Common & Latin Name: Neon Tetra (Paracheirodon innesi)
Care level: Easy
Max Size: 4cm
Diet: Omnivore
Temp: 20-26°C
PH: 5.5-7.5
Purchase size: 1-2cm
Neon Tetra are undoubtedly the most popular of all tropical fish. Found in most tropical aquariums worldwide, these peaceful shoaling species are highly versatile and very pretty. They should be kept in a group of 6 or more, but many people have them in multiples of 10's as a large shoal makes the biggest impact. The aquarium can be of almost any size as long as it has reasonable width to accommodate the neon's natural desire to swim back and forth from one end of the tank to the other. The water should be soft and acidic and preferably dimly lit as like most South American species, neons appreciate darker waters. In their natural habitat they occupy mostly black waters heavy with tanins from leaf litter, but in the home aquaria they are mostly found in standard community aquariums.
Tank mates can include just about anything that isn't large enough to eat these tetras or needing particularly hard water and high pH. We recommend housing them with other South American species like dwarf cichlids, corydoras and other tetras.
Food can be offered in the form of flakes or micro pellets as well as fresh or frozen insect larvae like daphnia and brine shrimp.
If you have any questions about keeping these fish and whether they're suitable for you, please contact us and a member of our friendly store team will be more than happy to answer all of your questions
Why not check out our other photos of some of the best livestock to have graced our tanks!
