{"product_id":"neon-tetra-paracheirodon-innesi-freshwater","title":"Neon Tetra (Paracheirodon innesi)","description":"\u003cdiv style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif;color:#1a1a1a;max-width:860px;line-height:1.7;\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"background:#E3F2FD;border-left:4px solid #1E88E5;padding:10px 14px;margin:0 0 14px;font-size:0.95em;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIn-store pickup only.\u003c\/strong\u003e Your order is reserved, we hold off on bagging until you arrive so it stays healthy in its display tank.\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eNeon Tetra\u003c\/strong\u003e (\u003cem\u003eParacheirodon innesi\u003c\/em\u003e) is the fish that got most of us into the hobby. An iridescent blue stripe runs the length of the body and a slash of scarlet covers the back half, and neither is pigment: the blue is structural color that flares and dims with the light and the fish's mood. In a planted tank with dark substrate, a school of them looks like a handful of neon filaments drifting through the midwater. Peaceful, tiny, cheap, and genuinely beautiful in numbers. Browse the rest of our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/collections\/fresh-water\"\u003efreshwater livestock and supplies\u003c\/a\u003e to build the tank around it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"background:#FFF8E1;border-left:4px solid #F57F17;padding:10px 14px;margin:14px 0;font-size:0.95em;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDo not cycle a new tank with these.\u003c\/strong\u003e Neons have a reputation for dying easily, and this is almost always why. They are sensitive to the ammonia and nitrite swings of a new setup. In an established, stable tank they are hardy and live for years.\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #1E88E5;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eCare Guide\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBuy a real school.\u003c\/strong\u003e Six is the bare minimum and ten or more is where they actually behave like neons: tight, confident, out in the open, colors up. A handful of three hides in a corner and looks washed out, which is not the fish's fault.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTank size:\u003c\/strong\u003e 10 gallons for a small school, 20 gallons for a proper one. Length matters more than height since they cruise back and forth.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWater parameters:\u003c\/strong\u003e 70 to 78°F, pH 6.0 to 7.5, hardness 1 to 10 dGH. They come from soft, acidic Amazon blackwater and prefer the cooler end of tropical, so there is no need to run the tank at 82°F.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAquascape:\u003c\/strong\u003e dark substrate, planted cover, and some open swimming lane in the middle. Against sand and bare glass the colors look thin. Against \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/java-moss-taxiphyllum-barbieri-freshwater-moss\"\u003eJava Moss\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/cryptocoryne-wendtii-bronze-potted-freshwater-crypt-plant\"\u003eCryptocoryne\u003c\/a\u003e they light up.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFeeding:\u003c\/strong\u003e omnivore with a tiny mouth. Micro pellets and finely crushed flake are the staple, so \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/hikari-micro-pellets\"\u003eHikari Micro Pellets\u003c\/a\u003e or \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/xtreme-nano-slow-sinking-pellets-nano-fish-food\"\u003eXtreme Nano Pellets\u003c\/a\u003e work well, with \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/ocean-nutrition-instant-baby-brine-shrimp\"\u003ebaby brine shrimp\u003c\/a\u003e as a treat.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLifespan:\u003c\/strong\u003e 5 years and beyond in a stable tank. The common \"neons only live a year\" belief comes from tanks that were not ready for them.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #1E88E5;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ctable style=\"border-collapse:collapse;width:100%;max-width:640px;\"\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eScientific name\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eParacheirodon innesi\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCommon names\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eNeon Tetra, Neon\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFamily\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eCharacidae\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCare level\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eBeginner, in an established tank\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTemperament\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003ePeaceful, schooling\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMinimum school\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e6, with 10 or more strongly preferred\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMax size\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eAbout 1.5 inches\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCurrent size\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eMedium grade\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMinimum tank\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e10 gallons, 20 for a full school\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTemperature\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e70 to 78°F\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003epH\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e6.0 to 7.5\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHardness\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e1 to 10 dGH, soft water preferred\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDiet\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eOmnivore, small foods only\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLifespan\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e5 years or more in a stable tank\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eBlackwater streams of the upper Amazon, Peru, Colombia, and Brazil\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePickup\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eIn-store pickup at Squeaky's Aquatics\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #1E88E5;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eCompatibility\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePeaceful with anything that will not eat them, which is the only real constraint on a 1.5 inch fish. They pair beautifully with other small community species: \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/ember-tetra-hyphessobrycon-amandae-freshwater\"\u003eEmber Tetra\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/brilliant-rummy-nose-tetra-hemigrammus-bleheri-freshwater\"\u003eBrilliant Rummy Nose Tetra\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/von-rio-flame-tetra-hyphessobrycon-flammeus-freshwater\"\u003eVon Rio Flame Tetra\u003c\/a\u003e, and \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/cherry-barb-puntius-titteya-freshwater\"\u003eCherry Barb\u003c\/a\u003e. Underneath them, a group of \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/skunk-cory-corydoras-arcuatus-freshwater\"\u003eSkunk Corys\u003c\/a\u003e or \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/panda-cory-corydoras-panda-freshwater\"\u003ePanda Corys\u003c\/a\u003e works the bottom while an \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/otocinclus-catfish-otocinclus-vittatus-freshwater-algae-eater\"\u003eOtocinclus\u003c\/a\u003e handles algae. \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/amano-shrimp-caridina-multidentata-freshwater\"\u003eAmano Shrimp\u003c\/a\u003e and nerite snails are completely safe.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat to avoid.\u003c\/strong\u003e Angelfish are the classic mistake, since an adult angel treats a neon as a snack, and the same goes for most cichlids, larger gouramis, and anything with a mouth big enough. Fin nippers like tiger barbs will also harass them.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #1E88E5;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eRecommended Foods \u0026amp; Supplies\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/hikari-micro-pellets\"\u003eHikari Micro Pellets\u003c\/a\u003e, sized right for a neon's mouth\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/xtreme-nano-slow-sinking-pellets-nano-fish-food\"\u003eXtreme Nano Slow-Sinking Pellets\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/xtreme-community-crave-krill-spirulina-flakes\"\u003eXtreme Community Crave Flakes\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/ocean-nutrition-instant-baby-brine-shrimp\"\u003eOcean Nutrition Instant Baby Brine Shrimp\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/java-moss-taxiphyllum-barbieri-freshwater-moss\"\u003eJava Moss\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/java-fern-on-lava-rock-microsorum-pteropus-freshwater\"\u003eJava Fern\u003c\/a\u003e for cover and contrast\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #1E88E5;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eFAQ\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy do neons have a reputation for dying?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBecause they are cheap, so they get used as cycling fish in brand new tanks, and ammonia kills them. Add them to a tank that has been running and stable for at least a month or two and they are a hardy, long lived fish. The species is not fragile, the way it usually gets bought is.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNeon or Cardinal Tetra, what is the difference?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLook at where the red stops. On a Neon Tetra the red covers only the back half of the body. On a Cardinal Tetra it runs the full length from nose to tail. Cardinals also grow slightly larger and prefer softer, warmer water.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat is Neon Tetra Disease?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA microsporidian parasite that causes patchy loss of color, a lumpy body, and a curved spine. There is no cure, so affected fish should be removed. It is uncommon in healthy stock but it is the reason quarantining new arrivals is worth the trouble, and the reason you should look closely at any fish before you buy it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDo they need a heater?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eUsually yes, but a modest one. They are comfortable from 70 to 78°F, which is cooler than many people run a tropical tank. Overheating shortens their lives, so there is no benefit to pushing 80°F and up.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Squeaky's Aquatics","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48152102994139,"sku":"480362","price":3.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0767\/5209\/3403\/files\/NeonTetra1_jpg.webp?v=1768485940","url":"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/neon-tetra-paracheirodon-innesi-freshwater","provider":"Squeaky's Aquatics","version":"1.0","type":"link"}