Species Snapshot
- Species Name: Paracheirodon simulans
- Common Names: false neon tetra
- Size: Up to 1.5 inches
- Lifespan: 2-5 years
- Native Distribution: South America
At first glance, the green neon tetra (Paracheirodon simulans) looks incredibly familiar. With its bright red and neon blue accents, it is easily confused for the neon tetra (Paracheirodon innesi) or the cardinal tetra (Paracheirodon axelrodi). In fact, it’s sometimes known as the false neon tetra.
Like their cousins, green neon tetras are small, community-safe fish native to South America. They’re a popular choice among aquarium hobbyists looking to add some color and movement to their tank. Here’s what you need to know about green neon tetra size, appearance, and how to care for it in the home aquarium.
What Do They Look Like?
As members of the family Characidae, green neon tetras are closely related to the two species they look most like: the neon tetra and cardinal tetra. Like these two species, green neon tetras are largely transparent with the exception of their brightly colored markings. This species has a blue-green tint to the bright, iridescent stripe running the length of its body and a smaller red patch underneath than standard neon and cardinal tetras.
Though their color varies slightly, green neon tetras share a significant aspect of their appearance with their cousins. Namely, their color may appear to change depending on their mood and environment. At night (or when the aquarium lights are turned off), the green neon tetra’s color all but disappears. This may be an adaptation to make the fish less visible to nocturnal predators.
What’s The Average Green Neon Tetra Size And How Big Do They Get?
Like most tetras, the average size of a green neon tetra remains small. At maturity, most only reach a length of about 1 inch. By contrast, neon tetras grow up to 1.5 inches and cardinal tetras grow up to 2 inches in length. Mature female green neon tetras may be slightly larger than mature males and may exhibit a more rounded body shape, especially when carrying eggs.
Green Neon Tetra Care Guide
Due to green neon tetra’s small size and peaceful temperament, they make great additions to the freshwater nano tank. They’re best kept in groups with at least six of their own species, though schools of 10 or more are preferable.
Let’s dive into the details of green neon tetra care.
Tank Size and Décor
Green neon tetras’ small size is one of their signature characteristics. That’s why they are considered nano fish - they don’t usually get bigger than 1 inch in length. Because they’re best kept in schools, however, they still require a minimum tank size of 10 gallons. Make sure your tank is properly filtered but avoid any systems that create a high degree of flow.
The key to making your green neon tetras’ color pop is using a dark background and substrate. Your tetras will be most colorful in a planted tank with dim lighting. Floating plants can be used to diffuse intense lighting and to provide cover for timid fish. Though not necessary, you can also mimic this species’ native environment by using driftwood or catappa leaves to create a blackwater effect.
Water Parameters
Green neon tetras are native to two specific regions in South America—the upper Orinoco and Negro rivers. Their native water is warm and extremely soft with a pH around 6.0. Due to the high volume of peat and natural wood, the water is also typically stained with tannins.
In the home aquarium, green neon tetras can be fairly adaptable as long as they’re properly acclimated. Aim for a pH range of 5.5 to 7.5 and a water hardness under 140 ppm. Green neon tetras can tolerate higher temperatures than some tetra species, so a tank temperature range between 74°F and 82°F is appropriate.
Feeding Tips
Wild green neon tetras are opportunistic omnivores, feeding on anything small enough to fit in their mouths. In the home aquarium, it’s best to offer them a nutritious staple diet of commercial flakes or micro pellets.
Fry food and freeze-dried options like tubifex worms may also be appropriate. To bring out your tetras’ brightest colors, offer nutrient-dense live or frozen foods like baby brine shrimp and daphnia on occasion.
Tank Mates
Thanks to their peaceful nature and small size, green neon tetras generally do well in tanks with other community fish of similar sizes. The key is to avoid tank mates that are large enough to eat your green neon tetras. Because this species prefers the middle region of the water column, green neon tetras typically do well with bottom-dwellers like corydoras catfish and even freshwater dwarf shrimp.
Breeding Green Neon Tetras
While it’s possible to breed green neon tetras in the home aquarium, it can be challenging to do so. This is an egg-scattering species, so it’s important to provide carpet plants, java moss, or a spawning mop for the fish to use as spawning sites.
If you hope to protect the eggs from predation, consider placing a layer of netting underneath the spawning material to keep larger fish from accessing the eggs and fry that fall through.
To encourage breeding, condition your adult fish in a separate tank with nutrient-dense foods. Once the females are full with eggs, transfer a male and female pair (or a group of conditioned adult fish) into the spawning tank. The best time to introduce the fish is at night, then you should be able to remove them the next morning after they’ve spawned.
The key to success in rearing green neon tetra fry is to keep the tank dark for five days after spawning. Once the fry are free-swimming, you can turn off the lights and start offering them very small foods several times a day.
Contact us at Shrimpy Business today and we’ll provide everything you need to start a healthy and thriving aquarium!