10 gallon tank how many neon tetras can i fit in there

**goldfishnoob** · 03-01-2013, 11:06 PM

10 gallon tank how many neon tetras can i fit in there

**madagascariensis** · 03-01-2013, 11:13 PM

If they are the only fish in there, a good maintenance routine would be able to support up to 15.

**mizzoutank** · 03-01-2013, 11:29 PM

and proper filtration.

**fishmommie** · 03-01-2013, 11:30 PM

and a good maintenance routine would be 50% water changes weekly :o)

**steeler1** · 03-01-2013, 11:43 PM

+1 to all three comments.

**Aeonflame** · 03-01-2013, 11:50 PM

I tend to understock, so I would say 15 as long as it is planted as a buffer.

**DaveB951** · 04-08-2013, 04:44 AM

Rule of thumb is 1 inch of fish for every gallon of water, counting only the body. Using this standard that would be approx. 10 fish.

However, if you are super deligent with your aquarium maintenance, meaning cleaning filters once a week/every week, prefilters, twice a week, water changes of at "least" 50% a week and not over feeding too much, one can easily doubled that number to 20 tetras. Myself, I can prob keep 25 - 30 tetras in a 10 gal. IMHO

**talldutchie** · 04-08-2013, 04:57 AM

25 tetras in a 10 gallon? I take it you don't believe in swimming room?

**CrunchyLeaf** · 04-08-2013, 06:22 AM

I have a ten gallon with an AC30 and 50% weekly WC schedule. The most I have had in it at one time is 12. That felt like a good number. A decent sized school and everyone had lots of room to get around.
Others would argue that a ten gallon isn't large enough for the active little neon tetra so that's something to think about.

**Honey Badger 1** · 04-08-2013, 07:17 AM

I've heard the 1 inch per gallon rule was originally made up for fish like neons but for some reason people started using it for other fish. Doesn't matter here, we are talking neons, and I still don't like that "rule of thumb".
I would put 12-15 neons in a 10g as long as there is good filtration and a good maintenance routine. Good filtration is double for the size of the tank with a quality filter or filters that do not require the media to be changed each month but only rinsed out and put back. A good maintenance routine is relative to stocking, filtration, and nitrate levels.