Tank stocking ideas

10-gallon tank stocking ideas

4 themed stocking plans with exact species + counts + notes. Pick the theme that fits your goals, then verify with the stocking calculator.

4 themed stocking ideas for 10-gallon

1. Planted nano community

  • 8-10x Cardinal tetras
  • 4-6x Pygmy corydoras
  • 6x Amano shrimp
  • Heavily planted (anubias, crypts, java fern)

Notes: The classic Iwagumi-style community. Stable parameters + good aquascape make this a 6-month nano with little maintenance.

2. Betta + tankmates

  • 1x Male betta
  • 6x Pygmy corydoras OR 4x Otocinclus
  • 5x Cherry shrimp (risk: betta may eat)

Notes: Add betta LAST after tankmates establish. Some bettas tolerate tankmates; others kill anything. Have a backup tank ready.

3. Shrimp + nano fish

  • 25-30x Cherry shrimp colony
  • 8x Ember tetras
  • 4x Otocinclus

Notes: Shrimp-friendly nano fish. Otos eat algae but ignore shrimp. Embers small enough not to predate adult shrimp.

4. Single small school

  • 12x Neon tetras OR 12x Harlequin rasboras OR 10x Lambchop rasboras
  • Optional: 1x bristlenose pleco

Notes: Single species school fills the visual space and prevents stress from multi-species hierarchy.

Verify your stocking plan

Use the stocking calculator to verify the exact species + counts work in your 10-gallon. Also check the water change calculator for ongoing maintenance, and the setup guide library for the full build playbook.

Other tank sizes

Browse all stocking idea pages from 5g nano to 180g show-tier. Or jump to the stocking blueprints for build-along plans with timelines.