Photo: Ernst Schütte (CC BY-SA 3.0) — via Wikimedia Commons
Neon Tetra (Paracheirodon innesi)
A living neon stripe that comes alive in a tight shoal — the classic, peaceful centrepiece of the planted community tank.
Will it live with a Neon Tetra?
We compare each fish against your neon tetra on temperament, size, water parameters and swimming zone. Set your tank size and filter the results.
- Assassin Snail✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 3 cm · Easy care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Keep Neon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Blackwing Hatchetfish✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 3.5 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 23–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Keep Neon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Blackwing Hatchetfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Cherry Shrimp✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 3 cm · Easy care · 18–28 °C (64–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Keep Neon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Cherry Shrimp in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Clown Killifish✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 3.5 cm · Medium care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Keep Neon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Clown Killifish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Crimson Red Betta✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 3.5 cm · Hard care · 24–29 °C (75–84 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 24–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Neon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Crystal Red Shrimp✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 2.5 cm · Hard care · 20–24 °C (68–75 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 20–24 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Keep Neon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Crystal Red Shrimp in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Dawn Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 2.5 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Neon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Dawn Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Dwarf Spotted Rasbora✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 2.5 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Neon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Dwarf Spotted Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Endler's Livebearer✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 3 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Keep Neon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Endler's Livebearer in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Eyespot Rasbora✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 3.5 cm · Medium care · 20–25 °C (68–77 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Neon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Eyespot Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Fire Red Licorice Gourami✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 3.5 cm · Hard care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Neon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Glowlight Danio✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 3 cm · Easy care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Neon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Glowlight Danio in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Glowlight Rasbora✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 3.5 cm · Easy care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 23–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Neon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Glowlight Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Gold Ring Danio✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 3 cm · Easy care · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 20–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Neon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Gold Ring Danio in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Green Neon Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 2.5 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Neon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Green Neon Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Lambchop Rasbora✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 3 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 23–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Neon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Lambchop Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Malaysian Trumpet Snail✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 3 cm · Easy care · 21–27 °C (70–81 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Keep Neon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Neon Blue Rasbora✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 2.5 cm · Medium care · 23–26 °C (73–79 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 23–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Neon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Neon Blue Rasbora in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Northern Glowlight Danio✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 3.5 cm · Medium care · 18–24 °C (64–75 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 20–24 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Neon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Northern Glowlight Danio in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Pygmy Corydoras✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 3.2 cm · Easy care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Keep Neon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Pygmy Corydoras in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Tail-spot Corydoras✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 3 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Neon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Tail-spot Corydoras in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Tailspotted Oto✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 3.5 cm · Medium care · 22–27 °C (72–81 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Keep Neon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Tailspotted Oto in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Tiger Shrimp✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 3 cm · Hard care · 20–25 °C (68–77 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Keep Neon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Tiger Shrimp in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Trinidad Guppy✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 3 cm · Easy care · 19–24 °C (66–75 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 20–24 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Neon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Black Darter Tetra⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 4 cm · Hard care · 21–28 °C (70–82 °F)
- Expect Black Darter Tetra to harass Neon Tetra at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Keep Neon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Black Ruby Barb⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 6 cm · Easy care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
- Black Ruby Barb clearly outsizes Neon Tetra and is semi-aggressive; risky unless the tank is big and well-planted.
- Watch for Black Ruby Barb picking off any neon tetra small enough to fit in its mouth.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~100 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Neon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Black Ruby Barb in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Black Skirt Tetra⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 6 cm · Easy care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
- Black Skirt Tetra is semi-aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Neon Tetra — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Watch for Black Skirt Tetra picking off any neon tetra small enough to fit in its mouth.
- Keep Neon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Black Skirt Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Desert Goby⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 6 cm · Easy care · 18–28 °C (64–82 °F)
- Expect Desert Goby to harass Neon Tetra at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Desert Goby may hunt Neon Tetra, fry or shrimplets — safest in a heavily planted tank.
- Keep Neon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Dwarf Chain Loach⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 6 cm · Medium care · 24–29 °C (75–84 °F)
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Neon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Dwarf Chain Loach in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Eastern Betta⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 6 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Eastern Betta clearly outsizes Neon Tetra and is semi-aggressive; risky unless the tank is big and well-planted.
- Eastern Betta may hunt Neon Tetra, fry or shrimplets — safest in a heavily planted tank.
- Keep Neon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- GloFish Tetra⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 6 cm · Easy care · 21–28 °C (70–82 °F)
- GloFish Tetra clearly outsizes Neon Tetra and is semi-aggressive; risky unless the tank is big and well-planted.
- Neon Tetra is small enough to tempt GloFish Tetra; only risk it in a densely planted setup with hiding spots.
- Keep Neon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep GloFish Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Humpbacked Tetra⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 5 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Humpbacked Tetra is semi-aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Neon Tetra — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Neon Tetra is small enough to tempt Humpbacked Tetra; only risk it in a densely planted setup with hiding spots.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Neon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Humpbacked Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Morse Code Corydoras⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 5 cm · Medium care · 23–26 °C (73–79 °F)
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Neon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Morse Code Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Rainbow Emperor Tetra⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 3.6 cm · Medium care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Rainbow Emperor Tetra and Neon Tetra are close in size, but the semi-aggressive one tends to dominate — add neon tetra in a group to spread the pressure.
- Keep Neon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Rainbow Emperor Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Serpae Tetra⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 4 cm · Easy care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Serpae Tetra and Neon Tetra are close in size, but the semi-aggressive one tends to dominate — add neon tetra in a group to spread the pressure.
- Keep Neon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Serpae Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Silvertip Tetra⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 5 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Expect Silvertip Tetra to harass Neon Tetra at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Keep Neon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Silvertip Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Spotfin Betta⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 5 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Spotfin Betta clearly outsizes Neon Tetra and is semi-aggressive; risky unless the tank is big and well-planted.
- Neon Tetra is small enough to tempt Spotfin Betta; only risk it in a densely planted setup with hiding spots.
- Keep Neon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Striped Red-Eye Puffer⚠️ With cautionAggressive · 5 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Expect Striped Red-Eye Puffer to harass Neon Tetra at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Neon Tetra is small enough to tempt Striped Red-Eye Puffer; only risk it in a densely planted setup with hiding spots.
- Keep Neon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Tiger Badis⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 4 cm · Medium care · 22–24 °C (72–75 °F)
- Tiger Badis is semi-aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Neon Tetra — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Keep Neon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Wine Red Betta⚠️ With cautionAggressive · 5 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Wine Red Betta is aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Neon Tetra — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Neon Tetra is small enough to tempt Wine Red Betta; only risk it in a densely planted setup with hiding spots.
- Keep Neon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Alligator Gar⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 250 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Alligator Gar (250 cm) is big enough to swallow the 3 cm Neon Tetra whole.
- Alligator Gar is aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Neon Tetra — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~3785 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Neon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Clown Knifefish⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 90 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Neon Tetra is bite-sized to a 90 cm predatory clown knifefish — it will be eaten.
- Expect Clown Knifefish to harass Neon Tetra at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~750 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Neon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Fire Eel⛔ Not recommendedSemi-aggressive · 100 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Fire Eel (100 cm) is big enough to swallow the 3 cm Neon Tetra whole.
- Expect Fire Eel to harass Neon Tetra at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~380 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Neon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Koi⛔ Not recommendedPeaceful · 90 cm · Medium care · 4–28 °C (39–82 °F)
- Koi (90 cm) is big enough to swallow the 3 cm Neon Tetra whole.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~3800 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Neon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Redtail Catfish⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 120 cm · Hard care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Size gap is too large (120 vs 3 cm): Redtail Catfish will treat Neon Tetra as food.
- Redtail Catfish is aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Neon Tetra — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~5700 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Neon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Spotted Gar⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 90 cm · Hard care · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
- Neon Tetra is bite-sized to a 90 cm predatory spotted gar — it will be eaten.
- Spotted Gar clearly outsizes Neon Tetra and is aggressive; risky unless the tank is big and well-planted.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~600 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Neon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Wels Catfish⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 300 cm · Hard care · 15–25 °C (59–77 °F)
- Size gap is too large (300 vs 3 cm): Wels Catfish will treat Neon Tetra as food.
- Wels Catfish is aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Neon Tetra — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~20000 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Neon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Wolf Cichlid⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 72 cm · Hard care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
- Wolf Cichlid (72 cm) is big enough to swallow the 3 cm Neon Tetra whole.
- Wolf Cichlid clearly outsizes Neon Tetra and is aggressive; risky unless the tank is big and well-planted.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~760 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Neon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
Compatibility is computed from each species' care data — a strong starting point, not a guarantee. Individual temperament varies, so always introduce new fish slowly and watch them.
Neon Tetra care specs
- Care level
- Easy
- Breeding
- Hard
- Max size
- 3 cm (1.2 in)
- Min tank size
- 38 L (10 gal)
- Temperature
- 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
- pH
- 4–7.5
- Hardness
- 1–10 dGH
- Lifespan
- 5–8 years
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Swim level
- Middle
- Group size
- 6+ (shoaling)
- Family
- Characidae
- Origin
- Blackwater streams of the western Amazon basin (Peru, Colombia, Brazil)
What is a Neon Tetra?
The neon tetra (Paracheirodon innesi) is one of the best-selling freshwater aquarium fish ever bred in captivity — and for good reason. Reaching a maximum of just 3 cm (about 1.2 in), this small characin from South America wears an unmistakable iridescent blue horizontal stripe above a vivid red band that runs from the mid-body to the tail. Under aquarium lighting, especially in a planted tank with a dark substrate, those colours appear almost luminous.
Neons are a shoaling species with a strong social drive. A lone neon, or a pair, will be visibly stressed — pale, skittish and prone to huddling in a corner. Six or more fish is the practical minimum; a group of ten or twelve swimming together in open midwater is where the species truly comes into its own. Beyond the spectacle, a confident shoal is also a healthier shoal.
Where do Neon Tetras come from?
Neon tetras are native to the blackwater and clearwater streams of the western Amazon basin, specifically the río Putumayo drainage shared between Peru, Colombia and Brazil. These are shallow, warm, slow-moving waters stained brown by tannins from decomposing leaf litter, with almost no dissolved minerals, very low pH and dense overhanging vegetation that filters out most direct sunlight.
That origin shapes everything about good neon tetra care. Soft, slightly acidic, tannin-rich water with dim or diffused light and plenty of plant cover closely mirrors conditions in the wild and brings out the fish’s best behaviour and colouration. The vast majority of neons sold today are farmed — primarily in Southeast Asia — and are moderately adaptable to neutral water, but they still thrive most reliably when conditions trend toward their blackwater roots.
What size tank does a Neon Tetra need?
The minimum practical tank size is 38 litres (10 gallons). A group of six to eight neons can live comfortably in this footprint, provided the tank is mature and filtered. A 60–75 L (16–20 gal) tank is a better starting point if you plan to keep a larger shoal of ten or more, or if you want to add peaceful tank-mates.
Neons occupy the middle water column, so tank length and footprint matter more than height. A longer, shallower tank gives more open midwater swimming room and more sight lines for the shoal. Dense planting along the back and sides with open space in the centre is the ideal layout — the fish feel secure and you get an unobstructed view of them schooling.
What water parameters do Neon Tetras need?
- Temperature: 20–26 °C (68–79 °F). Neons tolerate slightly cooler water than many tropicals, but sharp drops or sustained heat above 26 °C will shorten their lives.
- pH: 4.0–7.5. Farmed neons cope well around pH 6.5–7.0; wild-caught specimens or breeding attempts call for softer, more acidic water (pH 5.0–6.5).
- Hardness: 1–10 dGH — soft to moderately soft. Hard, alkaline tap water is the most common mismatch; a reverse osmosis blend or commercial blackwater extract can help.
Stability is more important than perfection. Weekly partial water changes of 20–25%, a mature nitrogen cycle and avoidance of sudden temperature swings cover the basics. Neons are notably sensitive to ammonia and nitrite — add them to an established, cycled tank only.
What do Neon Tetras eat?
Neons are omnivores with small mouths, so food size matters as much as food type. In the wild they feed on tiny invertebrates, zooplankton, algae particles and insect larvae. In the aquarium, good-quality micro-pellets or crushed flake form a reliable staple. Supplement this two or three times a week with small frozen or live foods: micro-worms, baby brine shrimp, daphnia and cyclops are all accepted eagerly and help maintain colour and condition.
Feed small amounts once or twice a day — what the fish consume in two to three minutes. Overfeeding degrades water quality rapidly in a smaller tank, which neons handle poorly. Fasting one day a week is a sensible habit.
Are Neon Tetras aggressive — and what fish can live with them?
Neons are peaceful and make excellent community fish, provided their tank-mates are chosen carefully. The risk runs in the opposite direction to aggression: at only 3 cm (1.2 in), neons are a meal for anything large enough to fit them in its mouth. Angel fish, large cichlids, large barbs and any fish over roughly 8–10 cm that is even mildly predatory are incompatible.
Ideal companions are calm, similarly sized fish that share overlapping water parameters: other small tetras (cardinal, ember, rummy-nose), rasboras, small corydoras species, otocinclus catfish, dwarf gouramis, and peaceful small livebearers. Avoid known fin-nippers like tiger barbs, which will harass a neon’s delicate fins.
For a full filterable list of compatible and incompatible species, see Neon Tetra tank mates.
How do you tell male and female Neon Tetras apart?
Sexing neon tetras takes a careful eye. Females are noticeably rounder through the belly — particularly visible from above or at an angle — and the iridescent blue stripe appears slightly bent or curved where it passes over the fuller abdomen. Males are slimmer with a straighter blue stripe running in a more horizontal line from head to tail. The difference is subtle in juveniles but becomes clear in adults, especially when females are carrying eggs.
How do Neon Tetras breed?
Breeding neons in captivity is rated hard and is generally not something that happens incidentally in a community tank. Successful spawning requires a dedicated breeding tank — typically small (10–20 L), very soft and acidic (pH 5.0–6.0, hardness under 2 dGH), dimly lit, and bare-bottomed or lined with fine-leaved plants or a spawning mop.
Condition a proven pair on varied live foods for one to two weeks, then introduce them to the breeding tank in the evening. Spawning occurs in open water; eggs are scattered and adhesive. Remove the adults immediately after spawning — they will eat the eggs. Eggs hatch in roughly 24 hours; fry are tiny and require infusoria or commercial fry foods before graduating to baby brine shrimp. The difficulty lies primarily in replicating the soft, acidic water chemistry precisely enough to trigger spawning and achieve good egg fertility.
What are common Neon Tetra diseases?
Neon tetra disease (NTD) — caused by the microsporidian parasite Pleistophora hyphessobryconis — is the species’ most notorious ailment. Signs include fading or patchy colour, a lumpy body outline, restlessness and eventual wasting. There is no reliable cure; infected fish should be isolated promptly. The disease spreads through eating infected live food or dead fish, so avoid low-quality live foods and remove any dead fish immediately.
Ich (white spot) and velvet are common opportunistic infections, typically triggered by chilling or poor water quality. False neon tetra disease (caused by bacteria rather than a parasite) produces similar fading but progresses faster and may respond to water-quality improvement and isolation.
Prevention is straightforward in principle: quarantine all new fish for at least two to four weeks before introducing them to the display tank, maintain excellent water quality, and avoid source live food from unknown or unverified suppliers.
Health note: symptom overlap between neon tetra disease, false neon tetra disease and ich can make diagnosis difficult. Confirm against a reputable fish-health reference or consult an aquatic veterinarian before pursuing any treatment.
How long do Neon Tetras live?
With good care, neon tetras live 5–8 years. In practice many hobbyist fish fall short of this because they are added to uncycled tanks, kept in hard alkaline water, or housed with incompatible fish. Get the basics right — a cycled, stable, appropriately soft tank with a confident shoal of six or more — and neons are genuinely long-lived for a fish their size. Wild-caught specimens can be more delicate and shorter-lived in captivity; farm-raised fish from a reputable source tend to be hardier.
Frequently asked questions
How many neon tetras should I keep together?
At least six, and ideally 8–10. Neons are shoaling fish — in small numbers they're stressed, washed-out and nippy; in a group they school tightly and show their best colour.
Are neon tetras good for beginners?
Yes, once the tank is cycled and stable. They're hardy and peaceful, but sensitive to swings in new or dirty water, so add them to an established tank.
What you need to keep a neon tetra
The baseline is a heated, filtered 38 L+ tank: a reliable heater to hold 20–26 °C (68–79 °F), a gentle filter that won't batter a neon tetra in the current, and a tight-fitting lid. Cycle the tank fully before adding any fish.
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