They have a light blue back and a silver or white belly, and they feature a shimmering blue stripe along the top of their back alongside a neon red stripe along the back and bottom of their bodies. Their eye-catching coloration has made them one of the most popular fish for freshwater aquariums today. They are great for beginners and experts alike, and they thrive in any well-established aquarium that meets their recommended water parameters. These fish stay small, growing no larger than one to two inches, which makes them an excellent choice for small-sized tanks!
Neon Tetras are very peaceful and make great additions to community aquariums. However, they should only be kept in tanks with other non-aggressive fish that are similar in size. They are a schooling fish, and their schools create a magnificent display of colors in motion that has to be seen to be believed! These fish do best in densely planted aquariums with plenty of hiding places. This can be achieved with rocks and caves, driftwood, and Live plants (good ones include mosses or tall plants that will reach the middle level of the aquarium, such as green cabomba, moneywort, java ferns, etc.). Since they are a schooling fish, they can really only thrive in groups, which is why we suggest buying them in groups of 6 and 12.
Neon Tetras spend most of their time within the middle and top levels of the aquarium. These fish are not recommended for new tanks, as they may have problems in tanks that are not well-cycled. It is important to acclimate Neon Tetras to a new tank slowly, because they can be sensitive to changes in water parameters. They are known to be difficult to breed in captivity; the water conditions must be perfect for them to spawn. Interestingly, the bright colors on these fish tend to become dimmer at night. This is normal and does not indicate sickness or weakness in the tetras.
What We Like About This Tetra:
- Iridescent blue and red stripes that add bright bursts of color to any aquarium set-up
- Its small size makes it an ideal candidate for the nano aquarium
- Safe with plants
- Completely peaceful
Recommended Tank Parameters:
- Temperature: 68° - 80° F (20° - 27° C)
- pH: 5.0 - 7.0
- KH: 4 - 10 dKH
- Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallons
Tetra Care Guidelines:
- Diet: Omnivorous. Will readily accept most fish flakes and pellets, as well as most small foods, including brine shrimp, daphnia, freeze-dried bloodworms, and tubifex.
- Social Behavior: Peaceful, schooling/shoaling.
- Origin: Tank-bred, but indigenous to streams in southeastern Colombia, eastern Peru, and western Brazil.
- Average Adult Size: 1.5 - 2 inches (3.8 - 5 cm)
- Average Purchase Size: 1/4 - 1 inch (0.6 - 2.5 cm)