Black neon tetra (Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi) care guide

Group
Freshwater fish
Other names
Black neon
Family
Acestrorhamphidae (American tetras; formerly Characidae)
Origin
Upper Rio Paraguay basin in Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, around the Pantanal; small clear streams, oxbows and floodplain areas.
Water
freshwater
Maximum size
3.5 cm
Temperature
22–28°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Hardness
Soft to medium, 1–12 dGH
Minimum tank
72 litres
Care level
beginner
Temperament
peaceful

Care

A hardy, active shoaling tetra and a good choice for a first community tank. Keep a group of at least 8–10 in a tank with a base of at least 80 × 30 cm (around 72 litres), as they are a little more active than neons and appreciate swimming space. A planted tank with a sandy substrate and some driftwood suits them well, and dried leaf litter adds a natural look and encourages microorganisms they will graze on. They do not need blackwater and are tolerant of a fairly wide range: roughly 22–28 °C, soft to moderately hard water and a pH from slightly acidic to just over neutral. All black neons in the trade are farmed in several countries, so wild collection has effectively stopped. An albino form is also available. As always, regular partial water changes and a mature tank keep them at their best. Black neons are bred so widely that they are no longer collected from the wild for the trade. Sources: Seriously Fish (seriouslyfish.com/species/hyphessobrycon-herbertaxelrodi/); FishBase (fishbase.se/summary/Hyphessobrycon-herbertaxelrodi.html); Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackneontetra). Checked October 2026.

Diet

An omnivore that eats small invertebrates and crustaceans in the wild. Easy to feed on a good-quality flake or small granule, with freeze-dried, frozen or live foods such as bloodworm and Daphnia for variety.

Breeding

An egg-scatterer with no parental care. Fry often turn up in mature, planted aquariums. For more fry, use a separate tank with a mesh or marble layer on the bottom (or spawning mops) so the eggs fall out of reach of the adults, and keep the water slightly acidic to neutral at the upper end of the temperature range. Condition the fish well; females are noticeably deeper-bodied and slightly larger than males. Remove the adults after spawning and feed the fry infusoria first, then newly hatched brine shrimp.

Compatibility and tank mates

Very peaceful and an ideal community fish. Mixes well with other similar-sized tetras, rasboras, small catfish such as Corydoras, and peaceful, non-predatory cichlids. Avoid fish large enough to eat them.

Last updated 4 October 2026. Community-edited care guide on Aquatic-Auctions.

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