Scientific Name: Paracheirodon innesi
Common Name: Neon Tetra
Adult Size: 2 inches
Life Expectancy: 10 years
Habitat: South America
Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallons
Ideal Tank Conditions:
- Temperature Range: 68 - 77°F
- pH Range: 5.0 - 8.0
- Water Hardness: 3 - 25
Temperament: Peaceful
Diet & Nutrition: Omnivore; will generally eat all kinds of small or finely ground foods--live, fresh, and flake. To keep a good balance, give them a high quality flake food every day. Feed brine shrimp (either live or frozen) or blood worms as a treat.
Breeding & Spawning: Egg layers. Somewhat difficult to breed but can be accomplished using especially soft acidic water along with intense sterilization of the breeding tank and everything used in and on the tank. With compatible breeding pairs, and given the right conditions, these fish will even spawn in a community tank. Unfortunately the eggs and fry will most often be eaten, so a separate breeding tank is best.
Gender: The male is more slender than the female, which makes the blue line appear straighter. The rounder body of the female produces a bent blue line.