Important Tips on Neon Tetra Care
Neon tetras (Paracheirodon innesi) belong to the family Characidae. This large and diverse family is undoubtedly better known by their less formal names, Characins or Characids. There are close to 800 varieties of Characids ranging from Southwest Texas to Brazil.
Neons are one of the most popular choices among freshwater aquarists. They only grow to a little over an inch in length. This makes them ideal for smaller applications like the thin-line wall mounted aquariums and desktop nano tanks that have become so popular in recent years.
These dazzling little beauties will add brilliance and color to any aquarium. The iridescent blue horizontal stripe that runs just above their spines almost glows under aquarium lights. Just below the blue, a second bright red stripe runs from mid-body to the base of their tail. These radiant colors are transposed against a translucent body. Their fins are transparent. You can see right through them.
Yet another member of the tetra family you may wish to consider for visual interest is the cardinal tetra. Cardinal tetras are slightly more colorful than neons. The brilliant red stripe that is present in the posterior section of a neon’s body runs throughout the entire length of the cardinal’s. This does increase visual interest from a color standpoint. The increase in color, however, greatly reduces the translucent aspect of this species bodies. The choice boils down to a question of color over transparency. Neons and cardinals are, in fact, so closely related that they will school together in an aquarium.
Neons are by nature a skittish species. They spook rather easily. They are also very small fish that could easily be perceived as a source of nutrition by larger species. They do however make excellent community fish if you take these factors into consideration. An abundance of plants and or rockwork will provide sufficient hiding place and help them feel confident in their new surroundings. Avoid keeping them with species that will grow large enough to ingest them. Following these simple rules will keep your neons healthy, happy and most importantly, alive!
Neons are mid-tank swimmers. They are shoaling fish. Shoaling fish do not cope well when isolated from other members of their own species. Many will not survive in solitude. It is advisable to have at least four neons in your aquarium. This will help to insure that they adjust well to their new environment.
Another thing you should be aware when selecting potential tank mates; Tetras are well known for their propensity to nibble on the fins of other species. This instinctive behavior is more likely to occur in larger groups. You should avoid mixing them with long finned varieties such as bettas and angelfish.
This is a hardy species. These omnivores have an extremely high survivability rate in captivity. They are not finicky eaters. A good quality flake food for omnivores is the perfect staple for their dietary needs. The average life expectancy of neon tetras in captivity is 5+ years.
The aquarium trade is a relatively young industry. Goldfish were virtually unknown in the United States until their public debut at the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893. After the conclusion of WWII, massive fleets of transportation and cargo vessels were now free to pursue commercial interests. Neon tetras were one of the very first tropical species to be introduced to the burgeoning fish hobby industry. They are very much responsible for helping to transform this hobby into the global enterprise it is today. Part of this globalization included the development of commercial fish hatcheries. The vast majority of neon tetras sold in the world are raised to support this industry rather that caught in the wild.
Neon tetras are tiny compared to many freshwater species. They should not be housed with larger species. Any wall mount aquarium would make a perfect environment. If you found this article educational, learn more interesting tidbits about the most popular freshwater aquarium fish by seeing our fish buying guide.
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