Description
Black Neon Tetra (Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi)
Overview
Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi, commonly known as the Black Neon Tetra, is a small, peaceful freshwater fish native to the Paraguay River basin in South America. Its striking appearance, featuring a bright neon green-blue line above a bold black band, makes it a favorite among aquarists. Black Neon Tetras are hardy, schooling fish that add vibrancy to community aquariums.
Care Requirements
Tank Size:
Minimum 40 liters for a small school; 80L or larger recommended for optimal swimming space.
Water Parameters:
- Temperature: 21–27°C
- pH: 5.5–7.5
- Hardness: 1–10 dGH (soft to moderately hard water)
- Clean, slightly acidic water mimics their natural habitat.
Aquarium Setup:
- Substrate: Dark gravel or sand to enhance their colours.
- Decor: Live or artificial plants (e.g., Java moss, Amazon sword), driftwood, and leaf litter to replicate their natural environment. Provide open swimming areas.
- Filtration: Gentle filtration to avoid strong currents; sponge or canister filters work well.
- Lighting: Subdued lighting with floating plants to diffuse light, as they prefer dimly lit environments.
Maintenance
- Water Changes: Perform 15–25% water changes weekly to maintain water quality and prevent toxin buildup.
- Tank Cleaning: Vacuum substrate lightly to remove debris without disturbing the tank’s ecosystem. Clean glass and decorations as needed.
- Equipment Checks: Regularly inspect filters, heaters, and thermometers to ensure stable conditions.
- Monitoring: Observe for stress indicators (e.g., faded colours, erratic swimming) and test water parameters weekly.
Diet
- Primary Food: Omnivorous, with a preference for small foods suited to their small mouths.
- Recommended Foods:
- High-quality micro-pellets or flake foods designed for small tetras.
- Live or frozen foods like brine shrimp, daphnia, or bloodworms for variety.
- Occasional vegetable matter (e.g., spirulina flakes or blanched spinach).
- Feeding Frequency: Feed small amounts 1–2 times daily, ensuring food is consumed within a few minutes to avoid overfeeding and water pollution.
Behaviour and Compatibility
Behaviour: Black Neon Tetras are peaceful, active, and schooling fish that thrive in groups of 6 or more (ideally 8–12). They exhibit shoaling Behaviour, swimming tightly together, which reduces stress and enhances their visual appeal.
Compatibility:
- Compatible Tankmates: Other small, peaceful fish like neon tetras, rasboras, corydoras, and dwarf gouramis. Non-aggressive bottom-dwellers like kuhli loaches are also suitable.
- Incompatible Tankmates: Avoid large, aggressive, or predatory fish (e.g., cichlids, large barbs) and fin-nippers (e.g., tiger barbs), as Black Neons are small and vulnerable.
- Note: Their small size and peaceful nature make them unsuitable for tanks with boisterous or territorial species.
Breeding Behaviour
Breeding in Captivity: Possible but challenging in home aquariums due to specific requirements.
Picture for illustrative purposes only. Either come in store to view available stock or request pictures to be sent to you.
Please Note: Due to variations within species resulting from age, region, sex, etc., the actual livestock may not look identical to the image. Approximate size range may also vary between individual specimens.
