Neon Tetra

Family: Characidae Paracheirodon innesiPhoto © Animal-World: Courtesy David Brough

The Neon Tetra has been in the hobby for many years and is the most popular of all aquarium fishes!

The Neon Tetra Paracheirodon innesi has a long history in the aquarium hobby. It created a stir when first introduced in the 1930s and is still sought after by aquarium enthusiasts today. A school of flashing Neon Tetras makes a brilliant display and will liven up any peaceful community tank.

The Neon shares its popularity spotlight with its close relative the Cardinal Tetra Paracheirodon axelrodi. These two tetras are very similar in appearance, but the Cardinal Tetra is a bit more gaudy with red coloring that runs the whole length of its body rather than just the back half. The Cardinal Tetra is also more delicate and a little more challenging to maintain. The Neon Tetra is every bit as attractive but much easier to keep, and it's also easier to breed than the Cardinal.

These little tetras are active schooling fish. They are most comfortable and show their best colors when kept in a school of 6 or more fish. They are one of the most peaceful tetras and a very desirable community fish. Keep them only with other small fish or in their own tank. Their small size can easily make them a gourmet meal for larger tankmates!

Neon Tetras can be kept in a planted aquarium with a dark gravel substrate or in an aquarium with a lot of driftwood or bog wood to better simulate their natural habitat. Both types of decor will help display this tetra's coloring. Their water should be soft, clean, slightly acidic, and changed regularly. The Neon Tetra can live 10 years or more with the proper conditions.

When its environment is well maintained, the Neon Tetra is easy to keep and will resist disease. However, as with any aquarium fish, in a poorly maintained tank, it can succumb to illness. The worst fear of a tetra keeper is the Neon Tetra disease, an essentially incurable and a highly contagious disease of unknown origin and cause. It was first diagnosed in Neons, which is how it earned its name, but it can actually affect many other species.

For Information on keeping freshwater fish, see:
Freshwater Aquarium Guide: Aquarium Setup and Care

Habitat: Distribution / Background

The Neon Tetra Paracheirodon innesi was described by Géry in 1961. They are found in South America in the Paraguay River basin, Rio Taquari, Pantanal of Mato Grosso do Sul, and Brazil. This species is not listed on the IUCN Red List.

In nature, these fish inhabit the slow-moving tributaries of main rivers. These are regions of black waters beneath dense forest canopies that allow very little light to get through. Neon Tetras live in shoals mainly in the middle water layers and feed on worms and small crustaceans.

Neon Tetras are now generally all captive-bred, with most coming from the Far East and eastern Europe. Several varieties of captive-bred specimens are now available. These include the Long Finned Neon Tetra, though it is rather rare, as well as a "golden" strain that is basically a semi-albino variety, and a "diamond" Neon Tetra that appears sprinkled with metallic scales along the top portion of the body.

• Scientific Name: Paracheirodon innesi
• Social Grouping: Groups
• IUCN Red List: NE - Not Evaluated or not listed

Description

The Neon Tetra is a small, slim-bodied species of tetra. This fish will reach about 1.5 inches (4 cm) in length and will generally live 5 to 8 years in the aquarium, though it may live up to 10 years. It is similar in appearance to the Cardinal Tetra with its horizontal stripe that seems to glow, but these are distinctly different fish.

Both tetras have a very beautiful red stripe next to an electric blue neon stripe. However, the red stripe only runs halfway up the body on the Neon Tetra but the full length of the body on the Cardinal Tetra.

• Size of fish - inches: 1.6 inches (3.99 cm)
• Lifespan: 10 years - Neon Tetras can have a lifespan of up to 10 years though they generally live about 5 to 8 years in the aquarium.

Fish Keeping Difficulty

The Neon Tetra is a durable fish that is a good choice for the beginning fish keeper. They are commercially-bred in huge numbers, so they are adaptable and will thrive in most well-maintained tanks. This fish is very hardy in general but will be markedly more delicate in the first week or so after being introduced to a new tank. Hobbyists should also be aware of the incurable Neon Tetra disease.

• Aquarium Hardiness: Very Hardy
• Aquarist Experience Level: Beginner

Foods and Feeding

Photo © Animal-World: Courtesy Tim

Since they are omnivorous, Neon Tetras 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 every day. Feed brine shrimp (either live or frozen) or blood worms as a treat. These tetras like several feedings a day, but offer only what they can consume in 3 minutes or less at each feeding.

• Diet Type: Omnivore
• Flake Food: Yes
• Tablet / Pellet: Yes
• Live foods (fishes, shrimps, worms): Some of Diet
• Vegetable Food: Some of Diet
• Meaty Food: Some of Diet
• Feeding Frequency: Several feedings per day

Aquarium Care

The Neon Tetra is easy to care for provided the water is kept clean. Aquariums are closed systems, and regardless of size, all need some maintenance. Over time, decomposing organic matter, nitrates, and phosphate build up, and water hardness increases due to evaporation. To combat these ever-changing conditions, water should be replaced on a regular basis, especially if the tank is densely stocked. At least 25 to 50% of the tank water should be replaced every other week.

• Water Changes: Bi-weekly

Aquarium Setup

The Neon Tetra is active and does best in a school with 6 or more of its own kind. A school will be comfortable in a 10-gallon aquarium. Though they are somewhat less demanding about water conditions than the Cardinal Tetra, they should have peat-filtered water. These fish also prefer to have a bit of a current to swim in, and this can be accomplished with canister filters or powerheads. Make sure the intake of the filter is such that these small fish do not get sucked into the filter. Cover the intake with mesh or some foam filter media to prevent any accidents. Dim lighting will develop this tetra's best coloring.

These fish prefer some plant cover and a darker gravel. A biotype setup is a great choice for this tetra and is very easy to put together. For the substrate, use a river sand with some drift wood and twisted roots. Add some dried leaves to the tank, which will stain the water a light brown, and replace the leaves every few weeks.

• Minimum Tank Size: 10 gal (38 L) - A 10-gallon tank is sufficient to hold the small school this species requires to be comfortable.
• Suitable for Nano Tank: Yes
• Substrate Type: Any
• Lighting Needs: Moderate - normal lighting
• Temperature: 68.0 to 77.0° F (20.0 to 25.0° C)
• Breeding Temperature: 75.0° F - Recommended breeding conditions: pH 5.0-6.0, 1-2 dGH, temperature 75° F.
• Range ph: 5.0-8.0
• Hardness Range: 3 - 25 dGH
• Brackish: No
• Water Movement: Moderate
• Water Region: All - These fish will swim in all areas but tend to favor the middle of the aquarium or wherever the most swimming space is.

Social Behaviors

Photo © Animal-World
Courtesy David Brough

Neon Tetras are ideal for a community aquarium with other peaceful fish. It is best not to keep them with fish that are larger or aggressive, like angels. Good tankmates include other small tetras, hatchet fish, pencil fish, Corydoras, smaller rasboras, and peaceful barbs. They are most comfortable and show their best colors when kept in a school of 6 or more fish.

• Venomous: No
• Temperament: Peaceful
• Compatible with:
  • Same species - conspecifics: Yes - This fish is fairly active and social, and it should be kept in a small school of at least 6 of its own kind.
  • Peaceful fish (): Safe
  • Semi-Aggressive (): Threat
  • Aggressive (): Threat
  • Large Semi-Aggressive (): Threat
  • Large Aggressive, Predatory (): Threat
  • Slow Swimmers & Eaters (): Monitor
  • Shrimps, Crabs, Snails: Safe - not aggressive
  • Plants: Safe

Sex: Sexual differences

The male is more slender than the female, which makes the blue line appear straighter. The rounder body of the female produces a bent blue line.

Breeding / Reproduction

Neon Tetras have been bred in captivity. They are considered somewhat difficult to breed, though easier than their cousin, the Cardinal Tetra. Success has been had, however, by using especially soft, acidic water along with intense sterilization of the breeding tank and everything used in and on the tank. With compatible breeding pairs, and given the right conditions, these fish will even spawn in a community tank. Unfortunately, the eggs and fry will most often be eaten, so a separate breeding tank is best.

They are egg layers and will breed at about 9 months of age. They can be bred as pairs or in a school, but it is best to condition the fish prior to breeding with plenty of small, live foods. Select a breeding pair or small group and transfer them into the breeding tank. A mature female's belly will become nicely rounded when she is full of eggs. Choose males that are displaying their best colors. For a school, there should be at least 5 fish with a ratio of 2 females per 1 male.

The breeding tank can be as small as a gallon for a pair or up to 20 gallons for a school. The water should be shallow, around 5 to 6 inches deep. Keep the tank dimly lit with about 1/2 inch of rock substrate and some clumps of fine textured live plants for a spawning medium. A good breeding temperature is 75° F (24° C), soft water with hardness between 1.0 to 2.0 dGH, and a pH between 5.0 - 6.5. A small, air-powered sponge filter is needed for filtration and to provide a gentle water flow.

They usually spawn early in the morning, and the females will generally lay up to 130 clear, barely sticky eggs. The eggs will be scattered, and the parents will eat them if not removed. Both eggs and fry are especially sensitive to light, and the eggs are also prone to fungus, so kept the tank dimly lit during the early stages. The eggs will hatch in about 24 hours with the fry becoming free-swimming about 3 to 4 days later. The fry can then be fed liquid fry food or infusoria until they are large enough to eat baby brine shrimp. See Breeding Freshwater Fish: Characins for a general description of breeding processes, and see Fish Food for Fry for information about types of foods for raising the young.

• Ease of Breeding: Moderate - This fish is often unwilling to breed in the home aquarium though good results can be achieved when spawning is induced.

Fish Diseases

The Neon Tetra will resist disease as long as the tank is kept in a clean, stable condition. The worst fear of a tetra keeper is the Neon Tetra Disease, an essentially incurable and a highly contagious disease of unknown origin and cause. It was first diagnosed in Neons, which is how it earned its name, but it can actually affect many other species.

Neon Tetra Disease 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. Attempts to cure this disease with the use of Methylene Blue have not always been successful, so the disease is considered incurable. This disease has also been spotted on the Glowlight Tetra Hemigrammus erythrozonus, and the Rosy Tetra Hemigrammus erythrozonus.

A good thing about this tetra is that due to their resilience, an outbreak of disease can often be limited to just one or a few fishes if you deal with it at an early stage. It is common for all fishes to be infected even before the first warning signs can be noticed. The best way to proactively prevent disease is to provide the proper environment and give them a well balanced diet. The closer to their natural habitat the less stress the fish will have, making them healthier and happy. Stressed fish are more likely to acquire disease.

As with most fish, the Neon Tetra can be prone to skin flukes, parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.), ichthyobodo infection, parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.), bacterial infections (general), and bacterial disease. It is recommended to read up on the common tank diseases. Knowing the signs and catching and treating them early makes a huge difference. For information about freshwater fish diseases and illnesses, see Aquarium Fish Diseases and Treatments.

Availability

The Neon Tetra is readily available and inexpensive.

References

• Animal-World References: Freshwater Fish and Plants
• Dr. Rüdiger Riehl and Hans A. Baensch, Aquarium Atlas Vol. 1, Publisher Hans A. Baensch, 1991
• Glen S. Axelrod, Brian M. Scott, Neal Pronek, Encyclopedia Of Exotic Tropical Fishes For Freshwater Aquariums, TFH Publications, 2005
• Joseph S. Nelson, Fishes of the World, Wiley, 2006
• Geoff Rogers, Nick Fletcher, Focus on Freshwater Aquarium Fish, Firefly Books. 2004
• Marc Ladonne, Aquarium Fish , Barnes Noble, 1999
• Dr. Herbert R. Axelrod, Aquarium Fishes of the World, TFH Publications, 1998
• Paracheirodon innesi (Myers, 1936) Neon tetra, Fishbase.org
• Marc Ladonne, Aquarium Fish , Barnes Noble, 1999

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