Neon Tetra

The neon tetra (Paracheirodon innesi) comes from the blackwater tributaries of the upper Amazon in Peru, Colombia and Brazil, and it remains the fish most people picture when they think of a community aquarium. A horizontal band of iridescent blue runs from the eye to the adipose fin, with a block of red covering the rear half of the body below it. The blue is structural rather than pigment, so it shifts and flares as the fish turns under the light, and a tight group moving together is genuinely difficult to look away from.

Aquarium care

• Small: adults reach about 3.5 cm.
• Peaceful and non-territorial.
• A schooling fish. Buy eight or more or they will hide and lose colour.
• Prefers soft, acidic water, though shop-raised stock is adaptable.
• Swims in the middle of the tank.
• Omnivorous: small flake, micro pellets, frozen daphnia and baby brine shrimp.

Neons pair well with corydoras, otocinclus, small rasboras and dwarf gouramis. Do not put them with angelfish, larger cichlids or anything else that can fit a 3.5 cm fish in its mouth, because eventually it will.

Stock rotates with each shipment, and livestock is sold for local pickup at our Lethbridge store. See what else is swimming on our tetras page.