One of the most recognizable species of freshwater fish in the hobby has to be the Neon Tetra (Paracheirodon innesi).
Native to the tropical Amazonian waters of South America, they are found in the wild in both clear and tannin-rich aquatic habitats.
With a gloriously iridescent coloring, Neon Tetras are tiny little spark plugs of a fish that belies their tiny size and will reward you with a lot of personalities.
Schooling fish by nature, watching your Neons will be a fascinating lesson in the group behaviors of fish. They are graceful, can dart quickly as one, and are very relaxing and interesting to observe for anyone new to the hobby or with years of experience.
One thing that is certain is that they are never boring or dull! Unlike other similarly sized fish, this species can live quite a long time, but their needs must be met to reach this lofty lifespan.
We’ll cover everything you need to know to have a happy school of Neon Tetras who will make every keeper look like a rockstar even if you’re just starting out and don’t have a clue about what you’re doing.
Sticking to the guidelines for care will ensure you enjoy your Neons for years to come.
Read on to see what you need to do, how often to do it, and all the little tips and tricks in between.
Neon Tetra Behavior
The first thing to know about Neon Tetras is that they are peaceful and personable fish. They aren’t going to cause any ruckus in your tank community.
Neon Tetras like their own company and will, therefore, school as a unit with is another reason they are a joy to own. It’s rare to be able to have a fish who is small enough to have in larger numbers that school, so you can really watch the action for yourself.
They love to hang around the middle layer of the tank for the most part, so they make a great accompaniment for other species like bottom-dwelling tank cleaners, which is a win-win for a new hobbyist.
It’s important to note there that you should never have a solo Neon Tetra, nor just a few. They need plenty of their own kind to shoal and school with in order to be stress-free and do what they do best. Happy Neon Tetras have bold and vibrant colors, whereas stressed-out ones will look duller and drab.
Neon Tetras have a bit of a reputation for fin-nipping if the opportunity presents itself. So avoid housing with fish that have long, flowing fins if you want to avoid the potential for some heartache.
The ideal ratio is 1 male for every 5 or 6 females to keep things easygoing and to reduce female harassment.
Neon Tetra Lifespan
In the wild, these tiny fish can live for up to 8 years. Yes, 8 years! That’s a long time for such a small organism. Typically in captivity, they live for around 5 years, but that is if you are a hobbyist who keeps to a schedule and measures parameters regularly to keep their water requirements suitable.
They can be sensitive fish to maintain, but if you are willing to be committed to doing the work needed, then you should be able to enjoy these fish for many years.
We will discuss more on tank requirements a little later in this article.
Neon Tetra Appearance
Resembling little transparent torpedos, Neon Tetras are instantly recognizable in the hobby. With iridescent silvery-based bodies, they then have shape-shifting color that changes with the light and how it’s hitting them. They grow to around 1.5 inches in length and do not possess scales, so keep your tank free for sharp edges.
Starting at the eye and running the length of the body is an electric neon blue stripe. If that wasn’t enough of a statement, there is a bright cherry red stripe below that that goes along the length of the body through to and including the tail.
Blue, red, and silver, oh my! These little fish truly deliver a wow factor, and when you picture them in a school, they are nothing short of pure magic. The temptation is to think that little fish are less impressive than big flashier fish species, but there is a real impact in having a lively school of fish. Some would argue that a school of brilliantly colored fish would win hands down over one large, slow-moving solo species.
Whatever your preference, there is room for Neon Tetras in your setup if you want some amazing schooling action and some serious color payoff.
Males and females are similar, but males are slimmer while females are gently rounded. This will impact the appearance of their blue line, which on females, will look slightly curved.
Neon Tetra Habitat And Tank Requirements
This tropical river-dwelling fish comes from typically lightly acidic conditions because of their Amazonian heritage. Blackwater, as it’s also known, means that adding peat to the water will be beneficial.
They love a gentle current, so that should be factored in with your filtration choice.
They are very sensitive to water chemistry and can be considered a little fragile if there are rapid changes and too much water change in one hit.
Let’s take a look at the specifics for keeping your Neon Tetras looking their vibrant best.
Tank Conditions
Neon Tetras will enjoy some current, so canister filters work really well or a hang-on back filter. Just be sure they don’t get sucked into the filter, and ensure you have a mesh cover of something to prevent any accidents.
Planting is essential for these fish to feel secure, so make it dense and suitable for low lighting levels. They can be playful and enjoy exploring when the mood takes them.
Some good plant options for Neon Tetras are Java Moss, Apologetons, and other low-level lighting plants.
Throw in some driftwood and rounded rocky formations and the aforementioned peat-filtered water, and you should have some happy fish.
Darker sandy substrates will contrast best with your fish, and you can add in appropriate leaves to achieve the black water tannin effect. Dried almond leaves work well for this purpose.
It’s important to note here that these fish are super sensitive to nitrates and ammonia. You should never dump new Neon Tetras into a tank that hasn’t been properly cycled for nitrogen. A minimum of 10 days is needed to cycle the tank before their arrival.
Airstones can be a nice added touch as well as air curtains as long as the flow isn’t too extreme, but your Tetras will enjoy the added variety.
Water changes will need to be done each week with at least 30% per change, which will help keep nitrate levels to a minimum.
Water conditions should be noted, tested regularly, and maintained as follows:
- pH of 5.0 – 8.0
- Water hardness 3 – 25 dGH
- Temperature between 68 – 77ºF (20 – 25ºC)
- Lighting should be dim; these fish don’t get a lot of natural direct sunlight in the wild because of the Amazonian tree canopy
Tank Size
The minimum tank size needed is 20 gallons for a group of 15 Neon Tetras, which is the minimum number you should aim for. Ideally, you would be better off at a larger size like 55 gallons because the more Tetras you have, the merrier and the better to watch them school and dart around in.
The tank shape needs to not only be long enough for them to swim around and create interest, but height is a necessary consideration. If your tank isn’t deep enough, that will limit their scope to move around school effectively.
Choosing Tank Mates For Neon Tetras
Neon Tetras are peaceful fish, but like most species, can get a little aggressive around mating season.
Avoid anything larger that will happily snack on your Neon Tetras, and also avoid anything remotely aggressive that will bully and harass your little guys.
Here are some of the best species to mix in with your Neons:
- Gouramis of the smaller variety
- Barbs
- Cory Catfish
- Dwarf Cichlids
- Platies
- Mollies
- Other Tetra species
- Rainbow Fish
- Bristlenose Plecos
Shrimp or other invertebrates, like most snails, are a great addition to their setup and will help keep your tank clean and debris-free. Consider a clean-up team in your tank to help keep your water conditions pristine.
How To Feed Neon Tetras
Neon Tetras are omnivorous fish and will hungrily eat meat and proteins along with algae and other plant matter.
Pellets of high quality should suffice for your fish, but it has been noted that flakes can get caught in their throats and cause choking. Avoid flakes if you can!
In addition to a staple pellet diet, try adding in frozen or live treats of bloodworms, daphnia, tubifex, and the like as long as it is chopped into suitable bite-sized pieces.
They love brine shrimp which will also help them achieve their most vibrant color, so if color is your priority, add that in a few times per week.
Neon Tetras are also known as finicky eaters from time to time if something isn’t quite right. Poor water conditions, bullying, or illness are all valid reasons that your Neon Tetra might not be eating as well as it should. Generally, if you notice it in one, chances are that it’s happening to more than that fish in the school.
Neon Tetra Common Health Issues
Neon Tetras have some health issues to note that are species-specific.
Besides the usual freshwater foibles of Ice and Fin Rot typical of most freshwater aquariums, Neons have their own disease caused by a parasite.
Helpfully, this disease is known as Neon Tetra Disease and False Neon Tetra Disease. What isn’t helpful is that if your Neons have it, it can spread to other fish in your tank and is fatal with no known cure.
If you include a weekly helping of anti-parasite food, which is medicated, you can usually avoid this affliction taking roost in your school.
How To Breed Neon Tetras
The overwhelming majority of Neon Tetras available on the market are captive-bred.
For the average hobbyist, it’s known that Neons are not likely to produce viable fry from spawning, which can happen quite often, but they aren’t likely to be healthy offspring.
If you want to breed Neon Tetras, you should aim to find a supplier who has certified healthy specimens with the genetics suited for a reproductive project.
Once you have a breeding pair, they should be isolated in a separate tank with a spawning mat and filtration that is protected from swallowing up eggs or fry later on.
Neons are known for eating their eggs, so breeding grass and mosses that help keep the eggs concealed once released is advised.
After successful spawning, remove the parents and prepare for hatching in around 24 hours. Avoid bright lighting and offer them infusoria and then baby brine shrimp once they get a little larger.
So what do you think? Are Neon Tetras a good choice for your tank?
We think it’s a huge yes. The chance to watch a schooling fish in a large community is something to behold.
Their small size will allow you to have a decent-sized group even if you don’t have the capacity for a huge tank size, unlike many other species.
They make a great community fish you can introduce to other similarly sized fish, and their vibrant and unmistakable coloring will look outstanding in a tank for a newbie or an experienced hobbyist alike.
If you get the chance, go with Neons. They’re not an ‘80s relic like neon fashion looking for some love from aquarists. They’re a perennial favorite, and with good reason.
Leg warmers are optional.
