Neon tetras are small schooling fish from South America, famous for the vivid electric-blue stripe and red tail that run the length of their tiny bodies. They are best kept in groups of ten or more, where their coordinated shoaling behaviour creates a dazzling, shimmering effect in a planted aquarium. While fragile as juveniles and susceptible to "neon tetra disease", established adults in a stable, mature tank are hardy and straightforward to keep.
I have lost several batches of neon tetras in my early fishkeeping days because I added them to tanks that were not properly cycled. They are sensitive to ammonia and nitrite spikes. Once the tank is mature and stable, they are fine. But if you are new to the hobby, cycle your tank fully before addi…
Read full review →If you want your first experience with schooling fish, neon tetras are the obvious choice. They are affordable, peaceful, and visually striking. I started with ten in a 20-gallon planted tank and have since grown my school to twenty-five. The difference in schooling behaviour between ten and twenty-…
Read full review →Lost my entire school of twenty fish to neon tetra disease last year. There is no cure and the disease spreads through the group rapidly. It is heartbreaking to watch healthy-looking fish deteriorate one by one. I have since restarted with new fish from a reputable source and they are doing well. Ju…
Read full review →You can buy a dozen neon tetras for the price of a single fancy cichlid, and the visual impact of a school of thirty is arguably greater. They are peaceful, easy to feed, and do not bother any other fish. My oldest are going on four years and still schooling tightly. For bang-for-buck beauty, nothin…
Read full review →I have kept neon tetras in my community tank for five years and they are always a highlight. Zero aggression, get along with everyone, and look spectacular under good lighting. The schooling behaviour when they sense a perceived threat is incredible to watch — they synchronise perfectly. Good filtra…
Read full review →I have 120 neon tetras in a 120-gallon planted tank and the effect is genuinely breathtaking. They move as one shimmering mass through the plants, flashing blue and red in the light. Guests stop talking when they see it. Individual fish are cheap and easy to care for once the tank is established. As…
Read full review →Neon tetras became popular for a reason. They are peaceful, beautiful, and bring life to any planted aquarium. My school of thirty lives with corydoras, ottocinclus, and a pearl gourami in perfect harmony. Minus one star only because the juveniles from the fish shop are often stressed and weak — I a…
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