Top 4 Pet Ideas for 5 and 10-Gallon Aquarium Tanks

Do you have an old fish tank that’s only gathering dust in your garage?

Wouldn’t you like to repurpose it into something completely new like a terrarium or a worm farm? Or maybe you’ve always planned to use it for keeping different aquarium animals. You know, just about any creature, as long as they’re not fish.

After all, whoever said fish are low-maintenance pets might not have gotten the memo that certain species are harder to care for than dogs or cats or other usual pets. That being said, if you’re ready to give non-fish aquarium pets a try, these 4 would be your best options.

1. Sea-Monkeys

If you’ve never seen a sea-monkey before, you’d probably be disappointed by its appearance. First, sea-monkeys look nothing like primates. The only monkey-like thing about them is their tails.

But if your definition of the best aquarium animals is any creature that’s easy to care for, then you’d definitely like sea-monkeys. They don’t need a big tank, and feeding them is quite easy. Just do it once every 5 days or once a week.

You also need to aerate their tank twice a day, but if you don’t want to do that, adding a small plant would do the trick, as long as it can provide enough oxygen underwater.

2. Hermit Crabs

Another popular starter pet, a hermit crab can thrive in a five-gallon tank. It’s best to buy at least 3 hermit crabs though, as they are social animals.

Now, if you already have a 10-gallon tank, it’s not a problem. But you might want to buy more hermit crabs because, in their natural habitat, they usually live in huge, organized colonies. Aside from tank mates, hermit crabs need at least six inches of sand, access to saltwater, and proper humidity levels.

3. Axolotl

Google “cute aquarium pets,” and there’s a good chance you’ll see an axolotl. No, it’s not a Pokemon, but a type of salamander that can regenerate limbs. Cool, right?

Aside from their cute appearance, they also can live for a long time. However, they need a lot of space, so go for at least a 10-gallon tank.

If you plan to keep other pets with your axolotl, snails are worth considering. Don’t worry, they pose no serious threat to the axolotl.

4. Octopus

While an octopus isn’t the prettiest pet you could keep, it is probably one of the smartest animals you’ll ever encounter. Not only do octopuses use tools, but they can also solve puzzles, and navigate through mazes.

Before you buy one though, do your homework. You can’t house an octopus with other animals, even other octopuses. An octopus also requires a lot of stimulation, so don’t forget to decorate its tank with some shells and other accessories.

Other Aquarium Animals You Might Like

If you’re not sure about the pets we’ve listed here, there are other non-fish animals you might consider keeping. These include frogs, toads, seahorses, tarantulas, and crabs.

Be sure to do your research to know if your old tank is a good size for the pet you plan on buying. Otherwise, you might have to buy a new one, plus other essentials such as filters and lighting options.

Want More Pet Care Tips?

Now that you know some of the best aquarium animals to keep, don’t stop here.

For more pet care tips and advice, feel free to check out our other posts. We also have other interesting articles on a variety of topics including sports, politics, technology, and so on.