The Black Neon Tetra is a popular and attractive fish that makes an ideal fish for any family aquarium. With its bright black stripe, it’s sure to add a splash of color to any home aquarium.
This small, peaceful fish is native to the Amazon River basin in South America and can reach up to 2 inches in length when fully grown. They’re active swimmers and love to explore their environment, making it a great choice for any family aquarium.
Black Neon Tetras are omnivores and will happily eat flakes, pellets, frozen food, and live food such as brine shrimp or bloodworms. They should be kept in groups of at least six so they can feel safe and secure in their environment. A well-maintained aquarium with plenty of hiding places and lots of plants are essential for the health and wellbeing of these fish.
If you’re looking for a pet that’s easy to care for, the Black Neon Tetra is an excellent choice. They are hardy fish that can tolerate a wide range of water conditions, making them ideal for beginner aquarists. They don’t need any special equipment or maintenance and they are relatively inexpensive to purchase.
The Black Neon Tetra is a great addition to any home aquarium and can bring hours of enjoyment for the whole family. With their black streaks and active swimming, they’re sure to be a hit with everyone who sees them. If you’re looking for an easy-to-care-for pet that will add some color and life to your home, the Black Neon Tetra is the perfect choice.
Black Neon Tetra information
- Average Length: about 1 inch
- Scale Colors: black, transparent
- Attention Needs: Low
- Good Pet: Yes!
- Safe with Children: Yes
- Tolerance to Heat and Cold: Yes
- Good with Other fish : yes as long as they’re a peaceful species
- Good with Other Black Neon Tetras: They enjoy living in groups
- Suitable to live in an Apartment: Yes
- Good for Less Experienced Pet Owners: Yes
- Weight Gain: No
- Health Concerns: White Spot Disease, fin rot, velvet, dropsy
- Allergies: None
- Average Life Span: about 5 years
Physical Appearance Black Neon Tetra
The Black Neon Tetra has an elongated body that grows to about 1 inch long. Their body is mostly silver, but they have a black streak going down their side that’s visible on both sides.The Black Neon Tetra is a lot more round than other Tetra species, having a body shape that’s more like a Goldfish or a Guppy than other Tetra.
Habitat and Diet
The Black Neon Tetra is an omnivore, meaning they will eat both plant and animal.In the wild they feed on small insects, worms, crustaceans, and algae. In captivity they can be fed a variety of foods including flakes, frozen or freeze-dried foods. The Black Neon Tetra prefers to live in well-planed banks with plenty of hiding places because they are shy and timid fish.
Temperament of Black Neon Tetras
The Black Neon Tetra is a peaceful fish that can be kept in community tanks with other non-aggressive species. They are shy and timid, so it is important to give them plenty of hiding places so that they can feel safe. The Black Neon Tetra should not be kept with aggressive or larger fish because they may become stressed or even injured.
Black Neon Tetras are active swimmers and they love to explore their environment. They will often swim in schools, and it’s best to keep them in groups of at least six. This will help them feel secure and also allow them to swim their natural schooling behavior.
Tank Conditions
In order to keep the Black Neon Tetra healthy, it is important to provide a balanced diet and maintain stable water parameters. The ideal water temperature for the Black Neon Tetra is between 73 – 81°F. The pH should be between 5.5 – 7.5 and the hardness should be below 6 dGH. It’s important to keep their tank clean by performing regular water changes and cleaning any debris from the substrate.
Black Neon Tetras are known for being very light sensitive. Dim lighting is best, and plants that create shadows in the tank are great too. If the lighting in your aquarium is too bright you might find that all of your Black Neon Tetras will all school together in the darkest part, but swim all over once the lights are turned off.
Tank Maintenance
In order to keep your Black Neon Tetras healthy and happy, it’s important to do regular water changes and use an aquarium filter. Their tank should be kept clean by removing any uneaten food or debris. It’s also important to check the water parameters regularly and make sure they are within the recommended range for Black Neon Tetras.
Black Neon Tetras don’t release a lot of bio waste like Goldfish. A complicated or sophisticated filtration system isn’t usually needed if they are your only fish. A simple sponge filtration won’t have a problem maintaining a healthy habitat for your fish.
Best Tank Mates for Black Neon Tetras
Black Neon Tetras are peaceful fish and should be kept with other non-aggressive species. Good tank mates for Black Neon Tetras include:
- Other small Tetras
- Danios
- Rasboras
- Corydoras Catfish
- Otocinclus Catfish
It’s important to avoid keeping them with larger or aggressive fish as they may become stressed or bullied.
Health Issues
The Black Neon Tetra is a hardy fish, but they can still have health issues if not properly cared for. Common health issues include Ich, bacterial infections, and fin rot. It’s important to monitor water parameters regularly and perform regular water changes in order to keep the tank clean and prevent any illnesses from occurring.
Fin Rot
Fin rot is a common disease that can affect Black Neon Tetras. It’s caused by bacteria and can be seen on your fish by the deterioration of their fins. Over time their fins can become frayed or discolored. In severe cases, their fins may even fall off completely. Fin rot can be caused by poor water quality, overcrowding in the tank, or injury from other fish.
To prevent fin rot, it’s important to keep the tank clean and maintain good water quality. It’s also important to avoid overcrowding and ensure that any aggressive fish are kept separate from your Black Neon Tetras. If fin rot does occur, it can be treated with antibiotics or other medications.
If fin rot does occur, it can be treated with antibiotics or other medications. It is important to follow the instructions on the medication carefully and to monitor your fish closely during treatment.
White Spot Disease
With white spot disease, your fish will have white spots on their body. Ich is highly contagious and can quickly spread to other fish in your tank. If your Black Neon Tetra is infected with Ich, make sure you quarantine them immediately. The disease can be cured by raising the temperature of the tank. There are also commercial Ich solutions available that can help to cure your fish. Consult a vet if the problem persists.
Dropsy
Dropsy is a condition that affects Black Neon Tetras, as well as other fish species. It’s caused by a bacterial infection and is known for swelling of a fish’s abdomen. Other symptoms can be bloating, lethargy, loss of appetite, and difficulty swimming. The disease is often fatal if left untreated.
Treatment for dropsy includes antibiotics to fight the infection and water changes to reduce stress on the fish. It’s important to quarantine any affected fish and treat them as soon as possible to prevent the spread of the disease.
The Attention Needs of Black Neon Tetras
Black Neon Tetras are peaceful fish that don’t need a lot of attention. However, it’s important to check the water parameters regularly and make sure they are within the recommended range for Black Neon Tetras. It’s important to give them plenty of hiding places and plants, as well as regular water changes and an aquarium filter.
Black Neon Tetras are active fish and will appreciate having plenty of space to swim around in. It’s important to observe your fish regularly to make sure they are healthy and active.
Feeding Black Neon Tetras
Black Neon Tetras are omnivores and will eat almost anything fed to them. Many owners love them because they aren’t picky eaters. They enjoy commercial flakes, frozen foods, and some live foods. When buying commercial pellets or flakes for your fish, ensure that their food contains about 40 percent protein content.
Bloodworms, brine shrimp, and daphnia make the best frozen foods and these are available in most pet stores. Black worms and fruit flies make a good choice for live foods whenever you want to give your pet a treat.
When you feed your fish, only give them what they can eat within 20 – 30 seconds. It’s recommended that they be fed 2 to 3 times a day.
Related Questions:
What is the ideal water temperature for Black Neon Tetras?
As long as your fish are healthy anywhere in the 73 – 81°F is fine. If they’re sick with something like a parasite then its better to be on the high side of this range.
Are Black Neon Tetras Easy to Breed in Captivity?
They’re not hard to breed, but it can be difficult to raise them to adulthood. When you have a tank that has conditions that are right for breeding to happen you can move several Black Neon Tetra into this breeding tank. If you notice eggs then you should move all the fish back to your main tank so that the eggs can hatch without being eaten.
Maryna is an animal expert that has had dozens of animals in her life over the years. She has never found an animal that she didn't love immediately. It seems like every year she finds kittens that have been abandoned by their mom and she nurses them to health and finds homes for them. She contributes her vast knowledge about animals and family pets to our website and we're forever grateful to have her working with us. She's also an amazing graphics designer and has designed all of the social media images that we use across all platforms.