Neon Tetras

So why Are Neon Tetras Hard To Keep? Here’s 6 Reasons

5 min read

Neon tetras are captivating to prospective aquarium owners, what with their assortment of brilliant stripes of colors and frantic activity.

But before you go on to fill your tank with these brightly colored fish, you need to be educated on neon tetra care. The first question you should ask yourself is: are neon tetras hard to keep?

Neon Tetras

Well, if you are a beginner, you may find it tricky to keep these fish alive, as neon tetra fish care can be quite intricate. Many novice aquarists often complain that their neon tetras keep dying, which is the last thing you would want.

That being said, as long as you educate yourself on the various facets of neon tetra care, you have a shot at successfully keeping these amazing fish.

In this post, let’s learn the reasons why neon tetras are so hard to keep so that you can overcome them.

Let’s get started!

Neon Tetras Are Sensitive to Changes in Water Parameters

Neon Tetras are sensitive to abrupt changes in the water conditions. It could cause them undue stress.

Conditions that they could normally withstand could be problematic if they are exposed to it suddenly, which is what happens when you introduce your fish into your aquarium for the first time. 

If your neon tetra died after 1 day , it’s possible that you didn’t acclimate them to the new conditions slowly. Excessive water changes can also lead to the same effect.  

Make sure you meet all the neon tetra tank requirements; they require a temperature of 20-28° C (68-82° F) and a pH of 4-7.5.

Also, don’t forget to cycle your aquarium before you introduce any fish – this is the most basic thing you learn as an aquarist.

Commercial Breeding Makes Them Vulnerable

The sad reality of fish trade is that businesses see them as cash instead of living beings with delicate needs. Neon tetras are often bred in such large numbers that they inevitably experience poor conditions in storage and transport.

Neon Tetras

Even worse, they become highly inbred when kept in large farms, which makes them vulnerable to a number of things that could kill them.

Do your research and only buy from companies that treat their fish well – not only does this ensure that you have healthy fish, but also gives an incentive to companies to provide better care to their fish.  

Neon Tetras Require Soft Water

This is another thing that may make it hard for you to keep these fish; neon tetras prefer soft water, which may not be easily available in your area.

That doesn’t mean hard water will be a death sentence to them; they can tolerate hard water to some extent, but that doesn’t mean it’s good for them either – it can reduce their lifespan.

And remember what I said about sudden changes in water parameters? That applies to hardness as well.

The ideal neon tetra water hardness is between 2 – 10 dGH; you should not exceed 15 dGH.

Neon Tetras Need a Lot of Oxygen

Neon tetras are active fish with a high metabolism, so it is no surprise that they require an ample amount of oxygen.

You need to ensure proper circulation to make sure your water is sufficiently oxygenated. In addition to the filter, consider getting an air stone to improve the aeration.

Plants can provide some oxygen too, as well as remove some of the harmful by-products of nitrogen cycling. Moreover, neon tetras love a planted aquarium.

Neon Tetras Are Shy and Easily Scared

This may not seem like such a bad thing – it means they will not bother any other fish you choose to introduce into the tank – but other aggressive fish can take advantage of their timidity.

Other fish that sense weakness can bully the neon tetras and chase them around, which could lead to stress. As you may know, stress can kill fish.

That’s not the only thing neon tetras have to worry about; they are so small – just 1.5 inches – that they could seriously end up in the belly of fish that is large enough. This limits the types of fish you can have in your aquarium.

Because they are easily scared, you need to keep them in shoals of at least half a dozen – the more the merrier.

This is also why neon tetras need dense plants – it gives them plenty of hiding spots. The tetras will feel at home with dense vegetation that mimics their natural habitat.

They Are Prone to Neon Tetra Disease and Other Illnesses

If you take a look at the neon tetra’s natural habitat, the blackwater streams of the Amazon basin, the amount of bacteria in it is low. The soft acidic water inhibits the growth of most bacteria and fungi.

That means the tetras are not used to a large amount of bacteria and their immune system is not prepared for it.

That may be why your neon tetras keep dying when you suddenly introduce them to your dirty aquarium with tons of bacteria – they can’t deal with the infections. 

They become susceptible to a variety of infections, and neon tetra disease is one of them.

So what is neon tetra disease? Well, it is one of the most horrible things that can happen to your fish. It has the worst aspects of any disease: it’s highly fatal, it’s contagious, and the cherry on top? It has no cure.

It is caused by the parasitic fungus by the name of Pleistophora Hyphessobryconis. It is passed onto another fish when they eat the infected corpse of the fish that succumbed to the disease.

Despite its name, neon tetra disease can affect other fish too, including danios, cardinal tetras, angelfish, zebrafish, barbs, and rasboras.

The neon tetra disease symptoms include pale colors, difficulty swimming, twitching, and restlessness. In the case of neon tetras, the blue line takes an S shape as the spine becomes curved.

Keeping your tank clean is the best defense against infections like neon tetra disease. A powerful filter can do wonders in that regard. Do not overstock the tank and remove any dead fish as soon as you spot it to prevent the infection from spreading.

Conclusion

As you can see, neon tetra is definitely not an easy fish to care for. That doesn’t mean it is impossible for you to keep these magnificent fish. As long as you are aware of every aspect of neon tetra care, there’s no reason why you can’t raise these fish.

If you feel neon tetras are too hard to keep, why not go for cardinal tetras, which look similar but are easier to keep?

I know as an enthusiastic aquarist you would want to get any fish that your heart desires; however, you have to be a responsible aquarist as well and make sure you can provide a proper environment for the fish you get – if you can’t, then rethink your decision.

Thanks for reading.        

Written by:

Pet Aquariums

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