|
|
Fishes - Neon Tetras
Neon Tetras
by Linda Paquette
 Neon
tetras are one of the most popular community fish and
an excellent choice for those new to fish keeping. Their
purchase size is often under ¾ of an inch and at
full size, they reach a big 2 inches in length. If you
like color in your aquarium fish, the Neon tetra will
add real sparkle and flash to your aquarium. A silver
fish that darkens to iridescent blue along its backbone,
the neon tetra also sports a bright red tail. In addition,
these active little fish like to school in groups of 6
or more, so a tank of neon tetras continually flashes
with red, silver-white, and blue!
Although in the same family as the Piranha, neon tetras
are completely unaggressive fish and if kept with more
aggressive types are more apt to become prey than predator.
The main diet of neon tetras is tropical flake food with
tubifex worms, bloodworms, or brine shrimp introduced
as an occasional treat.
Maybe because of their size, neon tetras do like an aquarium
that provides them with lots of places to hide. This makes
them wonderful fish to keep in a live plant aquarium.
In addition, a dark substrate is closer to their natural
surroundings. Other good hiding places for neon tetras
can include pieces of driftwood or fish caves. Tetras
in general also like highly oxygenated acidic water, so
another accessory you should consider is a good aeration
system.
One major problem with the neon tetra is its susceptibility
to neon tetra disease. When you buy your fish, inspect
them closely for any signs of disease or weakness. Physically
a sick fish will be paler in color than the healthy ones,
but an easy way to spot illness is when a neon prefers
to be alone rather than joining in its school. Unfortunately,
there is no cure for neon tetra disease. In its advanced
stages, the fish becomes crippled. It loses use of its
tail and its spine is noticeably curved. Neon tetra disease
is a degenerative disease, believed to be caused by environmental
factors. Because of this, it isn't thought to be contagious,
but it will keep affecting your school until you have
rectified the conditions that cause it. Common causes
of neon tetra disease include poor water conditions and
harassment by other fish. Neon tetras are also very sensitive
to loud noises and bright lights.
About the Author
Linda is editor of Tetra Fish and Cichilds sections on
aquarium-guides.com |
|
