Paracheirodon innesi
Neon Tetra
Neon tetras are the classic beginner shoaling fish, bringing constant movement and colour to a modest, well-cycled community tank. Their main risk is disease introduced with poor-quality stock rather than any husbandry difficulty of their own.
CharacidaeLifespan 5–8 years with stable water qualityCare complexity 2/5Suitable for beginners
At a glance
- Scientific name
- Paracheirodon innesi
- Family
- Characidae
- Origin
- Clear and blackwater tributaries of the upper Amazon basin
- Lifespan
- 5–8 years with stable water quality
- Adult size
- 2.5–4 cm
- Weight
- Not typically measured
- Temperament
- Peaceful, active shoaling fish
- Activity level
- High; constant mid-water movement in a group
- Social needs
- High; must be kept in shoals of at least eight to feel secure and show natural colour
- Intelligence
- Simple shoaling and feeding-response behaviour
- Noise
- Silent
Housing and environment
- Housing
- Densely planted aquarium of at least 60 litres with gentle filtration
- Space requirement
- Horizontal swimming length more valuable than depth
- Temperature
- 20–26°C
- Humidity
- Not applicable, aquatic species
- Exercise
- Provided by tank length and shoal interaction
- Grooming
- Not applicable
Diet and feeding
Small flake or micro-pellet food plus occasional live or frozen daphnia and brine shrimp
Behaviour and compatibility
Tight shoaling, mid-water cruising, brief chasing during feeding
- With children
- Good beginner community fish for supervised feeding and observation
- With other animals
- Compatible with other small peaceful community fish; avoid larger predatory species
- Training difficulty
- Not applicable
Health
- Neon tetra disease (an incurable microsporidian infection)
- Ich
- Fin rot from poor water quality
No individual veterinary treatment is realistic; prevention is through quarantine and stable water parameters
Special care requirements
Buy from a reputable source, as neon tetra disease can wipe out an established shoal and is untreatable