Neon Tetra

Quick facts

Identity

Also known as

Innesi neon

Synonyms

Hyphessobrycon innesi

Environment

Freshwater

Native to

Colombia, Peru, Brazil

Habitat

Blackwater and clearwater forest streams and tributaries of the western Amazon basin, typically acidic, soft, tannin-stained water with dense marginal vegetation and submerged roots.

Sourcing

Captive-bred

Conservation

Not Evaluated

Care

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

1 – 1.5 in (2.5 – 3.8 cm)

Lifespan

3 – 5 yrs

Min tank

10 gal (38 L)

Growth rate

Moderate

Placement

Middle

Water

Temperature

70 – 77 °F (21 – 25 °C)

pH

5.0 – 7.0

GH

1 – 10 dGH

Flow

Low

Behavior & compatibility

Social

Shoaling · groups of 6+

Aggression to own kind

Low

Active

Daytime

Plant safe

Yes

Shrimp safe

With caution

Feeding & breeding

Diet

Omnivore

Foods

Flakes, Micro-pellets, Frozen, Live, Freeze-dried, Algae

Breeding type

Egg scatterer

Breeding difficulty

Difficult

Sexing

Females are typically plumper with a more rounded belly and a slightly bent blue lateral line, while males are slimmer with a straighter blue stripe; differences are subtle outside of breeding condition.

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Care guide

Overview

Paracheirodon innesi is a small characin defined by a horizontal iridescent blue stripe running from nose to adipose fin, met by a red band along the rear half of the body. Best kept in groups of six or more, it stays under 1.5 inches and prefers soft, acidic, dimly lit water with cover from plants and driftwood.

Care

Neon tetras do best in a well-planted tank with subdued lighting, soft substrate, and driftwood that mimics their blackwater origins. They are hardy once acclimated but are sensitive to sudden shifts in water chemistry, so stable parameters matter more than hitting an exact number. A tight-fitting lid is worthwhile since they can startle and jump when spooked.

Feeding

Small mouths limit them to fine foods such as micro-pellets, crushed flake, and finely chopped frozen bloodworm or baby brine shrimp. Feeding small portions once or twice daily prevents waste buildup and keeps the whole shoal fed evenly. As midwater feeders they largely ignore food that falls to the substrate, so pairing them with bottom-dwelling species helps clean up leftovers.

Tank mates

Best kept with other small, calm community fish such as corydoras, rasboras, and other peaceful tetras that share similar water preferences. Avoid boisterous or nippy tankmates like tiger barbs, and steer clear of larger predatory fish including adult angelfish that will eat them despite being commonly sold together in stores. Their small size makes them vulnerable, so tankmates should be chosen with restraint and similar temperament in mind.

Breeding

Spawning is triggered by very soft, acidic water, dim lighting, and a dedicated breeding tank free of substrate disturbance. A conditioned pair scatters a small number of adhesive eggs over fine-leaved plants or spawning mops, with fry emerging within about a day. Eggs and fry are highly sensitive to light and water quality, making this a project better suited to experienced breeders.

Health

The species is particularly known for susceptibility to neon tetra disease, caused by the parasite Pleistophora hyphessobryconis, which is untreatable and can spread through a shoal. Quarantining newly purchased neons for two to three weeks before introducing them to an established tank reduces this risk considerably. Sourcing fish from a reputable supplier with healthy stock also lowers the incidence of the morphological weaknesses seen in mass-bred lines.

Sources

1. Paracheirodon innesi (Neon Tetra) · Seriously Fish
2. Neon tetra (Paracheirodon innesi) - Scale & Stem
3. Paracheirodon innesi, Neon tetra : fisheries, aquarium
4. Caresheets - Neon Tetra - Paracheirodon innesi - Fishkeeping

Varieties in the catalog

Gold Neon Tetra