Best fish for a 5 gallon tank
A 5 gallon tank holds 19 litres and is about 16 inches (41 cm) wide. 12 of the 100 species on this site fit it.
Three stockings that work
Fish that fit
Chili rasbora
5 gal+68–82°FpH 4.0–7.0Groups of 6+
Guppy
5 gal+72–82°FpH 6.8–7.8Groups of 3+
Betta (male)
5 gal+76–82°FpH 6.5–7.5
Cherry shrimp
5 gal+65–80°FpH 6.5–8.0Groups of 6+
Nerite snail
5 gal+72–78°FpH 7.0–8.5
Endler's livebearer
5 gal+72–82°FpH 7.0–8.5Groups of 3+
Female betta
5 gal+76–82°FpH 6.5–7.5
Clown killifish
5 gal+73–79°FpH 6.0–7.0Groups of 6+
Pea puffer
5 gal+74–82°FpH 6.8–7.8
Mystery snail
5 gal+68–82°FpH 7.0–8.0
Ramshorn snail
5 gal+64–82°FpH 7.0–8.0
Ghost shrimp
5 gal+65–82°FpH 7.0–8.0Groups of 3+Wait for a bigger tank
- Neon tetraNeeds at least 10 gallons (38 L)
- Cardinal tetraNeeds at least 20 gallons (76 L)
- Ember tetraNeeds at least 10 gallons (38 L)
- Harlequin rasboraNeeds at least 10 gallons (38 L)
- Zebra danioNeeds at least 10 gallons (38 L)
- White cloud minnowNeeds at least 10 gallons (38 L)
- PlatyNeeds at least 10 gallons (38 L)
- MollyNeeds at least 20 gallons (76 L)
- Dwarf gouramiNeeds at least 10 gallons (38 L)
- Bronze corydorasNeeds at least 20 gallons (76 L)
- Pygmy corydorasNeeds at least 10 gallons (38 L)
- OtocinclusNeeds at least 10 gallons (38 L)
- Bristlenose plecoNeeds at least 29 gallons (110 L)
- Kuhli loachNeeds at least 20 gallons (76 L)
- AngelfishNeeds at least 29 gallons (110 L)
- Tiger barbNeeds at least 20 gallons (76 L)
- Cherry barbNeeds at least 20 gallons (76 L)
- Fancy goldfishNeeds at least 20 gallons (76 L)
- Amano shrimpNeeds at least 10 gallons (38 L)
- Black skirt tetraNeeds at least 20 gallons (76 L)
- Glowlight tetraNeeds at least 10 gallons (38 L)
- Rummynose tetraNeeds at least 20 gallons (76 L)
- Black neon tetraNeeds at least 20 gallons (76 L)
- Lemon tetraNeeds at least 20 gallons (76 L)
- Serpae tetraNeeds at least 20 gallons (76 L)
- Bleeding heart tetraNeeds at least 29 gallons (110 L)
- Congo tetraNeeds at least 40 gallons (151 L)
- Diamond tetraNeeds at least 20 gallons (76 L)
- X-ray tetraNeeds at least 10 gallons (38 L)
- Green neon tetraNeeds at least 10 gallons (38 L)
- Marbled hatchetfishNeeds at least 20 gallons (76 L)
- Scissortail rasboraNeeds at least 29 gallons (110 L)
- Lambchop rasboraNeeds at least 10 gallons (38 L)
- Celestial pearl danioNeeds at least 10 gallons (38 L)
- Giant danioNeeds at least 55 gallons (208 L)
- Rosy barbNeeds at least 29 gallons (110 L)
- Gold barbNeeds at least 20 gallons (76 L)
- Denison barbNeeds at least 55 gallons (208 L)
- Rainbow sharkNeeds at least 55 gallons (208 L)
- Red-tailed black sharkNeeds at least 55 gallons (208 L)
- Siamese algae eaterNeeds at least 40 gallons (151 L)
- Hillstream loachNeeds at least 20 gallons (76 L)
- SwordtailNeeds at least 29 gallons (110 L)
- Sailfin mollyNeeds at least 29 gallons (110 L)
- Pearl gouramiNeeds at least 29 gallons (110 L)
- Honey gouramiNeeds at least 10 gallons (38 L)
- Three-spot blue gouramiNeeds at least 40 gallons (151 L)
- Sparkling gouramiNeeds at least 10 gallons (38 L)
- Paradise fishNeeds at least 20 gallons (76 L)
- German blue ramNeeds at least 20 gallons (76 L)
- Bolivian ramNeeds at least 29 gallons (110 L)
- Cockatoo dwarf cichlidNeeds at least 20 gallons (76 L)
- KribensisNeeds at least 20 gallons (76 L)
- Firemouth cichlidNeeds at least 40 gallons (151 L)
- Convict cichlidNeeds at least 29 gallons (110 L)
- OscarNeeds at least 75 gallons (284 L)
- Jack DempseyNeeds at least 55 gallons (208 L)
- SeverumNeeds at least 75 gallons (284 L)
- DiscusNeeds at least 55 gallons (208 L)
- Electric yellow labNeeds at least 40 gallons (151 L)
- Peacock cichlidNeeds at least 55 gallons (208 L)
- Shell dwellerNeeds at least 10 gallons (38 L)
- Electric blue acaraNeeds at least 40 gallons (151 L)
- Panda corydorasNeeds at least 20 gallons (76 L)
- Peppered corydorasNeeds at least 20 gallons (76 L)
- Sterbai corydorasNeeds at least 20 gallons (76 L)
- Clown loachNeeds at least 125 gallons (473 L)
- Yoyo loachNeeds at least 40 gallons (151 L)
- Dwarf chain loachNeeds at least 20 gallons (76 L)
- Clown plecoNeeds at least 20 gallons (76 L)
- Common plecoNeeds at least 125 gallons (473 L)
- Rubber lip plecoNeeds at least 29 gallons (110 L)
- Pictus catfishNeeds at least 55 gallons (208 L)
- Glass catfishNeeds at least 29 gallons (110 L)
- Chinese algae eaterNeeds at least 55 gallons (208 L)
- Boeseman's rainbowfishNeeds at least 55 gallons (208 L)
- Dwarf neon rainbowfishNeeds at least 20 gallons (76 L)
- Threadfin rainbowfishNeeds at least 20 gallons (76 L)
- Golden wonder killifishNeeds at least 20 gallons (76 L)
- Bala sharkNeeds at least 125 gallons (473 L)
- Common goldfishNeeds at least 75 gallons (284 L)
- Dojo loachNeeds at least 55 gallons (208 L)
- Japanese rice fishNeeds at least 10 gallons (38 L)
- Assassin snailNeeds at least 10 gallons (38 L)
- Bamboo shrimpNeeds at least 20 gallons (76 L)
- Crystal red shrimpNeeds at least 10 gallons (38 L)
- Dwarf orange crayfishNeeds at least 10 gallons (38 L)
- African dwarf frogNeeds at least 10 gallons (38 L)