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.
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 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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