What Fish Can Thrive in a 5-Gallon Aquarium?

You're not out of luck if you only have five gallons to work with. These fish can do well even in the smallest of tanks.

Betta (pictured above)

Betta is the most popular choice for five-gallon tanks. These freshwater staples are beautiful and mesmerizing. The males of the species are more popular among hobbyists as compared to the females. Tanks with standard gravel and tropical conditions will be ideal.

Only keep a single betta in a five-gallon tank. You will need a larger aquarium for keeping any more than that, since they can be aggressive toward each other.

Least Killfish

The Least Killifish is a low-maintenance species, as well as one of the smallest freshwater fishes. The fish thrives in temperatures between 65 and 75°F and in waters with normal pH levels. It is quite resilient and will be suitable for beginners. Least Killifish are peaceful by nature and prefer to live in schools. You can easily keep three in a five-gallon tank. They prefer to be around plants and in aquariums with low water flow. Least Killifish are not suitable for keeping with other species of fish as they might be perceived as food.

Chili Rasbora

Chili Rasbora is a great choice if you want multiple fish in your aquarium. It grows to a maximum length of 18-20mm and is reddish in appearance. It is the best fish for a five-gallon tank if you want four or five fish in it. They like soft water with a pH of less than 5.0, although they can live in water having up to 7.0 pH levels. They prefer a general hardness between 1-2° and temperature from 72 to 82°F. Aquariums with fine gravel, subdued lighting, and slow-moving water will suit them best.

Bumble Gobies

Bumble Gobies are more suitable for saltwater tanks even though they can survive in freshwater. They grow up to 1.5 inches, so you can place a few of them in a 5-gallon aquarium. Bumble Gobies can be aggressive towards other fish species and should ideally be placed with their own species. They do well in tanks with a pH of 6.5-8.5 and temperatures from 71 to 84°F. The water must be regularly filtered while maintaining proper salinity levels for keeping Bumble Gobies.

Dwarf Puffer

Dwarf Puffers are energetic fish that will grow up to one inch in length. These fish tend to be aggressive and don’t do well with other fish species. You can place one or two dwarf puffers in a single five-gallon tank. Aquariums with a sand substrate are most suitable for them, though they do fine in gravel also. They prefer a temperature of around 75-82°F with 7.0 water pH level. Adequate plants and decorations that provide hiding spots should be available to the Dwarf Puffer in the aquarium.