Black neon tetra
Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 72–82°F
- 22–28°C
- pH
- 5.5–7.5
- Adult size
- 1.4 in
- 3.5 cm
- Minimum tank
- 10 gal
- 38 L
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Schooling
- Swim level
- Middle
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Breeding
- Egg scatterer · Medium
- Rarity
- Common
- Family
- Characidae
- Origin
- Brazil
Overview
The black neon tetra is a peaceful schooling fish for a planted community tank. It is a good first fish.
Did you know
The black neon tetra's species name honors Herbert R. Axelrod, the aquarium publisher. Despite the shared common name, it is not closely related to the regular neon tetra, which sits in a different genus.
Caring for the black neon tetra
Keep black neon tetras in a group of at least six, in 10 gal (38 L) or more. Give them a planted tank with some dim corners, a sandy bottom and a few dried leaves if you like. They settle in faster and color up better when the lighting is on the low side.
Keep the water at 72 to 82°F (22 to 28°C), with a pH of 5.5 to 7.5. Feed a mix of small flake and micro pellets, with the odd serving of frozen brine shrimp or daphnia.
They spend most of their time cruising the middle of the tank. Black neon tetras are peaceful and fine in a community with other small, calm fish. They are egg scatterers and do not guard their eggs, and breeding them is a moderate challenge.
Good to know
The black neon tetra is a small characin in the family Characidae. You can spot it by the black stripe along its body, with a thin glowing line running just above it. The species is not considered threatened in the wild.
In the wild
Black neon tetras come from slow streams in the Paraguay basin of Brazil. The water there runs soft, acidic and tea-stained from fallen leaves.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The black neon tetra is a peaceful, schooling species that keeps to the middle. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.
Neocaridina shrimp
Neocaridina davidi
Freshwater1.6 in (4 cm) · 5 gal (19 L)59–84°F (15–29°C)
Guppy
Poecilia reticulata
FreshwaterBrackish2.4 in (6 cm) · 10 gal (38 L)64–82°F (18–28°C)
Neon tetra
Paracheirodon innesi
Freshwater1.5 in (3.8 cm) · 11 gal (40 L)70–77°F (21–25°C)
Honey blue-eye
Pseudomugil mellis
Freshwater1.4 in (3.5 cm) · 11 gal (40 L)68–82°F (20–28°C)
Green babaulti shrimp
Caridina babaulti
Freshwater1.2 in (3 cm) · 10 gal (38 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Wandering snail
Ampullaceana balthica
Freshwater0.8 in (2 cm) · 11 gal (40 L)50–84°F (10–29°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a black neon tetra need?
A black neon tetra needs at least 10 gal (38 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a black neon tetra need?
A black neon tetra is comfortable at 72–82°F (22–28°C) with a pH of 5.5–7.5.
What does a black neon tetra eat?
A black neon tetra eats a mix of small flake and micro pellets. Give it the odd serving of frozen brine shrimp or daphnia as well.
How big does a black neon tetra get?
An adult black neon tetra reaches about 1.4 in (3.5 cm).
Does a black neon tetra need a group?
Yes. A black neon tetra is a schooling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.
How does a black neon tetra breed?
Black neon tetras scatter their eggs and do not guard them. Breeding them is a moderate challenge.
Related species
1.4 in (3.5 cm)14 gal (54 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)Colombian gold tetra
Hyphessobrycon saizi
1.4 in (3.5 cm) · 14 gal (54 L)
1.4 in (3.5 cm)16 gal (60 L)70–81°F (21–27°C)Flag tetra
Hyphessobrycon heterorhabdus
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1.4 in (3.5 cm)15 gal (55 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Krenakore tetra
Hyphessobrycon krenakore
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1.4 in (3.5 cm)16 gal (60 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Loreto tetra
Hyphessobrycon loretoensis
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1.4 in (3.5 cm)15 gal (55 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Notidanos tetra
Hyphessobrycon notidanos
1.4 in (3.5 cm) · 15 gal (55 L)
1.4 in (3.5 cm)15 gal (55 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Vilma's tetra
Hyphessobrycon vilmae
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