I have always loved the bright colored Neons! Neon tetras are moderately easy to keep, but they require a fully cycled, stable, mature tank. While they are peaceful and accept standard flakes or micro-pellets, commercially bred varieties can be sensitive to poor water quality and are less forgiving in brand-new or uncycled setups. Neon fish (neon tetras) can live with other fish, but they need peaceful, similarly sized tank mates that will not view them as a snack. Because they are small (about 1.5 inches long) and very gentle, aggressive or large predatory fish are a poor match.
Most users agree that community fish with small mouths and peaceful traits make the best companions:
- Corydoras Catfish: Friendly bottom-dwellers that stay out of their way.
- Other Small Tetras: Cardinal tetrasor Glowlight tetras.
- Rasborasand Danios: Harlequin rasboras or zebra danios.
- Livebearers: Peaceful guppies, platies, or mollies.
- Small Gouramis: Honey Gouramis
Fish to Avoid
- Large Predators: Angelfish, cichlids, or large goldfishcan eat or bully small neons.
- Aggressive Fin-Nippers: Tiger barbsor large tetras that might stress them
You should keep a minimum of 6 neon tetras together, though groups of 10 or more are much better for their health and happiness.
Why Group Size Matters
- Schooling nature:Neon tetras are social fish that live in large groups in the wild.
- Reduced stress:A small group of fewer than 5 fish can become scared, stressed, and lose their bright color.
- Better behavior:Keeping 6 or more fish helps them feel safe so they swim together naturally in the middle of the tank.
Tank Size Guidelines
- 10 Gallons:This is the smallest size tank for a beginner group of 6 neon tetras.
- 20 Gallons or larger:
A larger tank lets you keep a school of 10 to 15 fish, which keeps the water cleaner and the fish happier.
- More space:If you have a bigger tank like a 29-gallon, a large group of 30 neons will look wonderful and active.
