Neon tetra
Paracheirodon innesi
Characidae
Easy
Parameter dashboard
Temperature
21-25 °C
pH
4-7.5
Size
3 cm
Lifespan
5 years
Min tank54 L
Price$
DietOmnivore
TemperamentPeaceful
OriginSouth America
Shrimp-safeYes
Care guide
The neon tetra reaches about 3 cm standard length and remains one of the most popular aquarium fish worldwide. A tank with a base of 60 by 30 cm (about 54 L) can house a good-sized school of 8–10 or more, and the fish show their best colouration in softer, acidic water (pH 4.0–7.5). Temperature of 21–25 °C is ideal; higher temperatures shorten their lifespan. They are completely peaceful and mix well with other small characins, rasboras, and dwarf cichlids. The diet is omnivorous — fine flake, micro pellets, and small live or frozen foods. Keep the tank well planted with subdued lighting and a dark substrate, conditions that mimic the blackwater streams of the upper Amazon basin where wild populations occur. Commercial breeding has produced several colour strains (golden, albino, long-fin) but these are often less robust than the wild type. Neon tetra disease is a risk; buy from reputable sources.
Source
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Tankmate compatibility (sample)
Pairwise screening against other species in the database (prioritizing the same family when data is available).
Review first (6)
Caution or avoid from automated rules — confirm before mixing.
| Species | Assessment | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Black widow tetra Gymnocorymbus ternetzi Caution | Caution | Fish 2x+ larger may eat smaller tankmates Open pair in Compare → |
| Bleeding-heart tetra Hyphessobrycon erythrostigma Caution | Caution | Fish 2x+ larger may eat smaller tankmates Open pair in Compare → |
| Buenos Aires tetra Hyphessobrycon anisitsi Caution | Caution | Fish 2x+ larger may eat smaller tankmates Open pair in Compare → |
| Colombian Tetra Hyphessobrycon columbianus Caution | Caution | Fish 2x+ larger may eat smaller tankmates Open pair in Compare → |
| Diamond tetra Moenkhausia pittieri Caution | Caution | Fish 2x+ larger may eat smaller tankmates Open pair in Compare → |
| Glass bloodfin Prionobrama filigera Caution | Caution | Fish 2x+ larger may eat smaller tankmates Open pair in Compare → |
6 species with compatible assessment in this sampleCollapse to hide the list; use “Open pair in Compare” for the full matrix.
| Species | Assessment | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Black phantom tetra Hyphessobrycon megalopterus Compatible | Compatible | No rule-based conflicts detected for this pair. Open pair in Compare → |
| Cardinal tetra Paracheirodon axelrodi Compatible | Compatible | No rule-based conflicts detected for this pair. Open pair in Compare → |
| Glowlight tetra Hemigrammus erythrozonus Compatible | Compatible | No rule-based conflicts detected for this pair. Open pair in Compare → |
| Head-and-taillight tetra Hemigrammus ocellifer Compatible | Compatible | No rule-based conflicts detected for this pair. Open pair in Compare → |
| Ornate tetra Hyphessobrycon bentosi Compatible | Compatible | No rule-based conflicts detected for this pair. Open pair in Compare → |
| Rosy tetra Hyphessobrycon rosaceus Compatible | Compatible | No rule-based conflicts detected for this pair. Open pair in Compare → |
Same rule engine as Compare. Not a substitute for observation, tank size, or acclimation.
Related species
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