Green Neon Tetras
The Green Neon Tetra (Paracheirodon simulans) is a small freshwater fish. They are overall silver / grey in color with a distinctive turquoise stripe running down their body. They also have green and red coloration around the head. Their natural home are the rivers in South America. They can grow up to 3.5 cm (1.4 inches) in length but are more often 15-25 mm.
The life expectancy of a Green Neon Tetra is around 2 years but they can live up to 3 years in the right conditions. Similar to other Tetras, Green Neon Tetras are best kept together in groups. 15+ in one schools works well as long as the tank is of sufficient size.
The mala is more streamlined that the female which has a more rounded body. Green Neon Tetras should not be confused with the Cardinal Tetra (the latter having red along the majority of the body rather than just around the tail area.
It should be noted that the Green Neon Tetra is actually a different species from the Neon Tetra, rather than simply a color variation. They are not usually bred commercially and is therefore much less common and more difficult to source.
It can be difficult to identify the sex of the Green Neon Tetra due to diamorphism. However, females are usually a little larger and rounder than their male counterparts.
Caring for your Green Neon Tetra
The Green Neon Tetra makes for a great aquarium fish, and requires only a low to medium amount of care. As a schooling fish, with often bright colors, they can make for a great spectacle in the tank.
Habitat
Green Neon Tetras are native to the streams of South America, including the Rio Jafaris and the upper section of the Negro River. These streams are often tributaries of larger rivers and allow for relatively slow water flow.
Within these streams they prefer to find protected areas out of direct sunlight. They are assisted by the surrounding forests which provide a dense canopy to keep out the light. They further seek protected areas around rocks, roots and driftwood and are assisted by the darkening of the water from decomposing leaves.
Fish Tank Conditions
As always, it is sensible to provide Green Neon Tetras with a similar environment within your fish tank that they would experience in the wild.
Given their preference for dimly lit, protected areas within the streams it is important to provide them with similar protection within the tank. This could include an abundance of plants as well as rock or other formations. It is also reasonable to go one step further and block out light (particularly bright light) from entering one or more sides of the aquarium.
At a minimum a 10 gallon fish tank is required. If you keep the Green Neon Tetras in numbers of 15+ (as is suggested due to their schooling tenancies) a 20 gallon fish tank (or larger) would be suitable. One additional consideration is the swimming style of these fish – they love to swim in schools, and giving them more space to move in a larger tank will make the visual display all the more impressive!
Green Neon Tetras can be particularly sensitive to changes in the tank environment when it is first set up. It is therefore advisable wait at least one day (and ideally up to a week) after the initial startup cycle before introducing them into the tank.
Ideal Water Conditions
Green Neon Tetras thrive in water conditions similar to their natural habitat. The water should be soft, clean and acidic (i.e. pH below 7.0). There is some debate as to the optimal temperature range, but Neons will certainly be happy within the 75-83 degrees Fahrenheit range (24-28 degrees centigrade).
A pH range of 5.0-6.5 works well, although they can tolerate pH levels as low as 3.5. They need very soft water in order to thrive.
In addition to these requirements it is important that the tank has no ammonia and incredibly low nitrates. Remember to cycle the water before introducing them into the tank.
General care of the Green Neon Tetra is relatively straightforward. The one complexity is in first introducing the fish to the tank. Unlike Neon Tetras, Green Neon Tetras are almost exclusively caught in the wild. Theyhave therefore not adapted to tank living over time. It is therefore important to ensure that the fish tank conditions are ideal and stable before introducing them.
Lighting
Green Neon Tetras live in low light areas in the wild. It is important to replicate this environment in the tank. One option is to choose a fluorescent light with low wattage. This will still help to provide light to the tank, but not enough to stress adult Neons.
If you’re going to keep live plants in your tetra tank, it’s best to choose species that can grow in low or medium light. These plants will help the Neon Tetras, providing them something to nibble on. They will also help to minimize the light exposure they receive in the tank.
The addition of peat to the water is often useful in achieving optimal conditions, including softening of water and addition of vital trace elements.
Feeding / Nutrition
Green Neon Tetras are omnivores and can be fed a wide range of foods. It is best to vary their diet to ensure that they obtain all of the required nutrients. Options include:
- Flakes
- Freeze-dried bloodworms
- Brine shrimp
- Daphnia
- Pellets
Be careful to ensure that you only feed them small pieces to ensure that they do not choke.
Only feed Green Neon Tetras as much as they can eat in 2-3 minutes will help you to regulate their food volumes. Stop adding food if they stop eating it immediately (don’t allow food to wallow in the tank).
Difficulty
Green Neon Tetra are hardy fish that are relatively easy to care for. As long as the tank is well maintained at the appropriate conditions, your Neon Tetra will likely thrive.
Keepers of Green Neon Tetras should, however, be careful when introducing the fish to their new environment. It is best to introduce it slowly. Perhaps by slowing merging the water of the fish bag and that within the tank.
Green Neon Tetra Behavior
Green Neon Tetras are sociable fish that live in large groups in the wild. For this reason, it is best to ensure that you have a large enough fish tank to enable you to keep a group of at least 6 (and ideally 15+) of these fish in one tank. They begin to get nervous and anxious if they are kept in small groups and will take up hiding positions within the aquarium.
Within tanks they will spend the majority of their time at the middle to top height level of the tank. It is possible to add them to a community aquarium, particularly if their other inhabitants mainly occupy the bottom of the tank.
It is best to keep them with other non-aggressive fish – consider Rasboras, Dwarf Gouramis and Corys. Avoid putting them with aggressive fish such as Angelfish and Cichlids. You may wake up to less Neon Tetras than you started with!
Green Neon Tetras are able to partially change their color pattern, adapting to brighter or darker lighting conditions. In the wild this enables them to adapt to the time of day and water conditions, helping ensure that they do not stand out to potential predators!
If Green Neon Tetra’s aren’t your style, you could always consider a White Cloud Mountain Minnow instead.
Green Neon Tetra Breeding
Green Neon Tetras are egg scatters, with females capably of laying over 100 eggs at a time. These eggs will be laid in shaded ares and will hatch within 24 hours.
In order to breed, the Green Neon Tetras will need water that is very similar in condition to their natural habitat. As with other Tetras, the parents do not care for their offspring. It is necessary to feed the babies with liquid food for the first 1-2 weeks before they will be able to progress onto small pieces of solid food.
Diseases
Their coloring can be significantly affected through disease. This is usually caused by parasites that the fish has ingested. This can cause the appearance of white patches on the fish and even the appearance of having golden scales.
Green Neon Tetras – Conclusion
Green Neon Tetras can make for great aquarium fish. Their colors and tendency to swim as a school can create some brilliant visual displays. Added to this their peaceful and non-aggressive nature it is easy to see why many fish keepers enjoy having them in their aquarium.
Although the initial introduction into the tank takes care, they are certainly worth purchasing if you have the time and interest in doing so. Of course, if you think that owning fish will be too much hard work (or you travel a lot), a fake fish tank could be a great alternative.