Neon Tetras

Scientific Name(s): Paracheirodon innesi

Category: Tropical

Difficulty: **

Maximum Size: 4cms

Minimum Tank Volume: 65 litres

Minimum Tank Size: 24"

Water Temperature Range: 21-26°C

Water pH Range: 5.0-7.0

Water Hardness Range: 1-7 dGH

General Information:

  

The Neon Tetra has a dark olive-green back over a silver-white abdomen. The fish is characterised by an iridescent blue horizontal stripe along its sides from the nose to the base of the adipose fin, and an iridescent red stripe that begins at the middle of the body and extends posteriorly to the base of the caudal fin. During the night, the colour disappears as the fish rests; it reappears once the fish becomes active in the morning.

Tank Requirements:

     

Soft, acidic conditions are best for these fish to thrive and display their colour. A black water environment can really bring out the richness of hues and show them at their most colourful.

Diet Requirements:

    

Neon Tetra are omnivorous and will accept most flake foods, but should also have some small live foods such as brine shrimp and daphnia, freeze-dried bloodworms, tubifex and micro pellet food to supplement their diet. A tropical sinking pellet is ideal as most brands of these include natural color enhancers that really bring out the colour in Neon Tetra.

Compatibility:

Fish that mix well in an aquarium include other species of Tetra, such as the Rummy-Nose, Cardinal and Glowlight and other community fish that thrive in similar water conditions. Mid-level feeders, they are best kept in schools of six to eight or more if possible, for the "shoaling" effect when they move around the tank. They shoal naturally in the wild and are thus happier, more brightly coloured and more active when kept as a shoal as opposed to singly.

Recommendations:

Neons are best kept in a densely planted tank with subdued light and an ideal temperature of 24-26°C to resemble their native Amazon environment.

Common Problems:

Unfortunately, Neon Tetra are occasionally afflicted by the so-called "Neon Tetra Disease" (NTD) or Pleistophora which is usually fatal to the fish and currently without a cure. This sporozoan disease is caused by Pleistophora hyphessobryconis. Note that there is a so-called "false neon disease", which is bacterial, and shows very similar symptoms. It is impossible for the home aquarist to determine for certain the difference between NTD and false NTD on the basis of visible symptoms alone without laboratory backup. This disease has also been confused with Columnaris.

Similar Species:

         

Green Neon Tetra, Black Neon Tetra, Cardinal Tetra

Sexing: The male is slender and the blue line is straighter. The female is rounder, producing a bent blue line. Some say that the females look plumper when viewed from above but this is disputed.

Breeding:

To breed Neon Tetra place a pair of the species in a breeding tank without any light and gradually increase the lighting until spawning occurs. Other inducers include feedings of mosquito larvae.