Table of contents
At a glance
Peaceful
Schooling
Beginner-friendly
Blue-red stripe
Description
Neon tetra (Paracheirodon innesi) is a small, brightly colored schooling fish prized in aquascaping for its iridescent blue stripe and vivid red posterior. They are peaceful, active midwater swimmers that display best in soft slightly acidic warm water and subdued lighting. Care is straightforward when kept in a stable planted tank with regular maintenance and a proper school of conspecifics. Their small size and striking contrast make them excellent for adding movement and color to planted layouts.
Quick overview
Neon tetra, Innes' tetra
Paracheirodon innesi
Characidae
2–3 cm (0.8–1.2 inches)
Peaceful, social, schooling
Midwater
40 liters (10 gallons) for a group
Freshwater, pH: 5.5–7.0
1–8 dGH
Easy
Ideal aquarium setup
Neon tetras do best in a planted, stable aquarium that feels close to their natural Amazon habitat with soft, slightly acidic water and subdued lighting. Aim for a darker substrate, floating plants and shaded areas to reduce stress and enhance color. Gentle filtration and steady parameters are more important than bright showy setups.
At least 40 liters (10 gallons) for a small school of 6–8, but a larger group of 10–20 is best and benefits from 80+ liters (20+ gallons).
Low to moderate lighting works best; too-bright light makes them shy while dimmer, natural-looking light helps their colors pop. Floating plants help diffuse light and create preferred shady spots.
Fine-leaved stems, mosses and floating plants suit them well because they provide cover for schooling behavior and spawning. Dense planting and open midwater swimming lanes replicate their natural environment and reduce stress.
Low to moderate flow is ideal so they can swim comfortably without fighting strong currents.
Dark fine gravel or sand mimics their natural blackwater streams and helps show off their colors.
Use driftwood, smooth rocks and leaf litter to create shady areas and tannin-rich water; leave open midwater space for schooling and swimming.
Behavior and temperament
Neon tetras are peaceful, social fish that form tight schools and feel most secure in groups. They are active during the day but can be shy if kept singly or under bright light. They are sensitive to rapid water changes and poor water quality, which causes stress and hiding. A calm, planted environment with consistent parameters keeps them confident and colorful.
Diet and feeding
Neon tetras are omnivores with small stomachs and prefer small, frequent feedings; variety is key to good color and health. They readily accept flakes and micro pellets but benefit from regular live or frozen foods to round out nutrition. Avoid overfeeding and feed amounts they can consume quickly.
What they eat in nature
Insects, zooplankton, crustacean larvae, detritus and tiny plant matter.
What to feed in the aquarium
- High-quality micro flakes.
- Micro pellets or granules.
- Frozen daphnia and bloodworms.
- Live brine shrimp and micro worms.
- Occasional vegetable matter like blanched spinach.
Feeding schedule
Feed once or twice daily in small portions that are eaten within about two minutes.
Special dietary needs
No strict needs, but regular small live or frozen foods improve coloration and overall condition.
Daily:
Small portions of flakes or micro pellets once or twice a day, only what they eat in two minutes.
Weekly:
Offer frozen or live foods two to three times a week to provide protein and variety.
Always:
Always remove uneaten food and maintain a varied diet to prevent nutritional gaps and water quality issues.
Tankmate compatibility
They pair best with other peaceful small fish that share similar water requirements and will not outcompete or nip fins. Avoid large or aggressive species that may view them as food or harass them. Good aquascape companions are bottom dwellers and small rasboras that leave midwater schooling space intact.
Shrimp
Yes with caution — adult shrimp like Amano and large Neocaridina often coexist fine, but neon tetras may eat very small or newly hatched shrimp.
Snails
Most snails such as nerite or ramshorn are compatible and help clean algae without bothering the tetras.
Peaceful fish
Good tankmates include Corydoras catfish, Otocinclus, small rasboras and peaceful danios; these species share calm temperaments and similar water needs.
Semi-aggressive fish
Avoid semi-aggressive species like tiger barbs, large barbs or medium cichlids, and some assertive bettas that may nip fins or stress the tetras.
Same species
Keep neon tetras in groups of at least six, but 10–20 is ideal; in larger schools they display natural schooling behavior and are much less skittish.
Breeding
Neon tetras will spawn in soft, very slightly acidic water under dim lighting, but adults will often eat their eggs so careful management is needed. Spawning is feasible in a dedicated breeding tank with peat-filtered water and fine-leaved plants or spawning mops. Raising fry is delicate because the newborns need microscopic foods and very stable water.
Difficulty
Moderate because they require specific soft acidic water, very low light for spawning, and careful fry care to prevent fungal infections and starvation.
How they breed
They are egg scatterers that release adhesive eggs among fine-leaved plants or spawning mops, with adults usually removed after spawning.
Best setup for breeding
Use a small breeding tank with very soft acidic water (pH around 5.5–6.5), subdued lighting, fine-leaved plants or a mop and peat-filtered or aged water to lower hardness and tannins. Keep temperature steady around 25–27°C (77–81°F) and remove adults after eggs are laid.
Feeding the babies
Start fry on infusoria or a commercial liquid fry food for the first week, then transition to newly hatched Artemia (baby brine shrimp) and finely crushed micro food as they grow.
Pro tips
Keep groups of at least ten to encourage natural schooling and confidence.
Use floating plants to diffuse light and create a shaded, natural look that reduces stress.
Avoid copper-based medications and maintain excellent water quality to prevent mass losses.
Stress and hiding
Neon tetras often hide or become skittish when water quality is poor or the group is too small; fix this by keeping a stable school and improving water parameters with regular small water changes.
Poor coloration
Faded colors usually result from inadequate diet or hard alkaline water; provide varied live/frozen foods and aim for soft slightly acidic water to restore vibrancy.
Ich and parasites
They are susceptible to ich and external parasites when stressed or introduced to infected tanks; quarantine new fish, treat promptly with aquarium-safe remedies, and correct water quality issues.
Typical beginner mistakes
- Keeping them singly or in too-small groups causing chronic stress.
- Rapid parameter changes or large water changes shocking sensitive tetras.
- Overfeeding and poor filtration leading to ammonia and nitrite spikes.
Short summary
Neon tetras are small, peaceful schooling fish ideal for planted aquascapes and beginner aquarists who provide stable, soft slightly acidic water and a proper school. They need regular maintenance, a varied diet, and subdued lighting to show their best colors and behavior.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
How many neon tetras should I keep together?
How many neon tetras should I keep together?
Keep at least six, but a school of 10–20 is preferable for natural behavior and confidence.
What water parameters do neon tetras need?
What water parameters do neon tetras need?
They prefer soft, slightly acidic water with pH 5.5–7.0, hardness 1–8 dGH and temperature around 22–27°C (72–80°F).
Are neon tetras good for beginners?
Are neon tetras good for beginners?
Yes, they are generally easy to keep if you maintain stable water conditions, a proper school size and a planted tank.
Will neon tetras eat shrimp or shrimp fry?
Will neon tetras eat shrimp or shrimp fry?
They may eat very small shrimp or baby shrimp, so provide dense planting or hiding places and choose larger adult shrimp for better safety.
Can neon tetras live with bettas?
Can neon tetras live with bettas?
Sometimes, with caution; only pair with a very calm, non-aggressive betta and provide plenty of hiding space to avoid fin nipping.
How do I breed neon tetras successfully?
How do I breed neon tetras successfully?
Provide a separate breeding tank with very soft acidic water, low light, fine-leaved plants or a spawning mop, remove adults after spawning and feed fry infusoria then baby brine shrimp.
Mette Tulin
Mette Tulin is the creator of Aquascapedia, with more than 15 years of hands-on experience in aquascaping, planted aquariums, and freshwater fish, shrimp, crayfish, and snails. She shares practical insights, curated aquatic life profiles, and inspiration to help others build thriving underwater landscapes.
