Neon Tetra (Florida Bred)

Elmer's Aquarium Community Tank Ideas                            Tank Size- 10  gal or more

Peaceful community with Neons and other small Tetras

Why Keep This Group?  Tetras represent a large group of popular aquarium fish.  This community uses some of the small, colorful, and peaceful varieties including the very popular Neon Tetra.

Housing:  This community is for tanks 10 gallon and up.  The tank should have a power filter and heater.  Supplement the power filter with a small air pump.  Temperature range:  70-76.  pH- (6.6-7.4).  Stable water conditions are important.  Add SeaChem pH Neutral with each partial water change to stabilize pH, but not required.  To bring out the best coloration use a dark background.  If you have a new tank, operate the tank at least one week and add a biological starter before you add neons.

Live Plants:  Live plants are highly recommended. Live plants will create a more natural looking system and these fish love to swim and dart among live plants. Combine live plants with some decorative driftwood for a great looking tank.   Tetras like to swim in the middle water layers.  Provide some bushy plants toward the rear of the tank, and leave the front open for swimming.
How Many?  Tetras are schooling fish and do best in groups.  Keep them in groups of at least 3.  Groups of 6, 12 or more is even better.

Feeding:  Fish this community two to three small feedings per day. They have small mouths so use a soft flake food or small pellets designed for small fish.  Frozen Mysis are a great supplement.

Tank Mates:  Here are some choices.  Our staff can help you find them in our store.

Neon Tetras:  They will only thrive only if they are kept in established tanks with other small peaceful fish.  They are not appropriate for community tanks of larger more aggressive fish that may scare or harass them.


Small Peaceful Tetras:   Many of these fish are great choices for beginners because they are very hardy:  Glowlight Tetra
Flame Von Rio Tetra
Bleeding Heart Tetra
Pristella Tetra
Black Phantom Tetra
Red Phantom Tetra
Silver Tip Tetra
Lemon Tetra
Red Eye Tetra
Gold Tetra
Diamond Tetra
Emperor Tetra

Peaceful Rasboras
Harlequin Rasbora
Dwarf Emerald Rasbora
Emerald Eye Rasbora.

Peaceful Barbs:
Cherry Barb
Gold Barb
Checkered Barb

Small Gouramis:
Dwarf Gouramis
Honey Gouramis


Top Dwellers
Hatchetfish
Catfish:
Corydoras Cats
Bristlenose Plecostomus
Glass Cat
Farlowella Cat
Banjo Cat
Otocinclus Cat

Loaches:
Kuhli Loach
Sumo Loach
Crimson Loach

Others:
White Clouds
Guppies
Moons

Other Livestock:
Dwarf African Frog
Cherry Shrimp
Nerite Snail.
Others, but not as "beginner friendly"
Cardinal Tetra
Rummynose Tetra
Chocolate Gouramis.

If  you have a big enough tank  (25 gal up)  The larger your tank the more varieties of fish you may be able to include.  Tanks that are 30 gallon or more with plenty of plants could include some of the more active Tetras, such as Black Skirt Tetras, GloFish Tetras, Bloodfin Tetras, Serpae Tetras. In larger tanks you could also include  Clown Loaches,  Zebra Danios, Gold Barbs, Scissortail Rasbora, Brilliant Rasbora.
Avoid :  Fish that grow large, or very active  fish that could nip fins including:  Angels, Tiger Barbs, Rosy Barbs   Bettas are also a bad choice to mix with neons.