Identity and search names

Common name
Neon tetra
Scientific name
Paracheirodon innesi
Other names
Neon tetra, Neon, Paracheirodon innesi
Category
Freshwater fish
Group
Tetras and characins
Origin
Blackwater and clearwater tributaries of the upper Amazon basin in Peru, Colombia and Brazil
Review outcome
PASSED

Environment and housing

Environment
Freshwater
Care level
Beginner to intermediate
Adult size
Usually 3–4 cm total length
Expected lifespan
About 4–8 years
Minimum housing
At least 90 L with a 75 cm or longer swimming length for a school of 12 or more
Temperature
21–26 °C; avoid chronic excessive warmth
pH
5.0–7.5
Hardness or minerals
Soft to moderately hard
Salinity
Freshwater
Lighting
Subdued to moderate with shaded planted cover
Social structure
Keep at least 12; larger schools are more secure and display naturally
Placement or swimming zone
Middle water
Temperament
Peaceful schooling fish
Compatibility
Use peaceful similarly sized fish that will not swallow, intimidate or outcompete the school
Habitat structure
Mature stable aquarium with dark substrate, shaded cover, open mid-water schooling room and clean oxygenated water

Feeding and nutrition

Diet
Tiny insects, crustaceans, zooplankton and fine omnivore prepared foods
Feeding frequency
Feed small varied portions once or twice daily and ensure all fish can take appropriately sized food

Breeding and reproduction

Breeding or reproduction
Condition adults and use very soft acidic water with fine spawning media in a separate dim setup. Remove adults because eggs and fry receive no care and are light-sensitive
Parental care
No parental care; adults may consume eggs and fry

System demands

Filtration
Use mature biological filtration sized for the full adult group and feeding load, with intake protection where juveniles, long fins or small fish are present. Provide steady turnover without preventing normal swimming or resting.
Aeration
Maintain strong surface gas exchange and stable dissolved oxygen. Increase aeration during warm weather, medication, transport recovery, breeding crowding or any ammonia or nitrite event.
Maintenance
Test ammonia, nitrite and nitrate, remove waste from feeding and shelter zones, and perform regular temperature- and chemistry-matched water changes before nitrate or dissolved organics accumulate.

Detailed husbandry

Identity scope
This profile applies to Paracheirodon innesi. It must not be confused with the warmer-water cardinal tetra P. axelrodi or green neon tetra P. simulans.
Adult size and space
Usually 3–4 cm total length. At least 90 L with a 75 cm or longer swimming length for a school of 12 or more. Plan around adult dimensions, activity, social structure, aggression and waste production rather than sale size.
Social structure
Keep at least 12; larger schools are more secure and display naturally
Placement or swimming zone
Primary zone: Middle water. Keep that zone usable for movement, feeding and refuge.
Feeding ecology
Tiny insects, crustaceans, zooplankton and fine omnivore prepared foods
Feeding plan
Feed small varied portions once or twice daily and ensure all fish can take appropriately sized food
Water stability
Maintain 21–26 °C; avoid chronic excessive warmth; pH 5.0–7.5; hardness/minerals: Soft to moderately hard. Stable oxygenation and nitrogen-cycle control matter more than chasing one exact number.
Adult projected load
Plan capacity for Keep at least 12; larger schools are more secure and display naturally at the documented adult size (Usually 3–4 cm total length) in At least 90 L with a 75 cm or longer swimming length for a school of 12 or more. Include feeding intensity, territorial behaviour and breeding growth rather than counting sale-size juveniles.
Filtration
Use mature biological filtration sized for the full adult group and feeding load, with intake protection where juveniles, long fins or small fish are present. Provide steady turnover without preventing normal swimming or resting.
Aeration
Maintain strong surface gas exchange and stable dissolved oxygen. Increase aeration during warm weather, medication, transport recovery, breeding crowding or any ammonia or nitrite event.
Maintenance
Test ammonia, nitrite and nitrate, remove waste from feeding and shelter zones, and perform regular temperature- and chemistry-matched water changes before nitrate or dissolved organics accumulate.
Habitat structure
Mature stable aquarium with dark substrate, shaded cover, open mid-water schooling room and clean oxygenated water
Compatibility plan
Use peaceful similarly sized fish that will not swallow, intimidate or outcompete the school
Breeding plan
Condition adults and use very soft acidic water with fine spawning media in a separate dim setup. Remove adults because eggs and fry receive no care and are light-sensitive Parental care: No parental care; adults may consume eggs and fry.
Quarantine
Quarantine new fish in a separate cycled aquarium with dedicated equipment. Match temperature and mineral chemistry gradually, confirm feeding and normal respiration, and never add transport water to the established aquarium.
Welfare checks
Maintain the stated adult space and social structure, verify feeding and intervene early when injury, exclusion, weight loss, abnormal respiration or altered behaviour appears. Do not diagnose “neon tetra disease” from colour loss or wasting alone. Similar signs can have different causes, so isolate affected fish and seek proper diagnostic advice.
Biosecurity and release
Never release fish, fry, eggs, aquarium water, sediment, plants or live foods into drains, dams or natural waterways. Confirm current Australian import conditions and South Australian possession, trade and movement rules before acquisition or transfer.
Main risk
Do not diagnose “neon tetra disease” from colour loss or wasting alone. Similar signs can have different causes, so isolate affected fish and seek proper diagnostic advice.
Overridable warnings
Do not diagnose “neon tetra disease” from colour loss or wasting alone. Similar signs can have different causes, so isolate affected fish and seek proper diagnostic advice. Any override must still preserve adult space, social welfare, stable chemistry, oxygen and filter capacity.

Welfare and risk

Welfare checks
Maintain the stated adult space and social structure, verify feeding and intervene early when injury, exclusion, weight loss, abnormal respiration or altered behaviour appears. Do not diagnose “neon tetra disease” from colour loss or wasting alone. Similar signs can have different causes, so isolate affected fish and seek proper diagnostic advice.
Main warning
Do not diagnose “neon tetra disease” from colour loss or wasting alone. Similar signs can have different causes, so isolate affected fish and seek proper diagnostic advice.
Biosecurity
Never release fish, fry, eggs, aquarium water, sediment, plants or live foods into drains, dams or natural waterways. Confirm current Australian import conditions and South Australian possession, trade and movement rules before acquisition or transfer.

Sources

Source note

Current identity or scope, husbandry, system-demand, welfare and Australian biosecurity evidence checked; active retired-source links removed; all AquaNexus wording is original.

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