In this article, we will tell you about the Best Fish For 5 Gallon Aquarium Tank and a few suggestions for the best type of tank.
In the fishkeeping world, the 5-gallon aquariums are the second smallest size of tank (with the smallest being the 2.5-gallon aquariums). If you are a big fan of fish and you really love to have a tank in your house, we would suggest you opt for a 5-gallon tank.
Top 12 Best Fish For 5 Gallon Aquarium Tank (2020 GUIDE)
Here are 12 ideas for stocking your 5 GALLON aquarium tank
1. Betta Splendens
A single male Betta is a great choice for a small tank. Give him some decorations to hide in and swim through, and make sure the current isn’t too strong.
He will not need the filtration if you keep the water crystal clear, but if it isn’t bothering him you may as well leave it on.
If you choose a male Betta for your tank he should be in there alone as there is a strong chance he could be aggressive in such confined quarters. Though, in a larger tank, he may get along fine with community fish. This is one of the Best Aquarium Fish For A New Tank
A word of caution: If you plan on a Betta fish please take the time to learn how to care for him correctly. You can start here:
2. Fancy Guppy
Guppies are small, curious fish and will do well in a 5-gallon tank, provided the water is warm enough and the environment is kept clean.
They come in all kinds of different colors, so in combination with your aquascaping they can make your tank quite an eye-catcher. Stick to a conservative school or 6 or fewer with these little guys. Even though they get along, you don’t want to overcrowd.
If possible, do some research (or ask the staff at your pet store) on how to tell male and female guppies apart. It is a good idea to stock two females for every one male in order to cut down on stress.
3. Dwarf Gourami
A dwarf gourami is a bad choice for anything less than five gallons, but if that’s the tank size you’ve chosen it may be an option. Gouramis are anabantids, meaning they can breathe the air above the water.
Bettas are also in the anabantid family, which is why they can do well in water with lower oxygen levels. But that’s no reason to let the tank get dirty. A dwarf gourami requires clean, warm water and should be kept alone in a 5-gallon tank.
Remember that dwarf gouramis are considered semi-aggressive fish. I will reiterate that it is not a good idea to have tankmates with a single gourami in a small tank.
Also, realize that there is a big difference between a dwarf gourami and other gourami species, so choose your fish carefully!
4. Ghost Shrimp
These little shrimp are often thought of as food for other fish, but they are interesting critters in their own right.
You can have a little group of half a dozen shrimp in a 5-gallon tank, provide a lot of interesting things for them to climb on and feed them algae wafers and sinking pellets. It would make for an intriguing if unconventional tank setup. This is one of the Best Fish For 5 Gallon Aquarium Tank
5. Oscar
Oscars are thought to be one of the most intelligent aquarium fish available, and are one of the few species that can be trained to do tricks.
Oscars however are not a community fish, they should be kept in a species only tank, and they can grow very large, very quickly.
They require a lot more maintenance than other fish, due to their carnivorous nature and the amount of waste they create. This is one of the Best Aquarium Fish For A New Tank
On the positive side, they are one of the few species you can hand feed; they will often eat food from between your fingers. Oscars thrive when kept in pairs, or group of 5+, and should be housed together from a young age.
6. Mollies
This small, peaceful species grow to around 3-4 inches, and adapt well to a variety of water conditions.
The ideal tank conditions are: a minimum tank size of 20 gallons, and warm water with a pH between 7.0-7.8.
Mollies are omnivorous, and will require a diet of both plant and animal food. This is one of the Best Fish For 5 Gallon Aquarium Tank.
Interestingly, they are livebearers, meaning they give birth to their young live, rather than lay eggs. Mollies are very easy to care for, but they also breed very easily, so if you’re a beginner you might want to keep just a single sex.
7. Zebra Danios
The Zebra Danios make the perfect beginner fish, they are very easy to care for and can grow up to 5-7cm.
They should be kept in at least a 10 gallon tank, in groups of at least 5. Danios are a schooling fish and will become stressed if their numbers are too lows.
They are not fussy eaters and will eat most foods; the healthiest option for them would be lots of worms, insets and crustaceans to mimic their natural diet, however a good quality flake will also work with a supplement of frozen or live food.
Danios are also known to jump so you may want to keep your tank covered!
8. Platies
Platies come in almost every color imaginable and they are very easy to care for – just two of the reasons why they are so popular.
They are a great community fish, they’re very peaceful and get along well with guppies and mollies.
Although small, platies are very active and love being in groups. A 10 gallon tank is large enough for 5 fish.
Whilst they are omnivorous, they do require much more herbivorous food, than meats. Ideally, they need a good mix of plant based food and proteins.
9. Cherry Barb
The Cherry Barb gets its name from the color the male turns when it is spawning. Usually, they are silver/black with a golden lateral line.
They are a peaceful fish which will grow to around 2 inches in length, and they require a minimum tank size of 25 gallons. Cherry Barbs are omnivorous and will eat most types of food including live, fresh, frozen and flake foods.
They are easy to care for and can be kept in community tanks with open space to swim, but also planted areas where they can hide.
10. Pearl Gourami
The Pearl Gourami is a relatively large, but peaceful fish and one of the most easy to keep Gouramis.
The minimum tank size for this species is a 30 gallon tank with plenty of hiding places, dark substrate and low lighting.
They can be housed with other fish of a similar size and temperament; however you should not house them with aggressive fish.
Pearl Gourami’s are omnivorous and should be fed algae-based foods and meaty foods.
They are well known for eating Hydra, a tiny pest that has tentacles with venom, so make a great solution if you have a hydra problem.
11. Swordtails
The swordtail is similar in shape to platy and guppy fish, with a slightly bulkier body, and a sword shaped extension of its fin.
There are many different color variations available and they are quite hardy which makes them a perfect species for the beginner aquarist.
Swordtails are usually peaceful, yet lively. They thrive in community tanks, and like to swim in loosely grouped schools.
They breed easily, and if you do decide to breed them, you should keep them away from their parents; Swordtail parents will often eat their fry.
12. Discus
These beautiful and graceful fish can grow to be quite large, and therefore require a larger tank, a minimum size of 25 gallons.
Discus are not recommended for beginners, and instead should only be kept by experienced aquarists.
They can be housed with other fish that require the same water conditions, as long as they are not aggressive. This is one of the Best Aquarium Fish For A New Tank
Discus will take a variety of foods but are carnivorous in nature. The best diet for them consists of beef heart and blood worms supplemented with flakes to provide vitamins and minerals.
