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1. Create a good environment for the fish

2. Make sure the tank is good for me and my fish\

3. Pick a nice cute fish

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1. Common Name: neon tetras

2. And any other names that it goes by: neon tetras

3. Scientific Name: Paracheirodon innesi

4. Description:

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3. Fish Compatibility (3 fish that could go in the same tank)

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3. Fish Compatibility (3 fish that could go in the same tank)

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1. What fish does your fish typically get along with: rasboras, danios, and betta fish

2. Is your fish aggressive, semi-aggressive, passive, or a community type of fish?

3. Neon Tetras are passive, peaceful, community type fish

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1. Tell me about the water that your fish lives in. If it is fresh or saltwater. Freshwater

2. What are some things that you need to know about this type of water? List 3 facts that you find out about it. Ph needs to be 6.0-7.5, temperature needs to be 72-76 degrees, and perform regular water changes

3. How much space does that fish usually have in its natural environment? Enough space to swim around in school group

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5. Aquarium Decor (2) (one category for plants and one for houses in your aquarium)

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5. Aquarium Decor (2) (one category for plants and one for houses in your aquarium)

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1. What type of decor do you want to have in your aquarium? You can show me multiple things. I would like to have a little house for the pet and maybe some plants

2. What are the typical costs of these items if you have to purchase them? Probably between 5-10 dollars

3. include a picture of your decor

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1. What type of substrate are you planning on going with? Ex: gravel, sand, etc. Most likely sand cause there would be other fish in the tank as well

2. If you plan on purchasing a specific type of substrate what would that cost? 3-7 dollars

3. picture of the rocks

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1. What is tank lighting used for/its purpose? Tank lighting is used to promote the health and growth of fish and plants, regulate behavior through a natural day/night cycle, and create an appealing visual display of the aquarium's inhabitants and decor

2. Do you need tank lighting? Yes

3. How often should you leave the light on? 8-10 hours

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1. What is the purpose of a hood cover/what does it do? A fish tank hood cover's main purposes are to prevent fish from jumping out, reduce water evaporation, keep out contaminants like dust and cat hair, and help stabilize water temperature.

2. Do you need a hood cover? Yes

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1. What is the temperature of your fish’s natural environment? 72-78 degrees

2. Do you think you will need a water heater? It depends on my other classmates fish

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What type of filter do you think your tank/this fish will need?

It needs a sponge filter or a hang-on-back or canister filter

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What size tank does this fish typically need to feel happy and not stress in?

It needs at least 10-20 gallons to fit in the tank

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1. How does your fish get air? From the water in their tank through their gills

2. Is there anything specific you need to add to your tank for them to get air? No

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I am adding plants, shelter, and gentle filtration in my tank because neon tetras like an environment that is similar to their habitat, which is slow-moving, planted waters in the Amazon Basin. Live or artificial plants provide cover and reduce stress, as well as provide shaded spots that will make the fish feel secure. Neon tetras inhabit the calm waters, and thus a gentle filter should be employed to ensure the cleanliness of water without creating strong currents that will stress them. A dark substrate and driftwood will also mimic their natural habitat and cause their bright coloration to contrast.

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https://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/FactSheet.aspx?speciesID=426#:~:text=Paracheirodon%20innesi%20(Myers

%2C%201936),Common%20name%3A%20neon%20tetra

https://a-z-animals.com/animals/fish/fish-facts/tank-mates-to-pair-with-neon-tetras/

https://a-z-animals.com/animals/fish/fish-facts/tank-mates-to-pair-with-neon-tetras/

https://www.theshrimpfarm.com/posts/neon-tetra-fish-breeding-care-feeding-water-parameters/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neon_tetra

https://www.fishlore.com/aquariumfishforum/threads/neon-tetras-and-light.266406/

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Origin and Distribution

Neon tetras originated from the clear water and blackwater streams and tributaries in the Orinoco and Amazon river basins in Brazil, Columbia, and Peru. These are regions of blackwaters beneath dense forest canopies that allow very little light to get through. Neon tetras live in shoals mainly in the middle water layers and feed on insects, worms and small crustaceans.

Neon tetras are generally all captive-bred, with most coming from fish farms in the Far East and Eastern Europe. Several varieties of captive-bred specimens are now available. These include the long-finned neon tetra, though they are rather rare, as well as a golden strain that is basically a semi-albino variety, and a diamond neon tetra that appears sprinkled with metallic scales along the top portion of the body. One variety has the blue stripe but not the red coloration.

Colors and Markings

The neon tetra has a slender torpedo-shaped body that reaches no more than an inch and a half in length. What this fish lacks in size, they make up for in color. From the tip of the nose to the adipose fin, the neon tetra has a bright neon blue stripe. It is believed this bright stripe makes them more readily visible to each other in blackwater conditions.

Below the blue stripe, the neon tetra sports a white-silver belly. Past the belly, a bright red stripe extends all the way to the tail. The striking red, white, and blue combination make the neon tetra one of the most popular of all aquarium fish. The fish is rivaled only by the cardinal tetra, for which they are often mistaken. The key difference between the two fish is the red stripe. In the neon tetra, it only extends from the middle of the body to the tail. In the cardinal tetra, the red stripe runs the entire length of the fish, from snout to tail.

Like other colorful fish, the bright colors of the neon tetra will fade at night when they are resting, when they become alarmed or when they are ill. At the pet store, choose specimens that are activelyswimmingand robustly colored, as faded colors can be an indication of poor health.

Neon tetras are peaceful fish that get along well with most community fish. Always keep neon tetras in schools of a half dozen or more as they are a shoaling species that requires the presence of others of their kind. Neon tetras do well in a community tank as long as the other species are not large or aggressive. Small peaceful fish such as rasboras, small tetras, dwarf gouramis, corys, and other small catfish are good choices as companions. Avoid larger tetras, as they will eat neon tetras at the first opportunity. The rule of thumb is, if the mouth of the fish opens large enough to swallow the neon, they will do it sooner or later.

Neon Tetra Habitat and Care

Newly set up aquariumsare not suitable for neon tetras as they will not tolerate changes that occur during the initial startup cycle. Only add neon tetras when your tank is fully mature and has stable water chemistry. Water should be soft and acidic for neon tetras, meaning a pH that is not above 7.0 and hardness of no more than 10 dGH. Blackwater extracts or driftwood are often used to darken the water, maintain an acidic pH, and soften the water.

In their natural habitat, neon tetras live in areas of dark water with dense vegetation and roots. Providing a habitat with plenty of low-light hiding places is important. Give them plenty of plants, including floating plants if possible. Driftwood will provide hiding places as well. The dark substrate will replicate the natural habitat in which the neon tetras feel most comfortable. Some fishkeepers will put a dark background on three sides of the aquarium to achieve the desired low-light habitat.

Neon Tetra Diet and Feeding

In nature, neon tetras are omnivores that will eat both plant and animal material. Fine flake food, small granules, live or frozen brine shrimp or daphnia, and frozen or freeze-dried bloodworms are all good food choices. Offer a variety of food, including live foods, to ensure good health.

You should feed your neon tetra two to four times per day and only give them the amount of food that they can eat in two minutes. Overfeeding can cause your fish to look visibly bloated, cause appetite suppression, as well as constipation. Make sure to clear any food leftovers out of the tank as this leftover food can cause high ammonia levels in the tank, which is dangerous for neon tetras.

Gender Differences

Gender differences are not overtly apparent in neon tetras. Generally, the female will have a larger more rounded belly than the male. This rounded belly can even make the blue stripe appear curved on the female, in contrast to the very straight blue stripe on the male.

Breeding the Neon Tetra

Neon tetras can be challenging to breed, due to their need for very specific water conditions. If you wish to attempt to breed them, set up a separate breeding tank. Water hardness in the breeding tank should be only 1 to 2 dGH, and pH 5.0 to 6.0. Use a sponge filter for filtration, and provide live plants. Spawning fish will often jump, so make sure the tank has a cover. Cover the sides of the tank with dark paper to reduce light in the tank. Water temperature should be kept between 72 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit (22-24 degrees Celsius). Neon tetras can be bred every few weeks.

Condition the breeding pair with live foods prior to placement in the breeding tank. When introducing the breeding pair to the tank, begin with no lighting at all. The next day, increase the lighting and continue to do so gradually to induce spawning. Spawning will generally occur in the morning. The male will embrace the female during spawning, which will then release more than 100 eggs. The eggs are transparent and slightly adhesive and will stick to the plants. Remove the breeding pair as soon as the eggs are laid, as the parents will quickly eat the eggs.

Maintain low lighting as both the eggs and the fry are sensitive to light. The eggs will hatch in approximately 24 hours, producing tiny fry that will feed off their yolksack for the next few days. Hatch rates are not high, so do not expect more than one-third of the eggs to result in viable fry. In three to four days the fry will become free-swimming and must be fed very small foods, such as infusoria, rotifers, hard-boiled egg yolk, or commercially prepared fry food. In a few weeks, they will be large enough to be fed freshly hatched brine shrimp. The fry will display adult coloration after the first month.

More Pet Fish Species and Further Research

If neon tetras appeal to you, and you are interested in some compatible fish for your aquarium, read up on:

Check out additional fish speciesprofiles for more information on other freshwater fish.

Neon tetras thrive in groups, so keep at least six at a time. When they aren't kept in a group, they can become stressed.

No, neon tetras thrive in groups. These are a schooling fish, so you'll want to keep in a group of six rather than a pair.

Neon tetras require special amounts of attention in regards to their food and tank care, so they can be a good choice for a beginner, but the beginner will be need to be informed.

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The vibrant and peaceful neon tetra is a small schooling fish. Learn more about their habitat, care, feeding, and breeding.