Neon tetra (Paracheirodon innesi) care guide

Group
Freshwater fish
Family
Acestrorhamphidae (American tetras; formerly Characidae)
Origin
Upper Amazon basin in Peru, Colombia and Brazil – forest streams and small tributaries of the Solimões, Putumayo, Purus, Ucayali and Japurá systems.
Water
freshwater
Maximum size
3 cm
Temperature
21–25°C
pH
5–7.5
Hardness
Soft to medium, 1–12 dGH
Minimum tank
54 litres
Care level
beginner
Temperament
peaceful
Lifespan
2–3 years (up to 10) years

Care

Neon tetras are shoaling fish and look and behave best in a group of at least 8–10, more if you have the room. A tank with a base of at least 60 × 30 cm (around 54 litres) is a sensible minimum. In the wild they live in shaded forest streams stained brown by leaf litter, so they show their best colour over a darker, sandy substrate with driftwood, plenty of plants and fairly dim lighting. Floating plants, shade-tolerant plants such as Java fern, Java moss and Cryptocoryne, and a few dried leaves all help. Keep them in clean, cool-to-warm tropical water of about 21–25 °C, soft to moderately hard and slightly acidic to about neutral (pH roughly 5–7.5). Add them only to a mature, stable tank. Decades of mass farming have weakened many commercial strains, and deformities and poor health are fairly common. Neons are prone to neon tetra disease, a microsporidian infection that is practically untreatable once advanced, so buy fish that look full-bodied and active, quarantine new stock and remove any fish that lose colour or develop lumps. Albino, golden, long-finned and 'diamond' strains are also sold. Sources: Seriously Fish (seriouslyfish.com/species/paracheirodon-innesi/); FishBase (fishbase.se/summary/Paracheirodon-innesi.html); Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neontetra). Checked October 2026.

Diet

An omnivore that eats small invertebrates in the wild. Give a good-quality small flake or micro-granule as the staple, and offer small live or frozen foods such as bloodworm, mosquito larvae and Daphnia several times a week to keep fish in good condition and colour.

Breeding

An egg-scatterer that gives no parental care. Set up a separate, dimly lit breeding tank with fine-leaved plants or spawning mops and very soft, acidic water (pH 5.5–6.5, 1–5 dGH) at 26.5–29 °C. Condition the adults well on live and frozen foods; females become noticeably rounder and slightly larger than males. Remove the adults after spawning as they eat the eggs. Eggs hatch in 24–36 hours and the fry swim freely 3–4 days later; start them on infusoria-type foods, moving on to newly hatched brine shrimp as they grow.

Compatibility and tank mates

Very peaceful and an excellent community fish. Keep with other small, gentle species such as other small tetras, rasboras, Corydoras and other small catfish, pencilfish and dwarf cichlids. Avoid any fish large enough to swallow them, and boisterous fin-nippers.

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

About Aquatic-Auctions

  • Aquatic-Auctions (aquatic-auctions.com) is a UK online marketplace for aquarium and pond livestock and equipment: tropical and marine fish, corals, shrimp, snails and other invertebrates, aquatic plants, tanks, filtration, lighting and food.
  • Items are sold by auction, buy it now or classified advert, by hobbyist and business sellers in the UK.
  • Buyers pay sellers directly; Aquatic-Auctions does not hold the money. Hobbyist sellers can only take PayPal or cash on collection. Business sellers can take PayPal or cash on collection, and bank transfer only once they have 50 sales, a company and pet-selling licence checked by Aquatic-Auctions, a bank account in the company's name, and bank details approved by Aquatic-Auctions.
  • Buyers are told to pay by PayPal Goods & Services, never PayPal Friends and Family, gift cards or crypto.
  • Live fish and other vertebrates must be sent by specialist live-animal couriers (for example APC Overnight or DX Express), never by Royal Mail. Some invertebrates and plants may go by Royal Mail Special Delivery or 1st Class within its rules.
  • Banned and invasive species (for example those on the GB invasive species lists) cannot be listed, and sellers must meet the site’s animal welfare standards.
  • Members must be 16 or over to buy (16 and 17-year-olds with a parent or guardian’s agreement); sellers must be 18 or over.
  • Business sellers show their address, company details and pet-selling licence to buyers. Seller ratings run from 0 to 100: +1 for each positive feedback, −1 for each negative.
  • The site includes a free community species wiki with care guides (water parameters, tank size, diet, temperament, breeding).
  • Aquatic-Auctions is run by Etavonni Tech Limited trading as Aquatic-Auctions (company number 10204188), Aldershot, Hampshire, UK. Contact: [email protected].