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Black neon tetra, photographed on a transparent background

FreshwaterIn the market70 coinsCommon

Black neon tetra

Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi

Calm and steady; it spooks at nothing and nips at nothing at all.

The Black neon tetra (Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi) is a tropical freshwater fish of the family Acestrorhamphidae. It swims in midwater, close to the bottom. Adults grow to about 4 cm. In the aquarium it needs a tank at least 80 cm long and water at 22–27 °C.

Size
4 cm
Smallest tank
80 cm
Temperature
22–27 °C
Care
Easy

In the aquarium

Temperature22–27 °C
pH5.5–7.5
Hardness1–12 °dGH
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Activity
Moderate
Water layer
Mid water
Group
Happiest in a group of 8 or more
Plants
Plant safe
Drawn to scale in a 80 cm tank

These values are compiled from real species data, and the LumaReef simulation is built to keep them true to life.

Which tank it fits

  • Nano60 cm · 65 litresToo small
  • Standard90 cm · 180 litres64 of them
  • Wide120 cm · 300 litres107 of them
  • Living room180 cm · 650 litres232 of them
  • Showcase250 cm · 1,200 litres428 of them
  • Gallery300 cm · 1,440 litres514 of them

Who it lives with

In the wild

Water type
Freshwater
Climate zone
Tropical
Habitat
Midwater, close to the bottom
Aquarium trade
Very common

Conservation status

Classification

  1. OrderCharaciformes
  2. FamilyAcestrorhamphidae
  3. GenusHyphessobrycon
  4. SpeciesHyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi
  5. Described byGéry, 1961

In other languages

German
Schwarzer Neon
Russian
Черный неон

Quick answers

Black neon tetra size: how big does it get?
Adults reach about 4 cm. Record sizes among the 30 Hyphessobrycon species on LumaReef: 1.9 cm (Yellow Phantom Tetra) to 13.2 cm (Buenos Aires Tetra).
Black neon tetra tank size: what is the minimum?
A tank at least 80 cm long. In LumaReef that is the Standard tank or larger.
Black neon tetra water parameters: what does it need?
Temperature 22–27 °C, pH 5.5–7.5, hardness 1–12 °dGH. Close to what most Hyphessobrycon on LumaReef need (20–28 °C).
Black neon tetra tank mates: what can it live with?
It gets along with 80 of the 99 freshwater species in the catalogue, such as Serpae tetra, Glowlight tetra, and Guppy.
Black neon tetra: alone or in a group?
Keep at least 8 together.
Black neon tetra and plants: is it plant safe?
Yes, it leaves plants alone.

All Acestrorhamphidae speciesAll species A–Z

Sources

Black neon tetra: compiled from these references.