Neon Tetra: Fish Species Profile

Origin and Distribution

Neon tetras originated from the clear water and blackwater streams and tributaries inside the Orinoco and Amazon river basins in Brazil, Columbia, and Peru. These are areas of blackwaters beneath dense forest canopies that allow little or no delicate to get by. Neon tetras keep in shoals primarily inside the middle water layers and feed on bugs, worms and small crustaceans.

Neon tetras are usually all captive-bred, with most coming from fish farms inside the Far East and Japanese Europe. A lot of forms of captive-bred specimens for the time being are accessible. These embrace the long-finned neon tetra, though they’re considerably unusual, along with a golden strain that is primarily a semi-albino choice, and a diamond neon tetra that appears sprinkled with metallic scales alongside the very best portion of the physique. One choice has the blue stripe nevertheless not the pink coloration.

Colors and Markings

The neon tetra has a slender torpedo-shaped physique that reaches no more than an inch and a half in measurement. What this fish lacks in measurement, they make up for in shade. From the tip of the nostril to the adipose fin, the neon tetra has a vivid neon blue stripe. It is believed this vivid stripe makes them additional readily seen to at least one one other in blackwater conditions.

Below the blue stripe, the neon tetra sports activities actions a white-silver abdomen. Earlier the abdomen, a vivid pink stripe extends all one of the best ways to the tail. The putting pink, white, and blue combination make the neon tetra among the widespread of all aquarium fish. The fish is rivaled solely by the cardinal tetra, for which they’re often mistaken. The essential factor distinction between the two fish is the pink stripe. Throughout the neon tetra, it solely extends from the middle of the physique to the tail. Throughout the cardinal tetra, the pink stripe runs your full measurement of the fish, from snout to tail.

Like totally different vibrant fish, the extreme colors of the neon tetra will fade at evening time once they’re resting, as soon as they develop into alarmed or once they’re ill. On the pet retailer, choose specimens which is perhaps actively swimming and robustly colored, as mild colors can be an indication of poor nicely being.

Tank gauges

Neon tetras are peaceful fish that get alongside properly with most group fish. Always keep neon tetras in faculties of a half dozen or additional as they seem to be a shoaling species that requires the presence of others of their type. Neon tetras do properly in a gaggle tank as long as the other species often usually are not huge or aggressive. Small peaceful fish resembling rasboras, small tetras, dwarf gouramis, corys, and totally different small catfish are good choices as companions. Avoid larger tetras, as they’re going to eat neon tetras on the primary various. The rule of thumb is, if the mouth of the fish opens huge enough to swallow the neon, they’re going to do it will definitely.

Neon Tetra Habitat and Care

Newly organize aquariums often usually are not applicable for neon tetras as they will not tolerate changes that occur by way of the preliminary startup cycle. Solely add neon tetras when your tank is completely mature and has regular water chemistry. Water must be comfy and acidic for neon tetras, which implies a pH that is not above 7.0 and hardness of no more than 10 dGH. Blackwater extracts or driftwood are typically used to darken the water, protect an acidic pH, and soften the water.

Of their pure habitat, neon tetras keep in areas of darkish water with dense vegetation and roots. Providing a habitat with a great deal of low-light hiding places is crucial. Give them a great deal of crops, along with floating crops if potential. Driftwood will current hiding places as properly. The darkish substrate will replicate the pure habitat throughout which the neon tetras actually really feel most cozy. Some fishkeepers will put a darkish background on three sides of the aquarium to appreciate the required low-light habitat.

Neon Tetra Weight reduction program and Feeding

In nature, neon tetras are omnivores which will eat every plant and animal supplies. Constructive flake meals, small granules, keep or frozen brine shrimp or daphnia, and frozen or freeze-dried bloodworms are all good meals choices. Provide a variety of meals, along with keep meals, to ensure good nicely being.

It’s best to feed your neon tetra two to 4 events per day and solely give them the amount of meals that they’re going to eat in two minutes. Overfeeding may trigger your fish to look visibly bloated, set off urge for meals suppression, along with constipation. Remember to clear any meals leftovers out of the tank as this leftover meals may trigger extreme ammonia ranges inside the tank, which is dangerous for neon tetras.

Gender Variations

Gender variations often usually are not overtly apparent in neon tetras. Normally, the female might have a much bigger additional rounded abdomen than the male. This rounded abdomen might even make the blue stripe appear curved on the female, in distinction to the very straight blue stripe on the male.

Breeding the Neon Tetra

Neon tetras can be troublesome to breed, because of their need for very explicit water conditions. In case you need to attempt to breed them, organize a separate breeding tank. Water hardness inside the breeding tank must be only one to 2 dGH, and pH 5.0 to 6.0. Use a sponge filter for filtration, and provide keep crops. Spawning fish will often soar, so guarantee that the tank has a cover. Cowl the edges of the tank with darkish paper to chop again delicate inside the tank. Water temperature must be saved between 72 and 75 ranges Fahrenheit (22-24 ranges Celsius). Neon tetras can be bred every few weeks.

Scenario the breeding pair with keep meals earlier to placement inside the breeding tank. When introducing the breeding pair to the tank, begin with no lighting the least bit. The next day, enhance the lighting and proceed to take motion step-by-step to induce spawning. Spawning will usually occur inside the morning. The male will embrace the female all through spawning, which is ready to then launch larger than 100 eggs. The eggs are clear and barely adhesive and might comply with the crops. Take away the breeding pair as shortly as a result of the eggs are laid, as a result of the dad and mother will quickly eat the eggs.

Maintain low lighting as every the eggs and the fry are delicate to delicate. The eggs will hatch in roughly 24 hours, producing tiny fry which will feed off their yolk sack for the following couple of days. Hatch prices often usually are not extreme, so do not depend on larger than one-third of the eggs to finish in viable fry. In three to 4 days the fry will develop into free-swimming and must be fed very small meals, resembling infusoria, rotifers, hard-boiled egg yolk, or commercially prepared fry meals. In quite a lot of weeks, they’re going to be huge enough to be fed freshly hatched brine shrimp. The fry will present grownup coloration after the first month.

Additional Pet Fish Species and Extra Evaluation

If neon tetras attraction to you, and you are interested in some applicable fish in your aquarium, study up on:

Attempt additional fish species profiles for additional information on totally different freshwater fish.