It reflects, it does not glow
The stripe is made of cells that reflect light. It shines brightest in dim, shaded water.
The aquarium · A little time each day
Neon tetra
Tropical fish · from the Amazon
A tiny, slender fish with a glowing blue-green stripe along its side and a bright red tail end. They swim in a shoal.
- Size
- About 3cm long
- Lives for
- 5 to 8 years
- Suits
- Beginners with an established, planted tank
Follow you in a glittering shoal. Move your pointer and see.
Good to know
Six things about neon tetras
It switches off at night
In the dark the stripe fades to a dull violet, and returns in the morning.
Safety in numbers
A neon on its own is frightened and pale. They need a shoal of at least six, and more is better.
Dark jungle streams
It comes from shaded streams in the Amazon where the water is stained brown like tea.
Sold by the million
More than a million and a half are sold every month, making it one of the most popular fish in the world.
Discovered in 1934
It caused a sensation when the first ones reached Europe.
The real thing
Photos of neon tetras
Photos are from Wikimedia Commons, used under the free licences shown. They have been resized, and cropped where they appear in link previews.
Looking after them
Keep ten or more in a heated tank of at least 60 litres that has been running for some months, with plants and gentle light.
Before you get one
Neons are peaceful and beautiful in a group. They do badly in a brand-new tank, so they are best added later.
Keep going