Neon Tetra

The Neon Tetra is one of the main stay of tropical fish keeping. Regardless of the where you are in the world you can walk into any pet store see a tank full of these silver, red, and blue fish swimming by.
In the wild, this fish is found in moderate sized rivers and tributaries in Eastern Peru and South America.
They are excellent community fish and do very well in large groups.

To really see the beutity of this fish they should be kept in shoals, or groups of 5 or more. As a schooling fish, it seeks security from others of its kind. Neons are a very peaceful fish, and seldom nip at any other fish. Neons can live for many years with proper care. It's been reported that a lifespan of 10 years is not to be unexpected. In addition, they are a relatively easy to breed in a good, well maintained aquarium.

Once the females lay the eggs, they normally hatch within 24 hours. And the fry should be free-swimming in 4-5 days.

Because of its popularity, the Neon Tetra has arguably been named the "most" popular aquarium fish. In terms of sheer numbers sold, they may have that distinction. Fortunately, the majority of these fish offered for sale are captive bred in fish farms. Most of these farms are located in the Southern United States, and many are in Asia.

The ideal tank for the Neon Tetra would include many live plants, a pH of 7.0 and subdued lighting. They should not be kept with larger fish, as they will often become lunch rather than a tank companion.