Freshwater, Planted, Tropical Aquarium Information

 
 

 

  Neon Tetra

Paracheirodon Innesi

Max. size2.2 cm / 0.8 inches
pH range5- 7
dH range1-2
Temp20-26°C/68-80°F
Care Moderate

Common names-Neon Tetras

The Neon Tetra is probably one of the most common aquarium fish but don't let that put you off. It is one of the most popular and some aquarists have an almost exclsuively neon aquarium.  A small shoal of neons swimming around your plants is a mesmerizing sight.  With their size they also put a very small load on your biological filter.

In the wild the Neon Tetra comes from the soft waters of the River Amazon and are best suited to a soft water environment.  Healthy Tetras can adapt to harder water and if you are buying them from a local aquarium shop they may well already be adapted to a harder water tank.

They do not fair well when subjected to sudden changes in water quality so care should be taken to acclimatise them to their new tank gradually.

neon tetraA great fish to add to an established tank and well worth the extra effort to get them settled in.  One of my favourites.

The Neon Tetras is an omnivore and will accept most flake foods. They should also smaller foods such as brine shrimp, daphnia, freeze-dried bloodworms and tubifex to supplement their diet.

The Neon Tetra fare best in a well planted tank with medium lighting an definitely need to be kept in shoals of five or more.  With the right conditions they are brighter in colouring and more active.  They will keep to the middle level of the tank and mix well with most other community fish that enjoy the same water conditions.

The sexes can be distinguished by the straightness of the blue line.  In the male this tends to be straight whilst in the female it tends to be curved.

Read about Penguin Tetras