Overview
- One of the most popular and recognizable aquarium fish.
- Lives in acidic forest streams, often stained with tannins (blackwater), with leaf litter and roots.
- Has a bright blue lateral stripe. The red pigment does not extend forward past the pectoral-fin base.
- Most fish in the trade are commercially bred. Long-term mass breeding has weakened stock, and defects are common.
- Bred forms include albino, gold (leucistic), long-finned and “diamond.”
Feeding
- Likely omnivorous in the wild, eating small invertebrates, crustaceans, filamentous algae and fallen fruit.
- Accepts dried foods. Does best on a varied diet that includes live or frozen bloodworm, mosquito larvae, Daphnia and Moina.
Habitat
- Sandy substrate, driftwood, and leaf litter or alder cones.
- Fairly dim lighting. Shade-tolerant plants such as Java fern, Java moss and Cryptocoryne, plus floating plants.
Fish Care
- Susceptible to Neon Tetra Disease, caused by the microsporidian Pleistophora hyphessobryconis. It is virtually untreatable once advanced, so remove affected fish.
- Columnaris (“false NTD”) looks similar but can be treated, so isolate sick fish and attempt treatment.
Compatibility
- Good with similar-sized characins, hatchetfish, pencilfish, small catfish and small non-predatory cichlids.
Aquarium Behavior
- Peaceful schooling fish. Larger groups behave more naturally.
- Color dulls at night, when the stripe turns violet.
Breeding
- Use a separate, very dim tank with fine-leaved plants or mesh.
- Water: pH 5.5–6.5, GH 1–5, 80–84°F (26.5–29°C).
- Adults eat the eggs. Eggs hatch in 24–36 hours, and fry swim freely 3–4 days later.
- Feed fry infusoria first, then microworm or brine shrimp nauplii. Eggs and fry are light-sensitive.