FishTankBlack neon tetra care: tank size, temperature and tankmates
A tetra with a bright white-green stripe over a black band. Black neons are tougher than true neons and school nicely in mid water.
Quick facts
| Type | Tetra |
|---|---|
| Adult size | About 1.5 inches |
| Smallest tank | 15 gallons |
| Temperature | 72–80°F |
| Keep | 6 or more |
| Watch for | Peaceful. Keep the right group size. |
How to keep them
Keep 6 or more. Feed small flakes and pellets, plus frozen foods now and then.
Like every fish, they need a cycled tank, a heater set inside their range, and a weekly water change of about 25%. Test for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate before you add them. New to this? Start with how to cycle a fish tank.
Tankmates
Good tankmates
Neon tetra · Cardinal tetra · Ember tetra · Rummynose tetra · Black skirt tetra · Serpae tetra · Harlequin rasbora · Zebra danio · Cherry barb · Tiger barb · Platy · Guppy · Endler's livebearer · Molly · Swordtail · Betta (male) · Honey gourami · Dwarf gourami · Pearl gourami · Corydoras (bronze or peppered) · Pygmy corydoras · Kuhli loach · Otocinclus · Bristlenose pleco · Cherry shrimp · Amano shrimp · Nerite snail · Mystery snail · Glowlight tetra · Lemon tetra · Congo tetra · Chili rasbora · Lambchop rasbora · Gold barb · Rosy barb · Dwarf neon rainbowfish · Sparkling gourami · German blue ram · Bolivian ram · Cockatoo dwarf cichlid · Kribensis · Clown loach · Hillstream loach · Siamese algae eater · Ghost shrimp · Ramshorn snail · African dwarf frog
Possible, with care
- White cloud mountain minnow: They only share 72°F. A good heater and thermometer are a must.
Avoid
- Angelfish: Adult angelfish eat fish as small as black neon tetras.
- Fancy goldfish: Goldfish need cool water and grow big and messy. Keep them with other goldfish, not tropical fish. Goldfish eat anything that fits in their mouth.
- Common goldfish: Goldfish need cool water and grow big and messy. Keep them with other goldfish, not tropical fish. Goldfish eat anything that fits in their mouth.
Not sure about a mix? See the tankmate answers or the stocking ideas by tank size.
Tankmate questions: Can black neon tetras live with neon tetras?
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