What tank size does a Black Neon Tetra need?

A Black Neon Tetra needs an aquarium of at least 60 litres (15.9 US gallons) with a footprint at least 60 cm (23.6 in) long — for this species, swimming length matters as much as raw volume.

What water parameters does a Black Neon Tetra need?

Black Neon Tetra does best at 20–28 °C (68–82.4 °F), pH 5–7.5 and a general hardness of 2–15 °dGH.

What group size does a Black Neon Tetra need?

Black Neon Tetra is a social species — keep a group of at least 6 so natural behaviour emerges and stress stays low.

Is the Black Neon Tetra suitable for beginners?

Yes — Black Neon Tetra is one of the easier species to keep and forgives typical first-tank mistakes, as long as the aquarium is cycled and maintained.

Species library

Black Neon Tetra

Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi

Characidae

FishDifficulty: ●●○○○Data: well-established

📷 Juan R. Lascorz · CC BY-SA 3.0 · resized · Wikimedia Commons

Black Neon Tetra — Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi — 📷 Juan R. Lascorz · CC BY-SA 3.0 · resized · Wikimedia Commons

About

The black neon tetra is a small, hardy shoaling characin from the Paraguay river basin of Brazil, not to be confused with the true neon tetra. A horizontal iridescent green-white line runs above a bold black stripe along each flank, an understated but striking contrast that intensifies in soft, tannin-stained water over a dark substrate. Peaceful, adaptable and noticeably tougher than the true neon, it is an excellent community fish that shows its best colour and most natural schooling behaviour when kept in a decent-sized group among plants and driftwood.

Care

Keep a group of 6+ (ideally 10 or more) in a planted tank with gentle flow, soft to neutral slightly acidic water and 20-28°C. Hardy and beginner-friendly; pair only with calm, similarly sized tankmates.

Diet

Easygoing omnivore; feed small dry foods daily and supplement with frozen or live micro-invertebrates such as daphnia, cyclops and baby brine shrimp.

Tankmate compatibility

Computed by the AquaSage engine for a spacious reference tank — always check the full verdict for your exact setup in the calculator.

Telling males from females

What works for this species, most reliable first.

Belly depthA hint only · only on well-fed adults, and only as a comparison
For most tetras, barbs and rasboras this is all there is: a conditioned female is deeper through the belly than a male of the same length.

All the methods, with diagrams

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Shrimp-safe fish Fish for a first aquarium Peaceful community fish Fish for a 112 litre tank

Frequently asked questions

What tank size does a Black Neon Tetra need?: A Black Neon Tetra needs an aquarium of at least 60 litres (15.9 US gallons) with a footprint at least 60 cm (23.6 in) long — for this species, swimming length matters as much as raw volume.
What water parameters does a Black Neon Tetra need?: Black Neon Tetra does best at 20–28 °C (68–82.4 °F), pH 5–7.5 and a general hardness of 2–15 °dGH.
What group size does a Black Neon Tetra need?: Black Neon Tetra is a social species — keep a group of at least 6 so natural behaviour emerges and stress stays low.
Is the Black Neon Tetra suitable for beginners?: Yes — Black Neon Tetra is one of the easier species to keep and forgives typical first-tank mistakes, as long as the aquarium is cycled and maintained.

Sources

Water & tank

Temperature20–28°C

Optimal temp.23–26°C

pH5–7.5

Hardness (GH)2–15°d

Carbonate (KH)0–8°d

Adult size4 cm

Min. volume≥ 60 L

Min. tank length≥ 60 cm

Group size≥ 6

Swimming zoneMid

TemperamentPeaceful

Water typeFreshwater

FlowLow

Lifespan~5 yrs

Try in the calculator