras, and danios make excellent choices for 10 gallon tanks. Small aquatic frogs and shrimp also do well in 10 gallons. For reptiles, anoles and small geckos work.

Mice and hamsters are small furry pets suitable for 10 gallon habitats.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the best 10 gallon tank pets in detail, covering topics like:

Best Fish for 10 Gallon Tanks

Betta Fish

With their beautiful flowing fins and array of vivid colors, betta fish are one of the most popular choices for small tanks like 10 gallons. These isolated fish do well in confined spaces and don’t require much swimming room.

Just be sure not to put two male bettas together, as they are aggressive towards their own kind. Bettas are carnivorous and will eat fish food, brine shrimp, and blood worms.

Guppies

Guppies are another top choice, ideal for community tanks thanks to their peaceful temperament. The males in particular are desired for their colorful tails, featuring almost any hue. With low care needs, a 10 gallon filtered tank is sufficient for 5-10 guppies.

Hardy and adaptable, they will readily eat most foods like flakes and pellets.

Tetras

Tetra fish are a popular pick for small home aquariums due to their mid-level swimming range and non-aggressive nature. A 10 gallon freshwater tank can easily house 6-8 tetras, either in a species-only school or community mix.

Just watch that temperate species like neon tetras have a heated tank and soft water. Most varieties will happily feed on standard fish fare like brine shrimp or tubifex worms.

Danios

Active and energetic, a school of 6 or more danios brings lots of lively action to a 10 gallon tank setup. Their horizontal swimming style lets them zip around the tank with minimal space. Danios are unfussy, handling a range of water conditions.

As omnivores, they enjoy standard flakes as well as snacks like mosquito larvae or bloodworms.

Platies

Peaceful and unfussy, 3-4 platies can fill out a 10 gallon tank. The males showcase beautiful tail and fin displays to attract females, while the females deliver interesting live births instead of eggs. Platies are hardy fish, adjusting to different water chemistries.

Feed them quality flakes and pellets for good health and coloration.

Mollies

Mollies make another fine option for a 10 gallon freshwater tank, given a species that maxes out under 3 inches long. Groups of 4-6 mollies provide lots of relaxed community activity. They’ll eat most prepared and live foods.

Interesting fact: mollies prefer some aquarium salt in their water, which promotes disease resistance.

Gouramis

Certain dwarf gourami species work well for 10 gallon tanks, like honey, sparkling, and chocolate gouramis. A trio is often the limit though, as some male gouramis spar. Gouramis have a gentle, meandering style and subtle colors that lend a peaceful aura to a small tank.

Feed them high quality pellets and treats like brine shrimp.

Corydoras Catfish

Often called “cory cats,” a corydoras catfish makes an excellent tank mate for other species while helping clean up extra food from the gravel. A trio or more allows them to exhibit their social schooling behavior. Peaceful bottom dwellers, cories bring activity to the lower tank levels.

Make sure to give them sinking wafers and pellets.

Plecos

The common pleco quickly outgrows a 10 gallon tank, but species like clown and butterfly plecos stay under 3-4 inches long. Even one pleco serves as an excellent algae eater and cleanup crew for a small tank.

Give them plenty of hiding places and driftwood to rasp on for fiber, plus sinking wafers for their strict vegetarian diet.

Aquatic Frogs

For something entirely different, certain aquatic frog species like African dwarf frogs work well for 10 gallon tanks. A trio of ADFs lounging on tank surfaces gives a unique vibe. Just monitor water quality, give them places to surface breathe, and feed them appropriate meaty frozen and live foods.

Their insectivore diet sets them apart from typical fish.

Best Reptiles for 10 Gallon Tanks

Anoles

Anoles are small lizards that make great pets for a 10 gallon tank. Also known as American chameleons, these lively reptiles only grow to about 8 inches long, so they don’t require much space. Anoles are diurnal and love climbing and jumping from branches or vines you put in their habitat.

With proper heating and UVB lighting, these little acrobatic displays will thrill any reptile lover!

Popular species like the green anole or brown anole are inexpensive and readily available. Just be sure to get captive bred specimens instead of wild caught. Though small, anoles have big appetites and will eagerly devour crickets, mealworms, waxworms, and other appropriately sized feeder insects.

Give them sticks, fake foliage, and hides to meet their climbing instincts.

Small Geckos

For reptile keepers who want a more easy-going pet, small gecko species like dwarf geckos or house geckos are a great choice for 10 gallon enclosures. Though not as active during the day as anoles, geckos have delightful personalities and come in a rainbow of colors.

Popular picks like leopard geckos and crested geckos exhibit an array of pinks, oranges, yellows, and blacks across their bumpy scales.

Geckos tend to live longer than anoles and other small lizards at 5-10 years or more. They require a warm tank kept around 75-85°F, with added heat for a basking area. Be sure to include hiding places and branches for climbing.

When it comes to food, geckos feed on crickets, mealworms, waxworms, and other gutloaded feeders dusted with calcium supplement powder to prevent metabolic bone disease.

Aquatic Turtles

Though most turtle species require larger enclosures with aquatic areas as they grow up, hatchling and juvenile aquatic turtles can live happily in a 10 gallon starter tank. Popular small turtle species like red-eared sliders, painted turtles, or mud turtles generally max out under 5-7 inches long as adults and don’t mind cramped quarters when young.

Be sure to give them proper lighting, filtration, water heating, and dry basking areas even as babies, however, since these are crucial for their health. Offer them daily feedings of turtle pellets, plants, veggies, insects, and calcium supplements to aid shell and bone growth.

Their unique personalities and aqua-acrobatic stunts make turtles fun to keep!

When choosing small reptiles for 10 gallon tanks, be sure to research their specific care requirements. Provide ample heating/lighting, humidity, hides, and enrichment objects to keep them active and healthy in a mini habitat! With a bit of effort, nano tanks can house these awesome petite pets.

Best Small Mammals for 10 Gallon Tanks

Mice

Mice can make great pets for 10 gallon tanks. Some popular species are fancy mice, African soft-furred mice, and singing mice. Here’s some key information on keeping mice in a 10 gallon tank:

  • Space – A pair or trio of mice will be happy in a 10 gallon tank. Make sure to provide lots of hides, tunnels, and climbing opportunities.
  • Bedding – Aspen or paper bedding works well. Provide 5-6 inches of bedding for burrowing.
  • Food – A quality rodent diet supplemented with small amounts of fruits/veggies. Offer a constant supply of hay for nesting material and fiber.
  • Habitat – Include a wheel for exercise, wood hides for security, and platforms for climbing. Change bedding weekly.
  • Social – Mice are very social and do best housed in same-sex pairs or groups.

With proper care, mice can live 2-3 years in captivity. Their small size, minimal noise, and inquisitive nature make them one of the best small mammal choices for a 10 gallon tank.

Hamsters

Hamsters are popular pocket pets that can also thrive in a 10 gallon habitat. Good hamster choices include:

  • Syrian (Golden) Hamsters
  • Dwarf Campbell’s Hamsters
  • Dwarf Winter White Russian Hamsters
  • Roborovski Dwarf Hamsters

Here are some hamster care tips:

  • Bedding – Use a soft paper or aspen bedding. Provide 6 inches for Syrian hamsters and 4 inches for dwarfs.
  • Wheel – An appropriately sized solid wheel is essential, at least 8″ for Syrians.
  • Hideouts – Offer at least 1 hide per hamster plus extra for storing food.
  • Food – Fortified hamster food along with timothy hay and limited fruits/veggies.
  • Tank Size – Syrians may eventually need larger than 10 gallons due to their size.

With proper care, hamsters typically live 2-3 years. Their cute faces and comical antics make them one of the best small pets for 10 gallon enclosures.

Gerbils

Gerbils are active, social rodents that thrive in pairs or trios in a 10 gallon tank habitat. Key gerbil care recommendations include:

  • Bedding – Use a deep 8-10 inch bedding like aspen or paper bedding for burrowing.
  • Habitat – Include hides, chew toys, tunnels, and a solid wheel around 8″ in diameter.
  • Food – Fortified gerbil food, timothy hay, limited veggies/fruits. Avoid too many sunflower seeds.
  • Cleaning – Spot clean soiled areas and change bedding fully every 4-5 weeks.
  • Species – Mongolian gerbils are most common as pets.

Gerbils have an average lifespan of 2-5 years in captivity. Their energetic and investigative nature makes them one of the most interactive small mammals for a 10 gallon tank.

Best Invertebrates for 10 Gallon Tanks

Cherry Shrimp

Cherry shrimp are a great small freshwater shrimp species that work well in a 10 gallon tank. They only grow to about 1-2 inches, have a bright red color, and are peaceful community tank mates. Cherry shrimp help clean up excess food and algae in the tank. They can be kept in groups and breed readily.

For optimal health, cherry shrimp need clean water with stable parameters and plenty of hiding spots among plants or decor. With their vibrant color and active nature, these little critters make a fun addition to small tanks!

Ghost Shrimp

Another top invertebrate for 10 gallon aquariums is the ghost shrimp. Ghost shrimp reach 1-2 inches in length and have a translucent body with a pale yellow or white hue. They are inexpensive and hardy, making them a beginner friendly option.

Ghost shrimp are mostly peaceful but may become aggressive toward each other when molting. They are scavengers that will eat leftover food, algae, and debris in the tank. Having 3-5 ghost shrimp in a planted 10 gallon tank provides some activity without overstocking.

Make sure to give them adequate hiding places and clean water.

Snails

Snails are essentially living clean-up crews that browse tank surfaces for algae and uneaten food. Some popular types of snails for 10 gallon aquariums are nerite snails, mystery snails, and ramshorn snails. Nerites stay small (1 inch) and do not reproduce much, making them a manageable choice.

Mystery snails get larger at 2+ inches but only breed slowly. Ramshorns breed readily and may overpopulate if not controlled. Keep only 1 mystery or nerite snail per 5 gallons, and start with just a few ramshorns. Supplement their diet with algae wafers. Overall snails help keep small tanks clean!

Hermit Crabs

Hermit crabs are fun scavenging invertebrates for 10 gallon saltwater tanks. Popular species are blue leg hermits and scarlet hermits, which grow to around 2 inches. Have 1 hermit crab per 5 gallons. They need plenty of empty snail shells to change into as they grow.

Hermit crabs are peaceful and use their claws to eat debris, algae, and uneaten food. They appreciate having live rock and caves to explore. Interesting behaviors like changing shells make these crabs entertaining for kids and adults!

Maintain proper water quality and parameters for marine hermit crabs to thrive.

10 Gallon Tank Setup

Tank

A 10 gallon tank is a great starter size for new aquarists. The rectangular shape provides more swimming area for your fish compared to tall, narrow tanks. Opt for a tank with clear glass or acrylic sides to easily view your pets.

Rimless open-top tanks are stylish but require more careful maintenance to prevent jumps or evaporation. Standard sizes like 20” Long x 10” Wide x 12” High are readily available.

Substrate

The substrate forms the foundation of your aquascape. Popular choices include natural gravel, sand, soil, or bare bottom tanks. Gravel allows waste to fall through while providing beneficial bacteria colonies. Smooth sand showcases fish like corydoras that sift during feeding.

Nutrient-rich soils support live plants but require more testing and maintenance. Bare tanks are easier to clean but lack aesthetic appeal.

Plants and Decor

Aquarium decor transforms a bare tank into a thriving underwater habitat. Driftwood, rocks, and commercial resin ornaments offer hiding spots and surfaces for beneficial bacteria. Live or silk plants add natural beauty and enrichment.

Easy beginner plants like anubias, java fern, and moss balls can thrive with low light and no CO2 supplementation. Arrange decor thoughtfully to create open swimming areas and intriguing line-of-sight breaks.

Equipment

A quality heater and filter are essential for maintaining water parameters in a 10 gallon aquarium. Look for a 50-100 watt adjustable heater sized for your tank volume. Canister filters or hang-on-back power filters provide three-stage mechanical, chemical, and biological filtration.

An air-powered sponge filter offers a simpler option suitable for species like bettas. Invest in an accurate liquid test kit to monitor water conditions.

Cycling the Tank

Properly cycling a new tank allows beneficial nitrifying bacteria to accumulate and establishes the nitrogen cycle before adding fish. Perform a fishless cycle by adding a pure ammonia source to feed the bacteria daily while testing until ammonia and nitrite drop to zero ppm.

Cycling usually takes 4-8 weeks. Alternatively, use pre-seeded filter media from an established tank to instantly cycle your new 10 gallon setup.

10 Gallon Tank Maintenance

Water Changes

Conducting weekly partial water changes of 25-50% is vital for a 10 gallon aquarium to dilute nitrates and replenish minerals. Using a gravel vacuum to remove debris during water changes is also recommended.

The new replacement water should be dechlorinated and temperature matched to avoid shocking fish. The water flow should also be moderate when refilling to avoid disturbing the substrate. Be sure to scrub decor items like wood and rocks monthly while changing water to remove algae buildup.

Filter Maintenance

Rinsing the filter media monthly in old tank water is important during routine maintenance to remove gunk and prevent flow restriction. However, never replace all filter media at once, as beneficial bacteria live there.

Check the impeller and other moving parts too for obstructions avoiding motor burnout. Additionally, inspect the intake strainer for clogs blocking water flow. Keep an extra filter cartridge handy to swap out each month keeping the backup seeded in the tank for bacteria.

Glass Cleaning

Use aquarium-safe algae scrubbing pads monthly to clean the interior glass walls of green dust algae and allow more light for plants. Avoid using soap or chemicals that could contaminate the habitat and harm fish. Wipe decorations and tank accessories too during cleaning to prevent algae spread.

Remember to change 10-20% of water afterwards removing any dislodged debris.

Watching Water Parameters

Test strips are essential for tracking ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, pH and hardness weekly ensuring water quality for tank inhabitants. Ammonia and nitrites should read zero ppm, while nitrates less than 20 ppm. pH between 6.8-7.5 and soft to moderately hard water is ideal.

Being observant of fish behaviors like gasping at the surface or loss of color can also indicate issues. Keep records noting any parameter changes requiring more frequent testing or water renewals to get back on track.

Conclusion

With the proper setup and care, a 10 gallon tank can be a wonderful home for a variety of small pets. Take the time to research the needs of any pet before bringing them home. Provide them with an appropriately sized habitat filled with enrichment.

With attentive care and tank maintenance, your new 10 gallon buddy will thrive.

Hopefully this guide has given you some great ideas for stocking your 10 gallon tank. Just be sure to fully research any pet that catches your eye, and make sure you can provide everything they need to live a healthy, enriched life. Happy fishkeeping and pet keeping!

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