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A 15 gallon tank, close to 60 litres, opens up many more options than a 10 gallon. This list is calculated from our database and includes every fish whose honest minimum tank size is 60 litres or less.
At this size you can build a small community with one or two schools of nano or small fish, a group of corydoras and perhaps a centerpiece such as a honey gourami or a pair of dwarf cichlids, depending on the footprint. Length matters: a long 15 or 20 gallon is better for active fish than a tall cube of the same volume.
- Pick a theme: soft-water South American, Asian rasboras and gouramis, or hardwater livebearers.
- Respect group sizes: two schools of 8-10 are better than five species in twos and threes.
- Mind the bottom: one group of bottom dwellers is enough for this footprint.
This list only applies a size filter, so it combines fish with very different water and temperament needs. Use the compatibility checker to confirm your selection and the stocking calculator to see how full the tank will be. Remember that our minimum sizes assume the species' minimum group, not a single fish.
15 gallon tank
| Species | Min. liters | Size | Temp. | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Cherry barb Puntius titteya | 16 gal (60 L) | 2 in (5 cm) | 73–81 °F (23–27 °C) | Easy |
 Betta fish Betta splendens | 7 gal (25 L) | 2.4 in (6 cm) | 75–82 °F (24–28 °C) | Easy |
 Panda cory Corydoras panda | 16 gal (60 L) | 1.8 in (4.5 cm) | 68–77 °F (20–25 °C) | Moderate |
 Zebra danio Danio rerio | 16 gal (60 L) | 2 in (5 cm) | 64–77 °F (18–25 °C) | Easy |
 Guppy Poecilia reticulata | 14 gal (54 L) | 2 in (5 cm) | 72–82 °F (22–28 °C) | Easy |
 Dwarf gourami Trichogaster lalius | 16 gal (60 L) | 2.4 in (6 cm) | 75–82 °F (24–28 °C) | Moderate |
 Otocinclus catfish Otocinclus vestitus | 16 gal (60 L) | 1.6 in (4 cm) | 70–79 °F (21–26 °C) | Moderate |
 Platy Xiphophorus maculatus | 16 gal (60 L) | 2.4 in (6 cm) | 68–79 °F (20–26 °C) | Easy |
 Ram cichlid Mikrogeophagus ramirezi | 16 gal (60 L) | 2 in (5 cm) | 79–86 °F (26–30 °C) | Moderate |
 Harlequin rasbora Trigonostigma heteromorpha | 16 gal (60 L) | 1.8 in (4.5 cm) | 72–81 °F (22–27 °C) | Easy |
 Celestial pearl danio Danio margaritatus | 11 gal (40 L) | 1 in (2.5 cm) | 68–77 °F (20–25 °C) | Moderate |
 Ember tetra Hyphessobrycon amandae | 11 gal (40 L) | 0.8 in (2 cm) | 73–82 °F (23–28 °C) | Easy |
 Neon tetra Paracheirodon innesi | 16 gal (60 L) | 1.4 in (3.5 cm) | 68–79 °F (20–26 °C) | Easy |
 Lyretail killifish Aphyosemion australe | 11 gal (40 L) | 2.2 in (5.5 cm) | 70–77 °F (21–25 °C) | Moderate |
 Agassiz's dwarf cichlid Apistogramma agassizii | 16 gal (60 L) | 3.1 in (8 cm) | 75–82 °F (24–28 °C) | Moderate |
 Cockatoo dwarf cichlid Apistogramma cacatuoides | 16 gal (60 L) | 3.1 in (8 cm) | 75–82 °F (24–28 °C) | Easy |
 Badis Badis badis | 16 gal (60 L) | 2.4 in (6 cm) | 68–79 °F (20–26 °C) | Moderate |
 Chili rasbora Boraras brigittae | 8 gal (30 L) | 0.8 in (2 cm) | 72–82 °F (22–28 °C) | Moderate |
 Dwarf rasbora Boraras maculatus | 11 gal (40 L) | 1 in (2.5 cm) | 75–82 °F (24–28 °C) | Moderate |
 Salt and pepper cory Corydoras habrosus | 11 gal (40 L) | 1.2 in (3 cm) | 72–79 °F (22–26 °C) | Moderate |
 Pygmy cory Corydoras pygmaeus | 11 gal (40 L) | 1 in (2.5 cm) | 72–79 °F (22–26 °C) | Moderate |
 Scarlet badis Dario dario | 11 gal (40 L) | 0.8 in (2 cm) | 64–79 °F (18–26 °C) | Moderate |
 Endler's livebearer Poecilia wingei | 11 gal (40 L) | 1.2 in (3 cm) | 72–82 °F (22–28 °C) | Easy |
 Gardneri killifish Fundulopanchax gardneri | 11 gal (40 L) | 2.4 in (6 cm) | 68–79 °F (20–26 °C) | Moderate |
 Sparkling gourami Trichopsis pumila | 12 gal (45 L) | 1.4 in (3.5 cm) | 72–82 °F (22–28 °C) | Moderate |
 Honey gourami Trichogaster chuna | 14 gal (54 L) | 1.8 in (4.5 cm) | 72–82 °F (22–28 °C) | Easy |
 Kuhli loach Pangio kuhlii | 16 gal (60 L) | 3.5 in (9 cm) | 75–82 °F (24–28 °C) | Moderate |
 Medaka (Japanese ricefish) Oryzias latipes | 11 gal (40 L) | 1.4 in (3.5 cm) | 50–79 °F (10–26 °C) | Easy |
 Golden dwarf cichlid Nannacara anomala | 16 gal (60 L) | 2.8 in (7 cm) | 72–81 °F (22–27 °C) | Easy |
 Multifasciatus (shell dweller) Neolamprologus multifasciatus | 16 gal (60 L) | 1.8 in (4.5 cm) | 75–81 °F (24–27 °C) | Moderate |
 Nothobranchius rachovii (Rachow's nothobranch) Nothobranchius rachovii | 11 gal (40 L) | 2 in (5 cm) | 72–79 °F (22–26 °C) | Difficult |
 Pea puffer (dwarf puffer) Carinotetraodon travancoricus | 8 gal (30 L) | 1.2 in (3 cm) | 75–82 °F (24–28 °C) | Moderate |
 Least killifish Heterandria formosa | 8 gal (30 L) | 1 in (2.5 cm) | 68–79 °F (20–26 °C) | Easy |
 White cloud mountain minnow Tanichthys albonubes | 16 gal (60 L) | 1.6 in (4 cm) | 57–72 °F (14–22 °C) | Easy |
 Forktail blue-eye Pseudomugil furcatus | 16 gal (60 L) | 2 in (5 cm) | 75–82 °F (24–28 °C) | Moderate |
 Lambchop rasbora Trigonostigma espei | 14 gal (54 L) | 1.4 in (3.5 cm) | 73–82 °F (23–28 °C) | Easy |
 Hengel's rasbora Trigonostigma hengeli | 14 gal (54 L) | 1.2 in (3 cm) | 73–82 °F (23–28 °C) | Moderate |
 Copper tetra Hasemania nana | 16 gal (60 L) | 1.6 in (4 cm) | 72–82 °F (22–28 °C) | Easy |
 Glowlight tetra Hemigrammus erythrozonus | 16 gal (60 L) | 1.6 in (4 cm) | 75–82 °F (24–28 °C) | Easy |
 X-ray tetra Pristella maxillaris | 16 gal (60 L) | 1.8 in (4.5 cm) | 75–82 °F (24–28 °C) | Easy |
No species match those filters.
Frequently asked questions
How many fish can I keep in 15 gallons?
With good filtration, roughly two small schools plus a group of small bottom dwellers is a sensible maximum. The stocking calculator gives a more precise answer for your selection.
Is a 15 gallon tank good for beginners?
Yes. It is small enough to be affordable and big enough to stay reasonably stable, especially if you stock gradually after cycling.
Can I keep a dwarf cichlid in 15 gallons?
Some species, like Apistogramma cacatuoides, can work as a pair in a long, well-decorated tank of this size. Rams and kribensis do better in 20-30 gallons.
