Neon tetra
Paracheirodon innesi
The classic community fish: a tight school of electric-blue stripes that suits planted tanks of 15 gallons and up.
Key facts
- Body length
- 1.2 in without fins
- Minimum tank
- 17 gallons
- Group
- 8+
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Care level
- 2 / 5
- Lifespan
- 5–8 years
- Diet
- Micro pellets, flakes, frozen daphnia and brine shrimp
- Origin
- Upper Amazon basin, South America
- Hardier than87%
- Bigger than8%
- Calmer than68%
Water: their range vs yours
Neon tetra tank mates
- Harlequin rasboraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Fancy guppyGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Panda corydorasGets along in shared water.Good mates
- OtocinclusGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Cherry shrimpGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Tiger barbGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Amano shrimpGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Black neon tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Black widow tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Blood parrot cichlidGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Bristlenose plecoGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Bronze coryGets along in shared water.Good mates
- BettaUsually fine in 20G+; some bettas chase.Risky
- Chinese algae eaterChinese algae eater attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Neon tetra.Risky
- Clown loachClown loach attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Neon tetra.Risky
- DemasoniDemasoni attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Neon tetra.Risky
- Golden mbunaGolden mbuna attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Neon tetra.Risky
- Peacock cichlidMalawi butterfly peacock attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Neon tetra.Risky
- AngelfishAngelfish can eat Neon tetra: prey body depth 0.7 cm ≤ mouth 2.3 cm.Avoid
- Blue dolphin cichlidBlue dolphin cichlid can eat Neon tetra: prey body depth 0.7 cm ≤ mouth 6.3 cm.Avoid
- Convict cichlidConvict cichlid can eat Neon tetra: prey body depth 0.7 cm ≤ mouth 3.8 cm.Avoid
- Firemouth cichlidFiremouth cichlid can eat Neon tetra: prey body depth 0.7 cm ≤ mouth 3.0 cm.Avoid
- GoldfishGoldfish can eat Neon tetra: prey body depth 0.7 cm ≤ mouth 3.0 cm.Avoid
- Iridescent sharkIridescent shark can eat Neon tetra: prey body depth 0.7 cm ≤ mouth 32.5 cm.Avoid
How we check
The numbers the tank model uses for neon tetras: water as ideal and tolerated ranges, bioload from adult mass, space, flow and how they act on other species.
- Standard length
- 3 cm (SL)
- Adult mass
- 0.58 g
- Bioload at 25 °C
- 0.70 BU
- Min. water
- 54 L net
- Min. footprint
- 60 × 30 cm per group
- Group
- 8+ (best 10)
- Swims in
- middle
- Flow
- low
- Body / fins
- fusiform, normal fins
- Diet type
- micropredator
- Fin nipper
- none
- Sensitive to
- —
Sources: Seriously Fish: Paracheirodon innesi · FishBase
Care notes
Neon tetras come from the soft, tea-coloured streams of the upper Amazon. A school of ten or more stays together in the middle of the tank and colours up best over dark substrate and under plants.
They are peaceful and small enough to be eaten by angelfish, so pick tank mates of a similar size. Add them to a cycled tank only: they are sensitive to ammonia spikes in the first weeks.
Questions
What size tank does a neon tetra need?
At least 17 gallons (54 litres of water after decor). Adults reach about 1.2 inches without fins.
How many neon tetras should be kept together?
Keep at least 8, ideally 10 or more: fewer feel exposed and hide or turn nippy.
What water do neon tetras need?
70–77 °F, pH 5–7 and 1–8 dGH. Neon tetras come from Upper Amazon basin, South America.
How long do neon tetras live?
5–8 years with good care.
What fish can live with neon tetras?
Good tank mates include Harlequin rasbora, Fancy guppy, Panda corydoras, Otocinclus and Cherry shrimp. Each is checked both ways for size, fin nipping, temperament, territory and shared water.