Black Neon Tetra

Despite the name it is no relation of the neon — a silvery fish with a bold black-and-white stripe. Exceptionally hardy and forgiving, making it one of the best beginner schooling fish.

• Minimum footprint: 15 gallons; a 20+ gallon tank gives real swimming room.
• Preferred swimming zone: middle of the water column.
• Social — keep a group of at least 6.
• Care level: easy.

• Temperature: 70–82°F
• pH: 5.5–7.5
• Hardness: 2–12 dGH (Moderate)

Stable parameters matter more than perfect ones — aim for consistency before chasing an exact number.

peaceful

schoolingpeacefulmidwaterhardycommunity

An omnivore — offer a staple flake or pellet plus regular frozen or live foods (daphnia, bloodworm, brine shrimp) and some vegetable matter for balance.

• Neon Tetra
• Guppy
• Bronze Corydoras
• Harlequin Rasbora
• Zebra Danio
• Platy

• Angelfish — Occasional chasing or fin nipping is possible.
• Yoyo Loach — Occasional chasing or fin nipping is possible.
• Electric Blue Acara — Occasional chasing or fin nipping is possible.
• Redtail Shark — Occasional chasing or fin nipping is possible.

Standard tanks at or above the recommended 20 gallons:

• 20 gallon High 24 × 12 × 16″
• 20 gallon Long 30 × 12 × 12″
• 29 gallon 30 × 12 × 18″
• All tank sizes

• Start from a 15 gallon minimum and plan the full group size (6+) before you buy.
• Activity level is high, which affects how much of the tank it uses and how much it adds to the bioload.
• Zoning matters: this species lives mostly in the middle zone, so choose tank mates that occupy other levels.

Compatibility depends on tank size, water chemistry, temperament, and adult size. Run a full check against any species in our database.

• FishBase(Scientific Database, accessed 2026-09-20)
• SeriouslyFish(Specialist Publication, accessed 2026-09-20)
• Aquarium Forge editorial guidelines(Editorial Interpretation, accessed 2026-09-22)

Data reviewed: September 2026 · Data version: 2026.11
Editorial note: Minimum tank recommendations may vary by source and husbandry approach. Our figures synthesise the sources above for planning purposes.