Neon Tetras (Paracheirodon innesi) are a favorite among aquarium enthusiasts due to their vibrant colors and peaceful nature. Originating from the Amazon basin, these schooling fish bring a lively splash of color to any freshwater aquarium. This comprehensive guide will cover everything you need to know about Neon Tetra diet and care, ensuring these beautiful fish thrive in your home aquarium.
Natural Habitat and Behavior
Neon Tetras are native to the blackwater and clearwater streams of the Amazon Basin in South America. These streams offer a variety of aquatic habitats, with clearwater streams having higher pH levels and slightly harder water due to dissolved minerals. In their natural environment, Neon Tetras are active during the day and enjoy free swimming, coexisting harmoniously with other fish species.
As schooling fish, Neon Tetras thrive in groups. Keeping them in schools helps them feel more confident and secure in their environment. They prefer to spend their time swimming in the middle to lower levels of the aquarium and are very active.
Housing Requirements
Tank Size
Most tetras can be kept in aquariums of 10 to 20 gallons, but larger tanks are easier to take care of and give them more room to swim. A 20-gallon tank is a perfect size, providing ample space for them to swim and explore. As a rule of thumb, provide at least 1 gallon of extra space for each inch of fish in the aquarium.
Tank Setup
To create a suitable environment for Neon Tetras, it is essential to mimic their natural habitat. They thrive in areas with hiding places and vegetation, so a well-decorated aquarium is ideal. Dark substrates and decorations will help accent the bright colors of your tetras. The bottom of a tetra’s tank should be lined with 1-2 inches of sand, gravel, or pebbles. Aquariums need about 1½ pounds of substrate for each gallon of water in the tank.
Read also: Comprehensive Guide to Cardinal Tetras
Water Parameters
Maintaining stable water parameters is essential for the health and wellbeing of Neon Tetras. While most tetras are found in soft, acidic water in the wild, the majority of aquarium species sold today are raised commercially in water that often has a higher pH and alkalinity than their native environments. For most tetras, pH should be between 6.8 and 7.8, alkalinity between 3° and 8° dkH (50 ppm to 140 ppm) and temperature between 75° and 80° F. Soft and acidic water with a pH not exceeding 7.0 and a hardness of no more than 10 dGH is ideal.
Maintain good filtration and change 10% of the water every week or 25% every 2 weeks using an Aqueon Aquarium Water Changer or Siphon Vacuum Gravel Cleaner. Do not forget to treat tap water with Aqueon Water Conditioner before refilling your tank! Before being added to an aquarium, water must be treated with a water conditioner to remove toxic chemicals like chlorine, chloramines, and heavy metals.
Keep a secure lid on the aquarium to prevent them from jumping out if they feel scared or threatened. Provide mild but steady current.
Essential Equipment
- Filter System: A filter system is an essential addition to any fish tank. Power filters (also known as “hang-on-back" filters) and external canister filters are recommended because they offer effective mechanical, biological, and chemical filtration and don’t take up space inside an aquarium. An aquarium’s filter should be powerful enough to process all the water in the tank at least four times an hour. For example, a 20-gallon tank should ideally have an aquarium filter with a flow rate that’s at least 80 gallons per hour (GPH).
- Aquatic Heater: Tetras prefer warm water that’s between 72 and 82 F. Pet parents should install an aquatic heater that’s controlled with a thermostat in their aquarium to keep the water’s temperature in the ideal range. Aquarium heaters need between 2.5 and 5 watts of power for every gallon of water in a tank.
- Water Testing Kit: Pet parents should test their aquarium’s water regularly to ensure its pH, ammonia, nitrate, and nitrite levels are stable and within a safe range.
Diet and Feeding
What Do Tetras Eat?
Most tetras are omnivorous and will thrive on Aqueon Tropical Flakes, Color Flakes, Tropical Granules and Shrimp Pellets. A varied diet is crucial for feeding neon tetras, consisting of both animal- and plant-based foods. Neon tetra enjoy a diverse diet in the wild, including algae, insect larvae, and small invertebrates. Frozen and live foods can also be fed as treats or to help induce spawning.
Feeding Schedule
An ideal feeding schedule for neon tetra is twice a day, once in the morning and once at night. For best results, rotate their diet daily and feed only what they can consume in under 2 minutes, once or twice a day.
Read also: The Hoxsey Diet
Preventing Overfeeding
To maintain the health of your neon tetras, it is essential to prevent overfeeding. Remember: Never use a microwave to thaw or warm frozen food, and never offer food that's still frozen to a pet.
Tank Mates
Most tetras are peaceful and get along well with similarly sized community fish, but there are a few exceptions. Good tank mates for tetras include other tetra species, rasboras, small danios, peaceful barbs, appropriately sized rainbowfish and livebearers. Bottom-dwelling fish, such as bristlenose plecos, ghost shrimp, and harlequin rasboras, make excellent tank mates for neon tetra. When selecting tankmates for neon tetra, avoid larger, aggressive fish that may pose a threat to your black neon tetras. Always consult an aquarium expert before buying any new fish for your aquarium.
Fish to Avoid
No. The overly active and nippy neon tetras will stress out your betta.
Social Needs
Tetras should be kept in odd-numbered groups of five or more fish from the same species. To prevent pairing and aggression, maintain tetra schools of five or more that are in odd numbers. Six Neon Tetras or More - When it comes to keeping Neon Tetras, having at least six of them together is essential for their happiness. Even better, 8-12 female Neon Tetras in one group will ensure they thrive and stay healthy. New tankmates must be introduced to an aquarium gradually, and pet parents should remember that their tank’s ammonia, pH, and nitrate levels will change when a new fish is introduced.
Breeding Neon Tetras
Breeding neon tetra can be a rewarding challenge for experienced aquarists. These fish require specific water parameters for mating and may need a separate breeding tank to increase their chances of success. To successfully breed neon tetra, maintain ideal water parameters in the breeding tank, such as a pH between 5.8 and 6.8 and a hardness of 3 to 5 dGH. A separate breeding tank is essential for the successful breeding of neon tetra. Encourage neon tetras to spawn by providing a dimmed light source and gradually increasing the amount of light in the neon tetra tank. The ideal water temperature for spawning is around 80°F. Tetras are egg layers, but extra effort is required to separate the adults from the eggs after spawning as many tetras will eat their own eggs. Tetras tend to spawn in groups. Males typically entice females into thick plant growth, where eggs are deposited and fertilized and hatch in a few days.
Read also: Walnut Keto Guide
Common Diseases and Prevention
Neon tetra are more susceptible to common aquarium diseases if kept in unsatisfactory tank conditions. Stressful environments can also be a contributing factor.
Neon Tetra Disease
Neon tetra disease, caused by parasites, is a degenerative ailment that poses a grave threat to fish, spreading rapidly and proving fatal. Initially identified in neon tetras, this condition affects various members of the tetra family, with other popular aquarium fish families also susceptible. Affected fish undergo a gradual loss of coloration, development of cysts, and experience difficulty swimming, ultimately progressing to a severe infection that invariably leads to death. Interestingly, cardinal tetras exhibit more resilience against this disease compared to their visually similar counterparts, the neon tetras.
False Neon Tetra Disease (Columnaris)
A prominent indication of columnaris is the presence of white spots on the body of the affected fish. These white spots resemble the white cysts observed in sick neon tetras. Thankfully, columnaris can be effectively treated with a course of antibiotics.
Ich Disease
Ick disease, also known as Ichthyophthiriasis or Ich, is a common parasitic infection that affects fish. It is caused by a microscopic protozoan parasite called Ichthyophthirius multifiliis. Ick disease is characterized by the appearance of small white spots, often described as grains of salt or sugar, on the fish's body, fins, and gills. These spots are actually cysts formed by the parasite. The life cycle of the Ich parasite involves several stages. When the parasite is in its reproductive stage, it burrows into the fish's skin, causing irritation and the formation of white spots. Eventually, the cysts burst, releasing large numbers of new parasites into the water. These parasites then search for new hosts to infect. Fortunately, Ick disease can be treated using various methods. Medications containing substances like malachite green or formalin are commonly used to eliminate the parasites. It is important to follow the instructions provided with the medication and to treat the entire aquarium, as the parasites can be present in the water even if the fish show no visible signs of infection.
Prevention
To maintain the health of your neon tetra, it is essential to keep water quality at its best.
General Care Tips
- Water Changes: In a properly maintained tank of appropriate size, in which you perform your own water quality tests and water changes weekly. Pet parents should monitor their aquarium’s water level and top it off as needed.
- Filter Maintenance: An aquarium’s filter, water temperature, and other equipment should be checked daily to ensure they’re working properly. Do not use hot water, bleach, or chemicals while rinsing filter media.
- Veterinary Care: It is OK to contact a veterinarian only if there is a problem with your tetra.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many tetras should be kept together? You should adjust your ideal number of tetras to the size of their tank. For a schooling group of tetras you want at least six fish, with about two to three female tetras for every one male tetra to reduce stress.
- Are tetras aggressive fish? Tetras are almost never aggressive. They do well in tanks with other tetras and other fish species of similar sizes. They can be guilty of fin nipping, and a school of tetras with a high ratio of males to females may experience more aggression between tetras than normal. Otherwise, tetras are usually very easygoing, non-aggressive fish.
- Are tetras hard to keep alive? Tetras are one of the easiest home aquarium fish species to keep alive and they will thrive in a variety of tank settings. They are tropical fish and require a heater in their tank, but can otherwise survive a wide range of tank parameters.
- How long do tetra fish usually live? Neon Tetras have an average lifespan of 8-10 years in natural conditions. However, when kept in a healthy and well-maintained aquarium, they can live for up to 5 years. With careful management and regular water changes, your Neon Tetras may grow quite old. While tetras in the wild are reported to live up to 10 years, in an aquarium, tetras tend to live only 2-4 years. This can be due to not being sure of your tetra’s age when they’re acquired and being in close proximity to other fish if they become sick. Fish age is also highly influenced by how well the ideal water parameters of the tank are maintained.
- Can I keep only four neon tetras? Although it might be tempting to keep fewer neon tetra, it is not recommended to have less than 6 in a 10-gallon tank. Instead, you should focus on providing the best quality environment for your four neon tetras and ensuring they have plenty of room to move around and interact.This means making sure the water is clean and well-oxygenated, providing plenty of hiding places and decorations, and ensuring the tank is not overcrowded. With the right care, your neon tetras can live happily. Yes, you definitely can. While they will likely be happier in a larger group, they can still live in smaller groups when needed.
- What do tetras like in their tank? Tetras love planted tanks, meaning those with live plants. Soil or sand substrate is best for raising plants in the tank, and the tetras love exploring a more natural environment.