How many Neon Tetras should be kept together?

At least 10. Larger groups shoal more tightly, colour up better and spend more time in open water.

What is the smallest tank for Neon Tetras?

60 litres for a shoal of 10-12; anything smaller makes stable water chemistry harder rather than easier.

Why are my Neon Tetras losing colour?

Usually stress from a small group, a new tank or a temperature swing. Persistent fading with a curved spine can indicate neon tetra disease.

Can Neon Tetras live with a Betta?

Sometimes. It works in a long, heavily planted tank with an easy-going Betta, but it depends on the individual and needs a fallback plan.

FreshwaterTropicalBeginner

Neon Tetra

Paracheirodon innesi

A small, hardy shoaling tetra with an unmistakable blue and red stripe. Peaceful, inexpensive to keep and best appreciated in a large group.

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Ideal Conditions

Temperature: 21 – 27 °C
pH range: 5.5 – 7.2
Hardness: 1 – 10 dGH
Adult size: 3 – 4 cm
Min. tank size: 60 litres+
Lifespan: 3 – 8 years
Diet: Micro-predator / omnivore
Water flow: Low
Preferred setup: Densely planted with dark substrate and open mid-water

About the Neon Tetra

The Neon Tetra is one of the most widely kept freshwater fish in the world. It stays under 4 cm, occupies the middle of the tank and behaves naturally only in a proper shoal. Almost all fish on sale are commercially bred rather than wild caught.

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Is it right for your tank?

Check Neon Tetra against a habitat you already keep. We compare water type, temperature, pH, adult size, group needs and everything living there.

Where Neon Tetra comes from

Native range

Upper Amazon basin, Blackwater tributaries

Countries / regions

Peru, Colombia, Brazil

Habitat

Shaded blackwater streams and flooded forest margins with leaf litter, very soft acidic water and dappled light.

Illustrative native range only, not an occurrence dataset.

Similar species

Cardinal Tetra
Paracheirodon axelrodi
Ember Tetra
Hyphessobrycon amandae
Harlequin Rasbora
Trigonostigma heteromorpha

We’re adding more full species guides as the catalogue grows.

Compatible tank mates

Reviewed guidance based on this species' recorded traits.

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Corydoras
Corydoras spp.
Peaceful bottom shoal that shares soft, warm water and never competes for mid-water space.
Great
Cherry Shrimp
Neocaridina davidi
Adult shrimp are too large to be eaten and both thrive in the same planted setup.
Great
Betta
Betta splendens
Possible in a long, heavily planted tank, but an individual Betta may chase a fast-moving shoal. Depends entirely on the individual fish.
Compatible with caution
Angelfish
Pterophyllum scalare
A classic mismatch: adult Angelfish readily eat Neon Tetras despite sharing water parameters.
Not recommended
Ocellaris Clownfish
Amphiprion ocellaris
Marine species — cannot share a freshwater system.
Not recommended

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