Neon Tetra

Neon Tetra is a common species in aquariums, and many aquarium enthusiasts keep them to beautify their tanks. This beautiful fish is originally found in Peru, tributaries of the Amazon River, Colombia, Brazil, and other areas. Due to its striking appearance, Neon Tetra is highly favored by aquarium enthusiasts.

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Actinopterygii

Order: Characiformes

Family: Characidae

Genus: Paracheirodon

Species: P. innesi

The Neon Tetra is originally found in the tributaries of the Amazon River in Brazil and Colombia and in the jungles of Letícia and Tabatinga regions upstream of Peru. In March 1936, a French ornamental fish collector named A. Rabaut discovered this beautiful small fish in streams and marshes while crossing the jungle areas of Letícia and Tabatinga on the upstream of the Amazon River bordering Brazil and Colombia. The news of the discovery of the Neon Tetra caused quite a sensation among tropical fish enthusiasts.

A few months later, a batch of live Neon Tetras was shipped from South America to France and soon after to the United States and Germany. It is said that the first shipment of Neon Tetras to the United States had an extremely high value, reaching $100 per pair. Previously, due to the inability to artificially breed them, the price of Neon Tetras remained high as they could only rely on imported wild individuals to meet market demand.

Later, after successful breeding of Neon Tetras by Nishi Makino, the director of the Tropical Fish Research Institute in Japan, players from all over started to emulate the breeding, and the price became more accessible. With its vibrant and colorful appearance, the Neon Tetra quickly became popular and captivated the global market. Until today, it remains one of the most eye-catching fish species in aquariums, often referred to as the "gem of the aquarium" and the "queen of ornamental fish".

The Neon Tetra is recommended for aquarium enthusiasts who enjoy watching fish. They prefer to swim at the bottom of the water and are omnivorous, feeding on small insects and plant debris in the wild. In captivity, they can be fed with artificial food, water fleas, and bloodworms. They also enjoy swimming in groups, so it is recommended to keep a whole school of them in the fish tank.

The death of the neon tetra is often caused by improper mixed breeding and unsuitable environment. The most common disease is ichthyophthiriasis caused by the parasite Ichthyophthirius multifiliis. Ichthyophthiriasis is a kind of parasite that burrows into the epidermis and feeds on the nutrients of the fish when it reaches the dermis. Ichthyophthiriasis usually occurs when the temperature is unstable during the season change or when there is a sudden change in water temperature during water change, which lowers the fish's resistance and provides an opportunity for pathogens to invade. The symptoms of the disease are that the fish rubs against the sand due to itching and there are obvious small white dots on the body. Of course, prevention is better than treatment, and it is effective to pay close attention to the change of water temperature in usual. If unfortunately infected with ichthyophthiriasis, the infected fish should be isolated quickly, and then the water temperature of the treatment tank should be adjusted to 30 degrees Celsius, and an appropriate amount of ichthyophthiriasis medication, usually deworming medication, should be added. The treatment principle is to accelerate the maturation of the ichthyophthiriasis on the fish surface by heating, make them fall into the water, and then kill them with medication in the water, because ichthyophthiriasis cannot be directly eliminated in the fish. Remember one thing: although this symptom is not incurable, it must not be delayed, and it is highly contagious. If it spreads to the entire tank and the fish are covered with white dots, it is probably incurable. Another common disease in the characin family is neon tetra disease, which is a disease unique to small characins. Currently, there is no specific drug to cure it, but in fact, these neon tetras can still live in the tank, but it is difficult to see their trace after a while, and there will be no signs of painful struggle before death. After reading some discussions by previous netizens, some said that deworming medicine can be used to remove parasites, and some said that malachite green can be used to remove bacteria. However, the information I found in the book is about the parasite Plistophora hyphessobryconis, which parasitizes the muscles and causes muscle necrosis and dissolution. If the infected part becomes a wound, it will also be attached by bacteria, and eventually die. Therefore, the treatment should be aimed at deworming, and then the use of yellow medicine to avoid bacterial erosion on the infected part.

The normal lifespan of Neon Tetras is 2-3 years, so what to feed them to keep them healthy is a concern for many fish enthusiasts. In addition to paying attention to the choice of food for Neon Tetras, it is also important to consider the feeding environment.

Neon Tetras are not picky eaters and can swallow almost anything. I have fed them live insects and dry pellets. Adult fish are fed red worms once a week and small dry pellets as their regular diet, which keeps their bodies strong and lively. However, young fish can only eat dry pellets.

Neon Tetras are sensitive to water quality. The most suitable temperature for keeping them in the northern region is 24℃ with slightly acidic water. When introducing new fish to the tank, it is necessary to replace at least 1/5 of the water to reduce the mortality rate. After adapting to the tank, it's important to maintain the old water and a high oxygen environment. In brief: new fish, new water; old fish, old water. Use sterilizing drugs before introducing new fish to the tank or before each water change. Enzymes or cephalosporin drugs are both effective, and 4-6 tablets are enough for a tank with a capacity not exceeding 2000mm.