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Neon Tetra

Family: Characidae

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Paracheirodon innesi Photo © Animal-World: Courtesy David Brough

   Despite having been in the aquarium hobby for many years, the Neon Tetra is easily the most popular fish of all aquarium fishes!

   The Neon Tetra was a very exciting addition to the aquarium hobby when first introduced in the 1930's, and is still sought after by aquarium enthusiasts today. A school of flashing Neon Tetras makes a brilliant display. It is an active schooling fish, one of the most peaceful tetras, and a very desirable community fish. Keep them only with other small fishes or in their own tank. Their small size can easily make them a qourmet meal for larger fishes!

   They are most comfortable and show their best colors when kept in a school of 6 or more fish. They like a planted aquarium and a dark gravel substrate. Their water should be soft, clean, slightly acidic, and changed regularly. The Neon Tetra can live 10 years or more with the proper conditions.

   Today the Neon Tetra shares the popularity spotlight with its close relative the Cardinal Tetra Paracheirodon axelrodi. The Cardinal Tetra, though similar in appearance, is a bit more gaudy. Its red coloring runs the whole length of the body, and it is also a bit more delicate. The Neon Tetra is much easier to keep and to breed than the Cardinal Tetra.

For more Information on keeping this fish see:
Guide to a Happy, Healthy Freshwater Aquarium

Distribution:
   The Neon Tetra was described by Géry in 1961. They are found in South America, the Paraguay River basin; Rio Taquari, Pantanal of Mato Grosso do Sul, and Brazil. Black Neon Tetras are now generally all captive-bred.

Status:
   The species is not listed on the IUCN Red List.

Description:
   The Neon Tetra is a small slim-bodied species of tetra. It is similar in appearance to the Cardinal Tetra with its horizontal stripe that seems to glow, but is a distinctly different fish. They can readily be identified, with each fish having a very beautiful red stripe next to an an electric blue neon stripe. The difference is that the red stripe on the Neon Tetra runs only halfway up the body while it runs the full length of the body on the Cardinal Tetra.

Size - Weight:
   These fish get up to 1.5 inches (4 cm).

Care and feeding:
   Since they are omnivorous the Neon Tetra will generally eat all kinds of small or finely ground foods; live, fresh, and flake. To keep a good balance give them a high quality flake food everyday. Feed brine shrimp (either live or frozen) or blood worms as a treat.

NOTE: Neon Tetra Disease

• The Neon Tetra will occasionally develop ' Neon Tetra Disease'.
• This has been identified as a microscopic sporozoan in the genus Plistophora.
• It shows up on the fish as a spreading spot or blemish beneath the dorsal fin.
• There have been attempts to cure this disease with the use of Methylene Blue, but it is not always successful, so the disease is considered uncurable.
• This disease has also been spotted on the Glowlight Tetra Hemigrammus erythrozonus, and the Rosey Tetra Hemigrammus erythrozonus.

Acceptable Water Conditions:
   The Neon Tetras are somewhat less demanding in their water conditions than the Cardinal Tetras but they should have peat-filtered water. These fish prefer some plant cover and a darker gravel.
   Hardness: 2-10° dGH
   Ph: 5.5 to 8.0
   Temp: 68-79° F (20-26° C)

Social Behaviors:
   The Neon Tetra are ideal for a community aquarium with other peaceful fish. It is best not to keep them with larger fish like angels. They are most comfortable and show their best colors when kept in a school of 6 or more fish.

Sexual Differences:
   The male is slender and the blue line is straighter. The female is rounder producing a bent blue line.

Water Region: Top, Middle, Bottom:
   These fish will swim in all areas of the aquarium.

Breeding/Reproduction:
   Recommended conditions: pH 5.0-6.0, 1-2° dGH, 75° F.
   The Neon Tetras are egg layers. The female will lay up to 130 eggs. They are considered somewhat difficult to breed. Success has been had, however, by using especially soft acidic water, intense sterilization of the breeding tank and everything used in and on the tank, and making sure that you have compatible pairing of fish. The eggs are especially sensitive to light.

Buy Neon Tetras From LiveAquaria.com

   See a general description of how to breed these fish in Breeding Freshwater Fish and Fish Food for Fry for more information.

Availability:
   The Neon Tetra is readily available.

Author: David Brough, CFS.

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Latest Comments
I have 3 neon tetras in a baby BioOrb. I found that it is necessary to change 20-30% of their water once a week. I use distilled water because I found tap water to be too harsh even with the water conditioner treatment. I feed them flaked food about 3 times a day except on the weekends when they don't receive any food. I've had them for almost 7 months and they appear fine. I learned to keep the room temperature a little warmer than I like it (about 69), otherwise they become sluggish and won't eat. I bought bloodworms (freeze dried) to see if they might want a little variety in their diet. I've only seen the snails eat the bloodworms. 2 usually go behind the large rock and 1 stays in front to watch me. The one usually just stares at me with the 2 blue eyes at around feeding time telling me it's time. I don't use the light that came with the BioOrb because Neons like it dark and spooky. CONNIE 2009-05-07
I have 5 neon tetras at the moment but am thinking of getting some more. Neon tetras have become my number one favourite fish species since my plec (Geogre - RIP) sadly departed this world for fish heaven. So I say, neon tetras rule ok! Nathan Hope 2009-02-14
I love these fish, I got them 2/1/2009, and I am excited to have them. You can almost see right through them. I have three betta fish named Swimmer, fins, and betta, with three neon tetra. They always stay in a school. They are pretty when swimming, but when they are at the bottom of the tank you can barely see them. faith 2009-02-01
I have recently purchased my first fish tank and these guys are not afraid of even my boistrous ramirez! They come right to the front of the tank and get along well with the other fish. I have a shoal of 6 individuals. They must be kept in shoals of at least 5. Kurt van Wyk 2008-08-15
I have had my fish for 2 hours. I can tell it likes to school and it is fine with my angel. Claudia 2008-02-09
Some of the coolest comments:
A very fun fish! They look really good in bigger schools and should be kept in groups of atleast 5. I found that they're fairly sensitive at first though, and lost several to the filter intake too:( Once settled in they make a great addition to your tank! Kamperoni 2009-01-23
We get neons by the dozens and we have to do it from time to time because they do not last as long as they should. Now I realize if we got the $4/each ones it would be more responsible, but the 50 cent/each ones allow quantities of 75 at a time. They do look so wonderful in large schools though. They share their 90 gallon heavily planted and filtered auto-c02 controlled tank with 9 Clown Loaches, couple pearl gouramis, dozen rummynose, handful of glasscats, handful of bleedingheart tetras, couple catfish and a handful of cories. Wish I could afford 75 of the $4/each ones! They are stunning. Deedee 2005-03-03
Comments Dr Jungle REALLY Likes to Hear!
I have 10 neon tetra. I have had them for 3 to 4 weeks. They are all doing awesome. I test my water at least once a week. To make sure the PH is around 7.2 and 7.6. The temp is at 76-80 degrees. But I have a 55 gallon tank and want to know what other fish can I put in except the tetras. Thank you for the good information on your web site. Nancy 2009-06-05

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