The era of fish bowls may be behind us, but that doesn’t mean you need a 10 gallon set up to enjoy the benefits of fish keeping. A 5 gallon tank can work perfectly well as long as you maintain it well and choose the right fish.
This list includes some beautiful, social species that work well in small spaces. Because of schooling nature and the small tank size, you shouldn’t have more than one species, but each has their own charm and plenty of personality to witness.
1. Scarlet Badis
Scarlet Badis go by a few different names, including Rainbow Badis, Gem Badis, and Scarlet Gem Badis. Males exhibit bright red or orange colors with light bars on their sides, and a bright blue accent, while females are a calmer gray color.
Like many fish seen in freshwater tanks, they originate from freshwaters in India and prefer dense vegetation. You can keep them in a 5 gallon, but you should be mindful of smaller tankmates due to their predatory nature.
Normally, these fish prefer to hunt for their food. While you might be able to appease them with prepared meals down the line, they thrive with crunchy, live treats or frozen meat.
2. Betta Fish
Bettas, also known as Siamese Fighting Fish, are one of the most popular fish for small aquariums. Despite the many misconceptions surrounding Betta fish, they are incredibly rewarding, especially if they’re kept in the right environment with the right level of care.
Because they’re tropical fish, Bettas need a heater to feel comfortable in their tank. Proper filtration helps keep the parameters stable and ensures your Betta can show off every aspect of their personable nature.
Female bettas can live in schools in larger tanks, but males can be kept with a small tank mate in a 5 gallon (as long as they don’t outshine his beauty).
3. White Cloud Mountain Minnows
White Cloud Mountain Minnows originate in China, but you’re unlikely to see them in the wild anymore. Changes in their natural environment have had significant negative impacts on their existence outside of the aquarium trade.
You can keep about 4 or 5 in a 5 gallon tank without running into overcrowding issues. These fish – also known as Canton Danio, Chinese Danio, White Clouds, and more – can thrive in a non-heated tank (unlike their Vietnamese variants), and they’re fairly peaceful and you shouldn’t run into any issues with proper care.
4. Shrimp
Shrimp may not be fish, but they’re particularly rewarding to watch when you have them in a tank on their own. A planted 5 gallon tank is perfect for a troupe of 5 to 10 Dwarf Cherry Shrimp (Neocaridina Davida).
Shrimp don’t like strong water flow and prefer cooler temperatures (around 68°F). They can be more sensitive to changes in water chemistry, but they’re not beyond the capabilities of those new to aquarium care.
You can get different colors of Dwarf Cherry Shrimp to brighten up your tank, including blue, red, black, and green, but keep in mind their offspring will likely come out a muddier blend.
Shrimp are much more active without other fish in the tank, so a 5 gallon is the perfect opportunity to see their personalities shine.
5. Rosy Loaches
Rosy Loaches are sexually dimorphic. Males have a bright red pattern with a pale orange base, while the larger females have a brown base under a spotted pattern. They thrive in schools of at least 6, especially in tanks with dense foliage.
These smaller loaches come from shallow waters in Myanmar, India, and Thailand; a 5 gallon tank toppers with live plants like water weeds or java moss help emulate their natural environment. They’re fairly peaceful but will poach smaller snails.
6. Green Neon Tetras
Smaller tetras like Green Neon Tetras (paracheirodon simulans) school nicely in a 5 gallon tank. These look strikingly similar to Neon Tetras, but they’re an entirely different species better suited to the small space.
Green Neon Tetras rarely grow larger than an inch, so keeping a school of 6 works well. They’ll want plenty of places to hide, but they won’t spend their entire time hiding out of view.
The bright blue-green stripe down their side is stunning from all angles, and you can even see it in the dark.
7. Guppies
Guppies come in a variety of vibrant colors. Their longer caudal fins often have marbled or striped patterns, and they may even show up in two-toned colors.
While they grow larger than most fish on this list, you can keep 3 in a 5 gallon tank without pushing the parameters. It’s important to note that they reproduce easily, so you may need to upgrade the tank or come up with another solution in the future.
8. Celestial Pearl Danios
Also known as Galaxy Rasboras, Celestial Pearl Danios are another bright tropical fish you can keep in a smaller habitat. They’re hardy fish, making them a suitable choice for beginner fish owners, and can cohabitate with other species like shrimp or tetras if you decide to move up to a bigger size.
These red-orange fish prefer warm water, so a heater is a must. They love to chase after each other when establishing dominance or breeding, but they’re generally peaceful and shouldn’t bother their tank mates.
Regardless of the fish you choose, doing proper research and setting up your tank beforehand is essential to give them a healthy start at life.
