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Black Neon Tetra

By The Aquarium Calculators Editorial Team ·

Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi

Complete Black Neon Tetra care guide covering omnivore diet requirements, peaceful temperament, minimum 15 Gallons tank setup, and compatible freshwater tankmates. Difficulty: Easy.

Black Neon Tetra

Quick Answer

Black Neon Tetra (Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi) is not a true neon but a related characin. It requires a minimum 15 Gallons aquarium with a pH of 5.5 - 7.5 and temperature range of 22-26°C. This omnivore occupies the middle zone and makes an excellent addition to community setups.

Intro

Black Neon Tetra (Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi) is not a true neon but a related characin. Its black body contrasts with a luminous green-gold stripe.

Setup

A 15-gallon or larger tank with dark substrate, plants, and open swimming areas. Soft, slightly acidic water is preferred but they adapt well.

Feeding

Omnivorous; accepts flakes, micro pellets, frozen brine shrimp, and daphnia. Feed small amounts twice daily.

Compatibility

Very peaceful. Keep in schools of 8+. Ideal for community tanks with rasboras, Corydoras, dwarf cichlids, and other small tetras.

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Tank Position
Middle
Water Temp
22-26°C
Adult Size
See profile
Water pH
5.5 - 7.5

Species Characteristics

Adult Size
Lifespan
Growth Rate
moderate
Tank Compatibility
Community compatible
Indoor Aquarium
Yes

Water Parameters

Water Temperature
Humidity
Water pH

Tank Lighting

Tank Lighting
Standard lighting
Light Hours
N/A
Intensity
moderate

Feeding & Diet

Diet Type
Diet: Omnivore
Feeding Schedule
N/A
Live Food Options
N/A

Continue Learning

Recommended Tools

Fish Compatibility Calculator fish compatibility

Health & Disease

Ich (White Spot Disease) common disease • all fish

Related Guides

Understanding pH in Aquariums water parameters • ph

Similar Species

African Red Eyed Tetra Care Guide: Schooling & Tank Size semanticSimilarity Apistogramma Care Guide: Temperament & Diet semanticSimilarity Banded Corydoras Care Guide: Substrate & Diet semanticSimilarity

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Black Neon Tetras should be kept together?
Maintain a minimum school of 8 to 12 individuals in a tank with a footprint of 24x12 inches (60x30 cm) and volume of 15 gallons (57 liters). Black neon tetras (Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi) are schooling fish that display vivid black and silver-white stripes only in numbers over 10. Groups under 6 cause chronic stress, faded colors, and susceptibility to ich. Larger schools of 20+ create natural shoaling dynamics. Provide dim lighting and dark substrate to enhance coloration. Keep with other peaceful tetras or rasboras.
What are the precise water parameters for Black Neon Tetras?
Target pH 5.5 - 7.5, General Hardness 2 - 10 dGH, Carbonate Hardness 2 - 6 dKH, Total Dissolved Solids 50 - 180 ppm, Electrical Conductivity 100 - 360 μS/cm, and temperature 72°F - 80°F (22°C - 27°C). They adapt to harder water up to 12 dGH but prefer soft, slightly acidic conditions. Maintain nitrates below 15 ppm with weekly 20% water changes. Use a sponge filter and add driftwood for tannins. Avoid high alkalinity (kH >8 dKH), which causes pH spikes. Perform pH acclimation over 2 hours for new fish.
What is the nutritional and medication protocol for Black Neon Tetras?
They are omnivores requiring 35% protein, 10% fat, 55% plant matter. Feed high-quality tropical flakes (Omega One) twice daily, supplemented with frozen daphnia, baby brine shrimp, and cyclops. Offer spirulina flakes or blanched spinach twice weekly. They accept micro-pellets (0.5 mm). Medication alert: Tolerate copper at 0.2 mg/L but sensitive to formalin; use praziquantel for internal parasites. Avoid high salt concentrations (>5 ppt). Quarantine with malachite green (0.05 mg/L) for ich. They are susceptible to neon tetra disease; remove infected fish immediately.
How to breed Black Neon Tetras in a home aquarium?
Select 6-8 mature fish (1 year old) and condition with live baby brine shrimp and blackworms for 10 days. Set up a 10-gallon (38 liter) breeding tank with 4 inches (10 cm) of RO water (pH 6.0, 2 dGH, 78°F/25.5°C), a spawning mop or java moss, and dim light. Simulate dawn with gradual lighting increase. Spawning occurs in the morning; female releases 300-500 eggs. Remove parents after 4 hours. Eggs hatch in 24-36 hours at 75°F (24°C). Fry are 0.08 inches (2 mm); feed infusoria for 3 days, then microworms, then baby brine shrimp after day 7. Keep tank dark first 5 days.

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