TankBud

Variety of Neon tetra

Longfin neon tetra

Paracheirodon innesi

One of 3 varieties of Paracheirodon innesi · See all varieties →

Also known as Double Longfin Neon Tetra, Long Fin Neon Tetra

FreshwaterFish

Longfin neon tetra (Paracheirodon innesi)

Varieties · Paracheirodon innesi

See all 3 →

Care at a glance

Temperature
70–77°F
21–25°C
pH
5.0–7.5
Adult size
1.5 in
3.8 cm
Minimum tank
11 gal
40 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Schooling
Swim level
Middle
Difficulty
Beginner
Breeding
Egg scatterer · Hard
Rarity
Very common
Family
Characidae

Overview

The longfin neon tetra differs from the standard neon only in its long, fragile fins. It is a peaceful schooling fish for a calm community tank, and it suits a first tank.

Did you know

Every batch of longfin neon tetras from Dan's Fish carries a note. It says the fish are healthy, but the long fins are delicate, often arrive ragged and grow back. No such note rides along with standard neons, which is a fair summary of what the extra length costs the fish.

Caring for the longfin neon tetra

Keep longfin neon tetras in a group of six or more, in 11 gal (40 L) or larger. Their trailing fins snag on sharp decor and get pushed around by a hard outflow, so use blunt hardscape and a softened return. A planted tank with some floating cover and a dark substrate suits them.

Give them soft water on the acidic side, at 70 to 77°F (21 to 25°C) and a pH of 5.0 to 7.5. Feed small flakes and micro pellets, with the odd frozen treat such as daphnia or baby brine shrimp.

Longfin neons are peaceful and school tightly in the middle of the tank when something spooks them. Their longer fins give a nipper more to grab, and that is the complaint that comes up most often with this strain. Keep their tank mates small and gentle. They scatter their eggs and give them no care, and breeding them is hard.

Good to know

The longfin neon tetra is listed as Double Longfin by Aqua Huna, and Dan's Fish sells it as a long-fin neon. Long-fin traits in aquarium fish are generally described as extended growth of the existing fin rays rather than added rays. The fin gains length without changing shape. How the trait segregates in the neon is not documented. In other species, long-fin genes are recessive in some and dominant in others.

In the wild

The longfin neon tetra is a form selected in captivity, so it does not exist in wild neon populations. Seriously Fish lists long-finned among the established neon strains, alongside albino, golden, short-bodied and diamond. It records no breeder, country or decade for any of them. Dan's Fish describes its stock as hobbyist bred and raised in Europe rather than farm produced.

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Tank mates

The longfin 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.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

Is a longfin neon tetra a different species from the neon tetra?

No. A longfin neon tetra is a variety of the neon tetra, Paracheirodon innesi, and it wants the same tank, water and food as the species.

What size tank does a longfin neon tetra need?

A longfin neon tetra needs at least 11 gal (40 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What does a longfin neon tetra eat?

A longfin neon tetra eats small flakes and micro pellets. Offer the odd frozen treat too, such as daphnia or baby brine shrimp.

How big does a longfin neon tetra get?

An adult longfin neon tetra reaches about 1.5 in (3.8 cm).

Does a longfin neon tetra need a group?

Yes. A longfin neon tetra is a schooling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.

How does a longfin neon tetra breed?

Longfin neon tetras scatter their eggs and give them no care. Breeding them is hard.

Related species