- Size
- 3–4 cm
- Tank
- 75 L min
- Temp
- 22–26 °C
- pH
- 6.0–7.0
- School
- 8+
- Lifespan
- 5–8 yrs
Identification
Slender 3–4 cm body with an iridescent blue lateral stripe from eye to adipose fin and a red band along the rear half of the body. Often confused with the cardinal tetra, whose red runs the full length.
Tank size
75 litres (20 US gallons) for a school of 8–12. Longer footprints beat tall ones; neons swim mid-water in a horizontal band.
Temperament
Peaceful and shy. Schools loosely when relaxed, tightly when stressed. Ignores other species entirely.
Diet
Omnivore. Crushed flake or micro-pellet daily, frozen daphnia or baby brine shrimp twice a week. Feed small; they have tiny mouths and slow stomachs.
Breeding
Egg-scatterer. Needs very soft water (GH under 3), near-darkness, and a separate spawning tank. Rarely achieved at home; almost all stock is farm-bred.
Compatibility
Safe with any peaceful fish under 8 cm. Avoid angelfish, which eat them, and bettas in small tanks.
Common diseases
Neon tetra disease (Pleistophora) is incurable and shows as fading colour and a lumpy spine; remove affected fish. Ich responds to heat and salt.
Lifespan
5–8 years in stable water. Most die early from being added to tanks that have not finished cycling.
Difficulty
Beginner, with one caveat: add them to an established tank, never a new one.