Black Neon Tetra

Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi Description

Black Neons have a similar temperament to regular neon tetras making them a regular choice in community aquariums. They are coloured with thin brilliant white stripe and a thicker black stripe. The eyes are rimmed at the top with crimson red. Mature specimens can attain a total length of 5 cm.

Black Neon Companions

Black neon tetras are a peaceful community species and these tetras should be kept with similar fish. When a group is kept they will swim as a shoal. A minimum of six to eight fish is all that are needed to create a shoaling group. Do not keep with large predatory fish species.

Black Neon Aquarium

Banks of fine plants around the perimeter of the aquarium will help the fish to relax and feel at home. Although larger aquariums are recommended these tetras are successfully kept in an aquarium as small as 20 liters. They prefer filtered light to bright lighting. Naturally these fish prefer very soft water with a pH below neutral. Captive bred stock is somewhat more resilient to a wider range of pH and hardness.

Feeding Black Neons

In the native environment these omnivores eat a lot of insect larvae. For aquarium specimens the diet usually consists of flake food with additional fresh or frozen foods. To ensure best vigor include these additional foods weekly or more often. Some suggested todbits are live blackworms, frozen bloodworms or brine shrimp. Food will usually be consumed at the mid water level but the fish may rise to the surface if there is competition from other species.

Black Neon Tetra Profile

Family - Characidae
 
Size - 4 - 5 cm

Fish Origin - Mato Grosso region in Brazil, South America

Water - Soft with pH 5 -7 acid water

Temperature - 22-24°C

Feeding - Omnivore, feed tetra flake and general tropical preparations

Sexing - Female rounder profile while males are slimmer

Breeding - Egg scatterer

Aquarium - Peaceful school fish for communities

Breeding The Back Neon Tetra Video

A step by step guide to black neon reproduction

Solitary Back Neon Tetra Video

This single fish would be more at home living with a shoal of other black neons.

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