How Many Fish in a 6 Gallon Tank?

Each gallon of water, one inch of fish. In this case, the fish would be six “inches” long. The catch here is that one six-inch fish cannot and should not be kept in a six-gallon aquarium. In that aquarium, you would house 6–10 small community fish instead.

Having a 6-gallon tank is a great idea for people who have only a little space and want a small aquarium. However, there are certain factors to consider when deciding how many fish to put in your tank.

Brevis Shell Dweller Cichlid

Keeping the Brevis Shell Dweller Cichlid in a 6-gallon tank can be difficult. This fish is a semi-aggressive cichlid species. It is also susceptible to bacterial and fungal infections. In order to keep the Brevis healthy, it is recommended that you read up on common tank diseases.

This cichlid is a spawner in the wild. They spawn in abandoned shells of Neothauma tanganyicense snails. In captivity, this species is monogamous. They will form a pair and guard their territory. A male and female pair often share the same shell during spawning.

This species can be easily bred. They prefer live daphnia, frozen blood worms, and brine shrimp. They can also be fed spirulina-based foods. It is recommended that you give your Brevis pellets regularly.

Brevis will guard their territory more fiercely than any other shell-dwelling cichlid. Their breeding territory is small. This makes it ideal for beginner cichlid owners. They need a quiet and calm environment to breed.

The male and female Brevis will begin to share the same shell. They will dig around the shell and move it into the best position. It is important to have a variety of shells in the tank, but you don’t have to worry about buying a large tank. They can be kept in small tanks or nano tanks.

This species is known for its great color pattern. It has an orange-yellow area between the gill covers and anal fins. It also has florescent blue lines under its eyes. It is a common species of shell-dwelling cichlid.

This species has a fairly large mouth. It will grip the edge of the shell with its mandibles. It will also remove sand from underneath the shell. It will also swim against the shell to get it into position.

Mollies

Mollies in your aquarium are a good choice for any beginner because they are low maintenance and don’t require special lighting, substrate, or salt in the water. They are also adaptable to a wide variety of tank setups. Depending on their species, they can live in brackish waters or pure freshwater.

Mollies are shoaling fish, so they enjoy grouping up to explore the tank and swim as a unit. They also enjoy hiding in tall plants or in an artificial cave.

Male mollies are aggressive breeders and harass females. They also perform courting displays to attract females. The females will hold the eggs in their bellies until they are ready to hatch. When ready, the male mollies will deposit the sperm into the eggs.

Mollies have a relatively short lifespan of three to five years. However, their life span can be longer if the proper care is taken. Some mollies will breed several times throughout their life.

Mollies are hardy and do well in warm water. They are also resistant to nitrites and ammonia. However, if you keep them in a small tank, they can be prone to sudden changes in water quality. This can lead to disease, parasites, and even bacterial infections.

Mollies should be kept in tanks with at least one female for every male. This ensures that no one female receives all the male attention.

Mollies can be found in a wide variety of colors and live with a wide variety of species. They like to be kept in natural decor, which includes plenty of plants. They also do well with silverfish, Tetras, Platies, and Guppies.

Mollies are a very popular choice for fish. They can live in brackish or pure freshwater, and they don’t require salt. They are easy to care for and make good first fish for a cycling tank.

Sparkling Gourami

Keeping Sparkling Gouramis in a 6-gallon aquarium isn’t very hard. However, it does require a little extra care. You should ensure the water quality is high enough and keep your tank clean to prevent the rise of ammonia levels. If you don’t clean your tank, you could end up with a dead Sparkling Gourami.

Sparkling Gouramis are primarily upper-layer feeders. They prefer live foods such as artemia, bloodworms, and brine shrimp. They also appreciate tropical flake foods. They are not prone to diseases in captivity and are very easy to maintain.

These fish are native to Southeast Asia. Their natural habitat is the Mekong River basin. They like quiet, slow waters and are often found in paddy fields and irrigation canals. They are a peaceful breed that enjoys hiding and exploring. However, they can become aggressive if they feel threatened.

They are small, shy fish that only grow to about an inch in length. They are anabantoids, which means they have a special breathing organ in their gill chamber called a labyrinth organ. This organ allows them to take air directly from the surface of the water. During their development, they use the labyrinth organ for breathing.

Males of this species tend to compete for mates and may become aggressive. However, they are very peaceful when kept with other peaceful fish.

They are best kept in small groups of five or six. Sparkling Gouramis don’t like to be disturbed by other fish. This makes them good fish for beginners. However, they aren’t ideal tank mates for more aggressive species. If you want to keep two or more, you’ll need a tank that’s at least 10 gallons.

Cloud Minnow

Keeping white cloud minnows requires a lot of space. They require at least a 10-gallon tank. They can grow to be about 1 inch long. You need to keep them in groups of five or more. They also need to be in cool water temperatures. They will not breed in water temperatures above 72F.

They will spawn several times a year. You can have up to 700 eggs per spawn. You can remove the eggs to create a separate grow-out tank. You can also raise the newborn fry with infusoria or baby brine shrimp.

White cloud minnows are known for their peaceful nature. They will shoal together when they feel threatened. This is normal breeding behavior. They also get along with other peaceful species. You can keep white cloud minnows in community tanks. They will thrive when they have lots of other fish to interact with.

White cloud minnows are hardy fish that can survive in cool water. They also prefer minimal live vegetation. You can use plants like java moss to create a natural habitat for your white cloud minnows. They can also survive with plants near the bottom of the tank.

White cloud minnows have short fins that are triangular. They also have red splashes on the body and caudal fins. You can choose from a variety of colors. You can also find cream-colored variants with blue or red stripes. They also have red-tipped snouts.

You can also pair white cloud minnows with smaller killifish and shrimp. This pair is perfect for your aquarium.

White Clouds are very easy to breed. They are known for their long breeding season. You will need to breed at least ten minnows to produce eggs.

Neon Tetra

Besides being a nice-looking fish, Neon Tetras are also easy to keep. They require minimal maintenance, are relatively hardy, and are easy to breed. They are also considered to be a good tank mate to other types of fish.

Neon tetras can grow to be 2 inches long, but they usually grow to be only 1.5 inches. They are also known for their ability to hide in decorations. They prefer dim lights. Besides hiding, neon tetras also enjoy swimming in the water.

Neon tetras are good schooling fish. They move around on multiple levels of the tank. This helps to offset predators.

Neon tetras also make good tank mates for Betta fish. Bettas can be aggressive and territorial, but they also get along with neon tetras if given enough space.

Neon tetras like to swim in groups, so if you’re planning to keep them in your aquarium, you should make room for more than one. This will make them more comfortable, and you’ll enjoy a better view of them.

Neon tetras prefer soft, slightly acidic water. The pH should be between 6.0 and 7.0. They do not like bright light, so if you do decide to place them in an aquarium, keep the lighting at a minimum.

The water temperature should be 70 degrees Fahrenheit to 81 degrees Fahrenheit. You can also add a heater to keep the temperature at a consistent level. The ideal aquarium for neon tetras should be at least 20 gallons.

Neon tetras should be fed at least three times a day. You can also provide them with some floating plants. This will help diffuse light and provide shady areas in the tank.

What About Filtration and Fish Stocking?

Should we discuss filtration and fish stocking now that we know the answer to the question of how many fish fit into a gallon?

These may seem inconsequential when raising just a few guppies or goldfish in a 5-gallon tank. However, you need specialized filtering alternatives when you expand the capacity and switch to fish that produce a lot of waste over time.

In terms of filtering, you shouldn’t go overboard. Of course, having a system that keeps a healthy amount of oxygen in the water while removing garbage is wonderful, but that is all.

Additionally, you want to confirm that the system in question can keep the tank’s beneficial microorganisms in balance. As we mentioned, you can think about acquiring aquarium plants and rocks instead of focusing on a single filtration system. These components will give the fish ample cover to conceal and protect themselves from any infections that might afflict their particular species.

If you ask us, fish stocking is much more important. Fish stocking is primarily concerned with the species of fish that will go in the tank. The tank must be strategically designed to provide the fish ample room to swim.

Additionally, you should avoid mixing up peaceful and aggressive fish species. Otherwise, your aquarium will turn into a pool of dead fish before you know it.

Conclusion

As you can see, the responses to inquiries about how many fish per gallon is not necessarily definitive.

We do not want you to adopt these recommendations in their current form either. Before adding the first fish to an aquarium, you should instead give adequate consideration to factors like stocking, filtration, chemical levels, and tank capacity.

FAQ’s

Can 2 goldfish live in a 6 gallon tank?

Choosing a tank of at least 10 gallons for one goldfish and 20 gallons for two goldfish is a decent general rule of thumb. You’ll need an even bigger tank if you want to keep fantail or moor goldfish.

Can I put 6 fish in a 5-gallon tank?

As long as each fish is no bigger than an inch, you can keep roughly 2-4 fish in a tank this size. The majority of smaller fish breeds, including Tetras, Betta, Rasbora, Shrimps, and others, would fall within the one-inch fish per gallon guideline. It’s not advisable to keep larger-than-1-inch fish in a 5-gallon tank.

What can you keep in a 6 gallon tank?

A 6 gallon tank is regarded as a nano tank and may house a variety of species. If you like, you can keep only one betta, but tetras, such as neon or cardinal tetras, are a little more interesting options. They will be alright if you keep 5 or 6 of them in that aquarium.

Can 6 guppies live in a 5 gallon tank?

A 5-gallon fish tank can hold a minimum of two and a maximum of five guppies, however the latter is only advised for knowledgeable men and women. You’re prepared to start maintaining these amazing fish now that you know how many guppies to keep in a 5-gallon aquarium.

Can 1 male and 2 female betta fish live together?

Betta fish males and females cannot coexist because they will battle to the death. Male Betta fish are aggressive and possessive of their territory. Any fish, especially female Betta fish, that approaches their domain will be attacked.