Neon tetra - Paracheirodon innesi

Contributed by: Steve Boyce»2»

On: September 17, 2006, 6:53 am

My Neons are getting on quite well in a community tank alongside SE Asian fish. About half a dozen are left from my initial school of 15 and are nearing a year in a 36" x 18" x 18" tank. I recently topped up the Neon population with ten youngsters, and now have about 20.

I did try keeping around a dozen in a 25lt tank, but they tended to hide. Back in the main tank, they enjoy exploring every nook and cranny.

Having such small fish has prevented me from buying too large a member for the community such as Angels, due to fears of them seeing the Neons as lunch. They are way too colourful an addition to the tank for that.

Contributed by: Stormy»3»

On: May 1, 2007, 12:50 pm

I have 5 neons. I love them so much but they’re so shy, even my guppy picks on them....and the guppy’s smaller than they are! They love to eat and are surprisingly expensive where I live. So much money for such a little bitty fish. Probably one of my favorites. I’ve also noticed that they love people. Mine rush up to the front when ever I walk by, hoping to be fed. Another funny thing about my tetras is that the smallest, no bigger than a thumb nail, is the most curious and definitely the bravest. I would only reccomend this fish to people with a lot of experience in aquariums. Not because Neon Tetras are fragile, but because a beginner might not know about correct stocking levels, schooling, and tank mates.

Contributed by: Hayder»1»

On: December 16, 2007, 10:32 pm

Hi,

Can anyone help me please, I have a problem with my Ram cichlid and neon tetra. Primarily my tetras, but especially the neon tetras; they don't last for a week in the tank. I have bought 40 specimens of neon tetras last week and after 4 days I have 6 specimens only and also the rams. They are healthy and eating normally but after the fourth day they start to go up the tank trying to breath directly from the surface and die.

I have 3x4 ft tank full with plants and hiding places with 8 tiger barbs, 2 red tail shark, 4 red eye tetra, 8 zebra danio, 4 discus, 2 blue lobster, 6 guppies, 4 rainbow fish and some other peaceful fish.

I tried everything as based on books and trial and error (I changed the water, I introduced the fish properly even some times in the dark, I used all kind of medicine, tank temp is 25-28 but no progress) and I moved all the fin nippers from the tank already. My guppies are fine but I don’t know what to do anymore. Can you please identify the problem for me so I can fix it?

Contributed by: admin»783»

On: December 17, 2007, 1:05 pm

@Hayder: This seems like the fish have some problem before they’re bought. Did you try more shops? I had the same problem with Corydoras Panda. Even they lived longer than your fish, all new specimen died after some period.

I’d try buying fish from another source for instance. Make sure that fishes don’t come from the same source in both shops. It’s because a lot of breeders sell fish to many aquatic shops.

Since you keep other species in your aquarium, I am sure that it’s stress and low "quality" of bought fish what is killing them. Healthy fishes don’t experience any serious troubles regarding small stress. But weak ones die easily.

Contributed by: Puffy»15»

On: December 30, 2007, 4:54 am

My friend got his first pets and they were Neons. They were all fine he said until one by one the six neons started dying, he also had black widows and thinks they killed the six neons. Is it them or something else?

Contributed by: admin»783»

On: December 31, 2007, 1:41 pm

@Puffy: I don’t think that Black Widows kill Neon Tetras. I keep Widows myself and they’re very peaceful towards other fish (including other Tetras).

I’d say that the problem was somewhere else.

Contributed by: Anonymous»157»

On: April 30, 2008, 1:42 pm

I have a 100 litre tank and I got 5 red eye tetras 2 dwarf gouramis, 2 sword tails and two angels but two red eyes died today for no reason. I've had them for 3 days only. My tank is clean, lots of oxygen and enough food. Please tell me what is causing them to die.

Contributed by: admin»783»

On: May 6, 2008, 6:42 am

@Anonymous: Please see this page and check comment for langs dated May 6, 2008, 11:56 am. Next time point your questions about Red Eyed Tetras to the most appropriate page, please: this one for instance.

Contributed by: John»8»

On: June 15, 2008, 12:44 am

I have a problem with a few of my neons,

5 of my adult neon tetras have developed a clear/white growth on their face. On some it is on their mouth, some above their eye. I have separated them from the rest of my fish and have them in a small tank. I have kept them separated for 4 weeks now just to observe them closely. None of the other fish in my community tank (cichlids, gouramis, various catfish) have developed anything like this, only a few of these neons.

In the separated tank they are all eating well (even though one has growth all over its mouth and cant really open it) and seem healthy apart from the growths. I would like to treat them but am unsure which is the best method. After some research I have read to either use malachite-green or to try salt water.

What do you suggest?

Contributed by: Louisville Will»1»

On: July 30, 2009, 12:27 pm

Angels and Neons ARE compatible. I have have both of them in my main tank for over a year and have not yet lost a Neon. The key is to introduce the Angels to Neons when the Angels are little. That way the Angels will not see the Neons are food. It simply is not true that Angels and Neons cannot be kept in the same tank.

Contributed by: MarkB»1»

On: November 1, 2009, 10:12 pm

I bought 6 neons and put them in a new tank. The tank had been running empty of fish for a week and had additives added from the start.

Morning of day 3 and I’ve found 3 dead. Someone said the filter is too strong, it’s a 35ltr tank and the filter is rated up to a 50ltr. The current looks strongish but I’ve pointed the output towards the tank wall to try and reduce the flow.

Any pointers?

Contributed by: Alvin»7»

On: May 14, 2010, 2:53 am

I raise neon tetra and cardinal tetra. Why are my neon tetras a lot more fragile than my cardinals? My cardinals did not died even one, but my neon tetras keep dying, now only left two in my tank. Does cardinal tetra pick on neon? I don't think it's a water quality problem, because my other fish are still healthy. Thanks!

Contributed by: Hayleen»1»

On: May 14, 2010, 2:54 am

Are albino variants sold widely at the pet shop?

Contributed by: admin»783»

On: July 2, 2010, 3:51 am

@Alvin: There can be more problems. The most usual problem is poor quality of fish. Am not sure where you bought the fish, but some fish breeders lack at quality.

Another problem can be water. The water can be good enough for other fish, because they’re harder. But the same water can be insufficient for Neon tetras.

In my experience these two options are most likely.

@Hayleen: No.

@MarkB: There are a few things going wrong here, a week is not long enough to cycle an aquarium, it can take up to 4 weeks for the filters to mature enough to cope with any ammonia in the water.

Neon Tetras are not a hardy fish, they should never be added to a new tank set up, the tank needs to settle down for at least 2 months before you can add these. You are best adding hardy fish initially.

The filter flow is not too strong, it is perfect for the size of your tank. [answered by Mick; fishtankforum.co.uk]

Contributed by: Alvin»7»

On: July 12, 2010, 4:46 pm

Thanks for the advice, but are cardinal tetra and neon tetra water parameters different? I though cardinals are slightly fragile than neons, but for me, it's totally opposite... I admit my cardinals actually got some mortality, but much lower than my neons.

Contributed by: admin»783»

On: August 28, 2010, 7:25 pm

@Alvin: The water parameters for Cardinal Tetras and Neon Tetras is exactly the same, soft and slightly acidic. Cardinals are a lot hardier than Neons, nowadays there are a lot of Neons for sale that have been tank bred by breeders that are not resistant to disease and the mortality rate is very high, often the keepers blame themselves thinking they have done something wrong but it is in fact poor quality Neons that do not survive for long. [answered by Mick; fishtankforum.co.uk]