I’m going to give you all the essential information you need to know about caring for Neon Tetras.

This is one of the most popular and common fish in the entire aquarium hobby. They are sold in their millions in the US per month because, as you can obviously understand, these guys are very, very beautiful. They have that beautiful blue line, and they really do create a centerpiece in an aquarium without being a centerpiece fish at all.

Neon Tetras are incredibly popular, and in this blog, I’ll provide you with all the essential tips to care for them and ensure they thrive in your aquarium. I’ll also cover some little things you should know to make caring for them as easy as possible.

So, make sure you stick around until the end of the blog to get all the information. If you’re enjoying this blog, consider giving it a thumbs-up to help others find it! Without further ado, let’s get started!

Neon Tetras: Peaceful, Low-Maintenance Schooling Fish for Your Aquarium

The Neon Tetra is considered a very easy fish to keep in the aquarium hobby, and that’s definitely true. They were in my very first aquarium, where I kept them alongside guppies and platies. They were super easy to take care of. I didn’t run into any problems with these guys. They pretty much eat any kind of food, like tropical flakes and little micro pellets, and they fit in perfectly because the Neon Tetra is a super peaceful fish. It’s not an aggressive fish at all. It’s not going to attack other fish in your aquarium, and it’s not going to attack other Neon Tetras.

So, they are very peaceful and really good community fish. You can keep them in an aquarium with other fish that don’t have big mouths because these guys are very small. In fact, they’re under about an inch in size when fully grown, so they can fit in the mouths of larger fish. It’s important that you don’t keep them in aquariums with angelfish or cichlids because that could be a disaster. But they go great with guppies, platies, and similar fish. They do an awesome job of creating a beautiful display in the aquarium.

These guys are tropical fish, and they come from the Amazon, which doesn’t matter as much now since they’ve been kept in the hobby for so long. But they do prefer tropical water conditions. In your tank, you’ll want at least a 10-gallon tank. If you’re keeping them in a 10-gallon tank, I recommend 8 to 10 fish. Don’t go over one fish per gallon, as that would overstock your aquarium. If you have a 10-gallon tank, you can keep up to 10 Neon Tetras comfortably.

They like to be in schools because they’re schooling fish. However, they’re not the best at schooling, and they sometimes get lost because they’re so small. So, don’t keep them in groups of one or two. You want at least eight of these guys, and they’ll do really well for you.

Ideal Filtration and Temperature for Neon Tetra Care

As mentioned, Neon Tetras thrive in aquariums with proper filtration. I’d recommend using a sponge filter with a very low intake. If you already have an aquarium and you want to keep these guys in it, make sure to get an intake cover if you have a hang-on-back filter. This will prevent them from getting sucked up and lost to the filter because these guys are tiny.

They also love warmth, so keep the water temperature between 72-80°F (22-26°C), and that’ll be a perfect environment for them.

Key Information for Neon Tetra Care

Here’s a quick breakdown of the essential factors you should consider when caring for Neon Tetras:

Optimal Diet and Feeding Tips for Vibrant Neon Tetras

The Neon Tetra is an omnivore, meaning it likes to eat both plant matter and meat. It’s important to feed them a variety of foods. When you go to your fish store, they’ll likely try to sell you tropical flakes. While I don’t have a problem with tropical flakes, they might tell you that these alone will keep your fish fine. Yes, that’s true, but we want to give our fish the best life possible, not just “fine.”

So, what do I recommend? A varied diet is essential for Neon Tetras. Feeding them a variety of foods is simple and will greatly improve their color, health, and activity in the aquarium. Tropical flakes are fine, but also include high-quality micro pellets. In particular, I recommend feeding them frozen foods like frozen bloodworms. While bloodworms are a good option, they can be too large for Neon Tetras. Frozen baby brine shrimp are a better choice. You can feed them frozen foods once or twice a week to give them variety.

If you want to feed live foods like live baby brine shrimp or Daphnia, go ahead, but it’s not necessary. Just make sure they’re not eating only tropical flakes. A varied diet will make a huge difference to their health and your enjoyment of them.

Creating a Natural Habitat for Neon Tetras with Plants and Driftwood

Adding driftwood and live plants will help create a natural, thriving environment for your Neon Tetras. Neon Tetras originate from blackwater environments, where the water is dark and rich in tannins from driftwood. If you want to mimic this environment, I recommend adding Indian almond leaves to your aquarium. This will lower the pH of the water and make it more rustic, which the Tetras will love. They also prefer low light, which is why they have that natural blue stripe. It helps them alert each other of their position in the water.

How to Acclimate Neon Tetras and Maintain Stable Water Conditions

Now, these fish can be a little sensitive to sudden fluctuations in water conditions. So, it’s really important that when you get them, you acclimate them properly. I recommend using a drip acclimation system to avoid shocking them when they first go into your aquarium. You can see how I did this when I first got my Neon Tetras in my previous blog.

When you do water changes, make sure to add water that’s very similar to the water in your aquarium. Don’t shock them. Keeping things as consistent as possible with some plants will make it super easy for you to care for them.

Preventing and Managing Common Neon Tetra Illnesses

Before we wrap up, let’s discuss an important topic: common illnesses in Neon Tetras. Neon Tetras can be susceptible to diseases such as ick, fin rot, and Neon Tetra Disease. The latter is especially dangerous as it can spread through your aquarium, and there’s no cure for it. When you first get your Neon Tetras, make sure to inspect them carefully. Avoid buying fish with cysts or big white spots on them, as this can lead to trouble.

Once you get your Tetras, I recommend medicating them with antifungal treatments and medications for internal worms. Quarantining your fish is really important because they’re so small and can sometimes have weak immune systems, despite being in the hobby for so long.

Why Neon Tetras Are Perfect for Beginner Aquarists

Neon Tetras are an excellent choice for beginner aquarists, offering both beauty and ease of care at an affordable price. They look amazing, and they’re easy to take care of. They might not be as easy as endlers, but they’re a lot of fun to care for.

Thank you for reading! I truly appreciate your time, and I look forward to seeing you in the next blog.