Neon Tetra

Flake, micro pellets, frozen

Iconic schooler. Easily eaten by mid-sized cichlids and angels.

10gal minimum; 20gal long looks much better with a proper school. Soft acidic water (pH 6.0–7.0 ideal but tolerates up to 7.5) at 72–78°F. Heavy planting with floating plants for shade and dark substrate to make the neon stripe glow. Sponge filter or gentle flow — strong current stresses them. Indian almond leaves or driftwood tannins replicate their Amazonian habitat. A school of 10+ swims tighter and shows natural behaviour. Avoid placing the tank in bright direct light; their colours pop in dim rooms.

Constantly-swimming mid-water schoolers, peaceful to a fault. Form tight schools when threatened (or just stressed) and loose, exploratory groups when comfortable. Sensitive to vibration and bright movement near the tank — slow gestures keep them out where you can see them. Sleep in the lower water column at night, colours dim significantly until lights-on.

Captive-spawnable but tricky. Soft, very acidic water (pH 5.5–6.5, GH < 4), dim lighting, separate breeding tank with java moss or spawning mop. Condition pair on live foods for 1 week, lights out for 24 hours then dim. Eggs are non-adhesive and parents WILL eat them — remove parents after spawning. Fry hatch in 24 hours, need infusoria for the first week then microworms. Most home keepers buy farm-bred neons rather than breed them.

Most dreaded issue: Neon Tetra Disease (NTD, Pleistophora hyphessobryconis) — a microsporidian parasite causing pale patches, spinal curvature, restlessness. NO cure; affected fish must be euthanized + quarantine the tank. Also susceptible to ich (white spots, treat by raising temp to 86°F), bacterial fin rot from poor water, and dropsy from chronic stress.