Neon tetra care guide
Also called: Neon fish, Common neon tetra
The neon tetra is a tiny, peaceful schooling fish with a glowing blue stripe and a red rear half. It is one of the easiest and most popular community fish, but it needs a group of 8 or more and a mature, stable tank.
Neon tetras need a tank of at least 15 gallons (57 L), a group of 8 or more, and water at 21–25°C (70–77°F) with a pH of 5.5–7.5. They grow to about 3.5 cm (1.4 in) and are peaceful.
Plan a tank with neon tetrasSee all tank mates
Neon tetra quick facts
| Scientific name | Paracheirodon innesi |
|---|---|
| Family | Acestrorhamphidae |
| Origin | Western Amazon basin in Peru, Colombia and Brazil (most sold are farm-bred) |
| Adult size | 3.5 cm (1.4 in) |
| Minimum tank | 15 gallons (57 L), at least 60 cm (24 in) long |
| Temperature | 21–25°C (70–77°F) |
| pH | 5.5–7.5 |
| Hardness (GH) | 1–10 dGH |
| Group size | 8 or more (schooling fish) |
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Swims at | Middle |
| Diet | Omnivore |
| Care level | Easy |
| Lifespan | 3–6 years |
| Safe with shrimp? | Mostly (eats baby shrimp) |
| Safe with plants? | Yes |
Tank setup
A planted tank of at least 15 gallons (57 L) and 24 in (60 cm) long suits a group of 8–10. Leave open swimming space in the middle and put plants, wood and leaf litter around the edges. Dim light or floating plants help them feel safe and show off their color. Keep the filter flow gentle.
How many neon tetras in a tank?
The smallest common tank that suits neon tetras is a 15 gallon. Here is roughly how many fit in each size when they are the only fish, based on adult size and waste output. Leave room if you want tank mates.
| Tank | Neon tetras (alone) |
|---|---|
| 3 gallon | Too small |
| 5 gallon | Too small |
| 10 gallon | Too small |
| 15 gallon | 8–24 |
| 20 gallon | 8–33 |
| 20 gallon long | 8–33 |
| 29 gallon | 8–48 |
| 40 gallon | 8–66 |
| 55 gallon | 8–91 |
| 75 gallon | 8–124 |
| 125 gallon | 8–208 |
What you need for neon tetras
Sized for a 15 gallon tank, the smallest common size that suits a group of 8 neon tetras. For a different tank or a mix of fish, use the stocking calculator for a list sized to your plan.
Tank and equipment
- 15 gallon aquarium (tank or kit) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Bigger tanks are more stable and easier for beginners. How to choose
- Adjustable heater, 50 W (opens Amazon in a new tab)Holds about 73 °F (23 °C) in a room at 65 °F (18 °C). How to choose
- Aquarium thermometer (opens Amazon in a new tab)Check it daily: heaters can fail stuck on or off. How to choose
- Hang-on-back filter rated 60–90 GPH (opens Amazon in a new tab)Community tank: 4–6 times the tank volume per hour. How to choose
- About 35 lb of aquarium gravel (opens Amazon in a new tab)Enough for a layer about 2 in (5 cm) deep. Smooth gravel suits most community fish. How to choose
- Water conditioner (dechlorinator) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Removes chlorine and chloramine from tap water. Seachem Prime is a popular, concentrated choice. How to choose
- Liquid test kit (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Liquid kits are more accurate than strips. The API Freshwater Master Test Kit is the common choice. How to choose
- Gravel vacuum (siphon) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Cleans the gravel and does the water change in one go. How to choose
- LED aquarium light, about 24 in long (opens Amazon in a new tab)Match the light to the tank length. Basic LEDs grow easy plants. How to choose
Food and extras for neon tetras
- Micro pellets or flakes for small fish (opens Amazon in a new tab)Small enough for tetras, rasboras and other nano fish.
Product links go to Amazon search results. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. Disclosure.
Water parameters
Aim for 21–25 °C (70–77 °F), pH 5.5–7.5 and soft to moderately hard water (1–10 dGH). Farm-bred neons adapt to a wide range, but they handle sudden swings and ammonia badly. Add them only to a fully cycled, settled tank and change about 25% of the water each week.
Best tank mates for neon tetras
These popular species share neon tetras' water needs and temperament. See the full list of 74 good matches.
Cherry shrimp
3 cm (1.2 in) · 20–27°C (68–81°F)
Nerite snail
2.5 cm (1 in) · 22–27°C (72–81°F)
Guppy
5 cm (2 in) · 22–27°C (72–81°F)
Panda corydoras
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 21–25°C (70–77°F)
Bristlenose pleco
12 cm (4.7 in) · 22–26°C (72–79°F)
Bronze corydoras
7 cm (2.8 in) · 21–26°C (70–79°F)
Zebra danio
5 cm (2 in) · 18–25°C (64–77°F)
Assassin snail
2.5 cm (1 in) · 22–27°C (72–81°F)
Avoid keeping neon tetras with
- Angelfish: Angelfish can eat neon tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Common goldfish: Common goldfish can eat neon tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Oscar: Oscar can eat neon tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Bala shark: Bala shark can eat neon tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Boesemani rainbowfish: They need different temperatures: Neon tetra 21–25°C (70–77°F), boesemani rainbowfish 26–29°C (79–84°F).
- Chinese algae eater: Chinese algae eater is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful neon tetras.
Feeding
Neons are small omnivores. Feed crushed flakes or micro pellets as the staple, plus frozen or live foods such as daphnia, baby brine shrimp and bloodworm a few times a week. Several small meals work better than one big one because their mouths are tiny.
Behavior
A calm schooling fish that spends most of its time in the middle of the tank. In a large group it swims in the open; in a small group it hides and turns pale. It ignores other fish, but anything big enough to swallow it, such as an adult angelfish, is a real risk.
Breeding
Breeding takes a separate, very dim tank with very soft, acidic water (about pH 5.0–6.5 and 1–4 dGH) at around 24 °C (75 °F). The fish scatter eggs over fine plants or a mesh base, and the adults must be removed afterwards because they eat the eggs. Eggs hatch in about a day, and the fry need infusoria-sized food at first.
Tips from experienced keepers
- Buy 8–10 at once instead of adding a few at a time. A bigger school is calmer and more colorful.
- Quarantine new neons for a few weeks. Neon tetra disease spreads through a tank and has no reliable cure.
- Pick larger, well-fed fish at the store. Tiny, thin neons are more likely to die after the move.
- Only add neons once the tank has been cycled and stable for several weeks.
- Avoid adult angelfish, larger cichlids and other fish with mouths big enough to swallow a 1.4 in (3.5 cm) fish.
Frequently asked questions
How many neon tetras should be kept together?
Keep at least 8, and 10 or more is better. Groups of 6 or fewer often hide, stay pale and are more prone to stress-related disease.
What is the difference between a neon tetra and a cardinal tetra?
On a neon tetra the red band covers only the rear half of the body, while a cardinal tetra's red runs the full length. Cardinals also grow a little larger and prefer warmer, softer water.
Can neon tetras live with shrimp?
Yes. Neons leave adult dwarf shrimp such as cherry shrimp alone, but they will eat newborn shrimplets, so give the shrimp dense moss or plants to hide in.
Sources
We checked these references when writing this page. Values are for healthy long-term keeping, not survival limits. Last reviewed 2026-10-13. See our editorial policy.