Tetras · Paracheirodon
Neon tetra
Paracheirodon innesi · Upper Amazon basin: Peru, Colombia, Brazil
Photo: Holger Krisp, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
At a glance
Water temperature
20–26 °C 68–79 °F
pH
5–7 soft, acidic water
Adult size
3.5 cm 1.4 in
Swims
Mid-water mostly in open water
Keep together
6 or more a shoal feels safe
Current
Calm still or slow water
Food
Eats most foods
Temperament
Peaceful
≈ Every value here is an estimate from typical hobby ranges. We're checking them against sources.
Where it comes from
Home water
Upper Amazon basin: Peru, Colombia, Brazil
Amazonas
Lives in blackwater stream habitat.
The dot is placed on its home rivers, not an exact collecting site. Map: Natural Earth.
Tank mates
Checked against a roomy 300 L planted tank with low flow and plenty of caves. Your own tank may change the answer: try it in Your tanks.
Good together
- Peppermint bristlenose L181 Plecos · 13 cm · bottom
-
Flash pleco L204
Plecos · 11 cm · bottom -
Amano shrimp
Shrimp & snails · 5 cm · bottom -
Bolivian ram
Cichlids · 8 cm · bottom -
Bronze corydoras
Corydoras · 7 cm · bottom -
Butterfly hillstream loach
Loaches · 8 cm · bottom -
Celestial pearl danio
Rasboras & danios · 2.5 cm · mid-water -
Cherry barb
Barbs · 5 cm · mid-water
Keep apart
-
Will eat the neon tetra
-
Aggressive and will eat the neon tetra
-
Want fast, strong current
Angelicus L136Blue phantom L128Butterfly hillstream loachColombian zebra L129
-
Need different temperatures and want fast, strong current
-
Need different temperatures
In the hobby
In stock now
Not in stock at any store we track.
Tanks with this fish
From keepers
A dozen is the minimum; they look far better in a bigger school.
Questions keepers ask
How big does a Neon tetra get?
About 3.5 cm (1.4 in) as an adult.
What temperature does a Neon tetra need?
20–26 °C (68–79 °F).
What pH does a Neon tetra need?
pH 5–7.
Does a Neon tetra need to be kept in a group?
Yes. Keep at least 6.
Is the Neon tetra aggressive?
No. It is peaceful with fish that suit the same water.
What does a Neon tetra eat?
It eats most foods: flakes, small pellets and frozen foods.
Where does the Neon tetra come from?
Upper Amazon basin: Peru, Colombia, Brazil.
What fish can live with a Neon tetra?
Good tank mates include Peppermint bristlenose (L181), Flash pleco (L204), Amano shrimp, Bolivian ram, Bronze corydoras.
All the numbers
| Temperature min (°C) | 20 | Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature max (°C) | 26 | Estimate |
| pH min | 5 | Estimate |
| pH max | 7 | Estimate |
| Adult size (cm) | 3.5 | Estimate |
| Flow | Low | Estimate |
| Habitat | blackwater | Estimate |
| Smallest happy group | 6 | Estimate |
| Temperament | Peaceful | Estimate |
| Diet | Omnivore | Estimate |
| Typical price min (CAD) | 2 | Estimate |
| Typical price max (CAD) | 5 | Estimate |
Some values are estimates from typical hobby ranges and haven't been checked against a source yet.
