Black neon tetra care
Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi · Paraguay River basin, Brazil
Black neon tetras are among the hardiest small tetras: a 10 gallon tank, 73 to 81 °F and a group of six suit them, and they adapt to a wider range of water than neon or cardinal tetras.
- Tank size
- 10 US gal or larger
- Temperature
- 73 to 81 °F (23 to 27 °C)
- Group size
- 6 or more
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Adult size
- 1.5 in
- pH
- 5.5 to 7.5
- Hardness (GH)
- 2 to 12 dGH
- Lifespan
- 3 to 5 years
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Care level
- Easy
In a 10 gallon
20¼ × 10½ × 12 9/16 in outsideHow to keep black neon tetras
Black neon tetras are among the hardiest small tetras: a 10 gallon tank, 73 to 81 °F and a group of six suit them, and they adapt to a wider range of water than neon or cardinal tetras. A dark lower body under a bright pale line and a red top to the eye make a group stand out against plants.
Diet: Omnivore: flakes, micro pellets, small frozen foods. Fish food types compared · how often to feed.
Where they swim: Middle of the tank.
Black neon tetra tank mates
Share the temperature and water, and neither side eats, nips or bullies the other. Check the full group in the stocking checker.
Marbled hatchetfish
1.5 in · 20+ gal · 75–82 °F
Medaka
1.5 in · 10+ gal · 65–82 °F
African dwarf frog
1.5 in · 10+ gal · 75–82 °F
Umbrella dwarf cichlid
1.5 in · 15+ gal · 70–79 °F
Cherry shrimp
1.6 in · 5+ gal · 65–82 °F
Sparkling gourami
1.6 in · 10+ gal · 76–82 °F
Pitbull pleco
1.6 in · 20+ gal · 72–79 °F
Clown killifish
1.4 in · 5+ gal · 72–80 °F
Keep apart
White cloud mountain minnow: No shared temperature: black neon tetras need 73 to 81 °F, white cloud mountain minnows 64 to 72 °F.
Pea puffer: Pea puffers belong in a tank of their own.
Fancy goldfish: Adult fancy goldfish eat fish under about 2 in; black neon tetras grow to 1.5 in.
Golden wonder killifish: Adult golden wonder killifish eat fish under about 2 in; black neon tetras grow to 1.5 in.
Red-tail dwarf puffer: Red-tail dwarf puffers belong in a tank of their own.
Everglades pygmy sunfish: Everglades pygmy sunfish belong in a tank of their own.
What a black neon tetra tank needs
A tank of 10 US gallons or more (such as the 10 gallon) with a cover, and the equipment below.
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Aquarium Co-Op Easy Flow Sponge Filter, Small
A sponge filter gives gentle flow and cannot pull in small fish. It runs from an air pump, with airline tubing and a check valve, all sold separately.
hygger AquaFall Aquarium Filter, S
Rated by the maker for 7–10 US gal, which covers a 10 gallon black neon tetra tank without being built for a far bigger one.
Aqueon QuietFlow Internal Power Filter 5–15 gal
Rated by the maker for 5–15 US gal, which covers a 10 gallon black neon tetra tank without being built for a far bigger one.
hygger Precise Aquarium Heater 50W
Black neon tetras need 73 to 81 °F; most homes run cooler, so a heater holds the temperature.
API Freshwater Master Test Kit
Tests ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH, the readings that matter most before and after adding black neon tetras.
Seachem Prime 100 mL
Removes chlorine and chloramine from tap water at every water change.
Fluval Edge Thermometer
Shows the water temperature at a glance, so you know it stays within 73 to 81 °F.
More choices, each with the reason it is in or out: Filters for a 10 gallon tank · Heaters for a 10 gallon tank. We don’t list fish food: any good brand of the foods under Diet will do. Plan the whole tank's equipment →
Common black neon tetra problems
- A shy, pale group usually means too few fish or too little cover.
- They may nip long fins when kept in very small groups; six or more keeps them busy with each other.
Test the water first whenever fish look unwell: see what your readings mean, then match the symptom. For disease, a vet who treats fish can diagnose it and advise treatment.
More to compare
Sources
Name, origin and adult size checked against Wikipedia: Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi. Temperature, pH, hardness, group size, lifespan and minimum tank size are common hobby guidance, not figures from that article. Ranges are the range the species tolerates; aim for the middle. Minimum tank sizes are for an adult group. Drawings are our own; photo credits follow.
Photo credits
Real photographs from Wikimedia Commons, resized and cropped to fit; each is used under the license named.
- Black neon tetra Debivort, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Marbled hatchetfish Sven Kullander, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Medaka Seotaro, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- African dwarf frog Stuart Halliday, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Umbrella dwarf cichlid Gordon Axmann, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Cherry shrimp TheJammingYam, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Sparkling gourami BEDO (Thailand), CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Pitbull pleco Haplochromis, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Clown killifish Dornenwolf, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- White cloud mountain minnow Petrtyl, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Pea puffer Beta Mahatvaraj, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Fancy goldfish Benson Kua, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Golden wonder killifish Marrabbio2, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Red-tail dwarf puffer Neale Monks (English Wikipedia), CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Everglades pygmy sunfish Brian Gratwicke, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Neon tetra Holger Krisp, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Cardinal tetra CHUCAO, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Green neon tetra Sascha Biedermann, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons
- Ember tetra Klaus Rudloff, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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