Neon tetra fish is one of the popular aquarium fish. Whenever you go to aquarium shop yours eye may stuck up on aquarium having lots of small blue, red horizontal striped fishes. Which are looking extremely beautiful in group. With the change of angle of view you will find that their color also changes which is one of the reason of popularity of neon tetra. They have horizontal blue strip running from nose to the base of adipose fin and red strip running from middle of the body to the base of caudal fin. Neon tetra fish are completely transparent except of these markings. During night these strips become silver by the time they rest and become coloured again in the morning again. These are cheap and easily available.
Neon tetra fish are shoaling species and you should put them in a group of 10 or more. The more bigger is the group the more beauty it will add to your aquarium. These fishes will add activity and color to your tank. Don't add 1-2 because they may feel threatened and nervous and may loose their color. These fishes loves plant allot and like to hide in fish tank decorations such as leaves whenever feel threatened. So add lots of live plants and hiding spots in form of decorations. Don't put them with large fishes or aggressive fishes like angel otherwise they will eat them or bully them. These are peaceful and can live with other fishes of same size. They love nitrate free water change 25 % of water once in a week.
Temperature : 21 to 27 degree Celsius(70 - 81 degree Fahrenheit)
Size of fish tank: At least 10 gallons
Size : 1 inch
Diet : omnivorous, can eat brine shrimps, daphnia, most flake food.
pH: 5 - 7
Breeding : Egg scatterer
lifespan : 5 years +
Neon Tetra Breeding at home
Neon tetra breeding is quite complicated.They get ready for breeding at nine month of age. Breeding neon tetra is hard job especially for beginners. However it is possible under good circumstances. This is one of the reason why neon tetra are imported in U.S.A. However school of neon tetras can produce hundreds of eggs in month. The female gets ready to spawn in every 2 weeks. But many eggs and fry fail to develop or get eaten by other tank mates or parents. But you can get success if you do it correctly.
You will need separate breeding tank:
For breeding neon tetra you will need separate breeding tank. So that as soon as eggs will get fertilized you should be able to remove parents as quickly as possible. Get 10 gallon fish tank for breeding. The fish tank should not contain any gravel or sand. You can use rock to cover the bottom of fish tank at least of 2-3 inches. You should have lid to cover the fish tank else neon tetra may jump out during spawning. Remove any other fish or snail else they will eat the eggs. It is advised to sterilise the items you add in the fish tank by boiling them to 20 minutes. Add fine textured aquatic plant. Put rainwater if possible or pour aged water.
Run fish tank filter in aged water to built beneficial bacteria colonies. Put sponge filter at very slow rate with closed tight ends. Add the male and female tetras in evening. You can add breeding mop to aquarium. Some aquarist let the level of nitrogen rise and then change 50 % of water to simulate rain. As this happens in Amazon which is natural home of neon tetras. It is observed that neon tetras spawn at morning time. Use a dim light or cover the aquarium to exclude extra light. Eggs are light sensitive and may get damaged in light. Set the fish tank heater to 70 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Feed them live food half of the time to induce spawning. You can give them mosquito larvae or worms or brine shrimps.
Observe the spawning behaviour:
The male neon tetra will court the female by swimming around her in square pattern using short jerky movements by periods of motion less. The reduced girth of female and the decrease in interest level of both in each other will show you that the spawning is completed. You can see eggs if you look closely. After spawning remove the parents from the tank. They may give 40- 50 eggs in captivity. But not all eggs will turn into fry. The eggs will hatch in 24 to 30 hrs. In 3-4 days fry will become free swimmers.
FEEDING THE FRY
Neon tetra eggs are very small and you can feed them infusoria. Infusoria will serve the need, however you can give them rotifers and egg yolk for 1 - 4 weeks. After hatching, change 20% of water every week. After one month of time fry will start displaying colors.