From Aqua Guide, the free encyclopedia
Green Neon Tetra
Paracheirodon simulans
- Temperature
- 23–30 °C
- pH
- 3 – 6.5
- Min. tank size
- 41 L
- Lifespan
- 3-5 years
- Diet
- omnivore
- Care level
- moderate
| Scientific classification | |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name: | Paracheirodon simulans |
| Family: | Acestrorhamphidae |
| Origin: | South America (Orinoco and Negro basins, soft blackwater) |
| Care Characteristics | |
| Care Level: | moderate |
| Diet: | omnivore |
| Max Size: | 2.50 cm |
| Water Type: | freshwater |
| Temp Group: | tropical |
| Temperament: | peaceful |
| Min Group: | 8+ together |
| Varieties: | No cultivated strains — there is no commercial breeding of this species, so every fish is wild-caught and the trade sells the wild-type animal. Some specimens naturally display metallic gold scales, possibly caused by parasites, in the same way the gold tetra does; affected fish are not harmed. The genus contains three species and their taxonomic history is complicated, with frequent reclassification across genera. Paracheirodon innesi is the neon tetra, the smallest-ranged and the one bred commercially in enormous numbers. P. axelrodi is the cardinal tetra, largest of the three, with red running the full body length. P. simulans is this fish. They are frequently confused, and juvenile cardinals in particular are sold as green neons. Of the three, the neon is the adaptable one for a general community, the cardinal is the showpiece for a soft-water tank, and the green neon is for a blackwater setup kept deliberately. |
| Lifespan: | 3-5 years |
Quick Tips
- Bioload:Very low
- Min Tank:41 L
- Substrate:Dark sand; heavily planted with botanicals/tannins
- Plant Safe:Plant-safe
- Filtration:Low to moderate (gentle flow)
Green Neon Tetra (Paracheirodon simulans) is a species of fish in the family Acestrorhamphidae. It is native to South America (Orinoco and Negro basins, soft blackwater). The green neon is the neon tetra's smaller, bluer relative, and it is a specialist rather than a beginner's fish. It reaches 25 mm standard length against the neon's 35, and the blue-green stripe runs the full length of the body with only a trace of red, where a neon carries a broad red rear half. The difference that matters is water. Unlike its congeners it inhabits exclusive blackwater environments, and the pH range runs from 3.0 to 6.5 — genuinely acidic water that ordinary tap supplies cannot provide. There is no commercial breeding: every green neon in the trade is wild-caught. It is also the most heat-tolerant of the group, occurring in water up to 35 °C (95 °F).
Compatibility
- Temperament
- peaceful
- Keep in
- Groups of 8+
- Swims
- middle
- Fin nipper
- No
- Delicate fins
- No
Species similar to Green Neon Tetra
Matched on family, then category, then water type