▷ Blue neon tetras (Paracheirodon simulans) | All information and details

Datasheet Blue Neon

German name:
Blue Neon – Blue Neon Tetra

Scientific name:
Paracheirodon simulans

Origin:
South America

Size:
Up to 3.5cm

Aquarium

Length:

at least 80 cm (approx. 112 liters)

water values

Temperature:
23°C to 27°C

GH:
5 – 30 °dGH

pH:
5 – 7

CH:
0 – 6° dKH

Behave

Area:
Prefers to swim in the middle water layers of the aquarium

Lining:

fine dry food, also live food or frozen food (in the wild: small crabs, larvae and invertebrates)

Behave:
real schooling fish, peaceful, sociable schooling fish

Number:
Swarm keeping of at least 10-12 animals in small aquariums from 80 liters

Difficulty level:
beginner fish. The difficult breeding, however, only succeeds experienced aquarists

Sascha Biedermann, Paracheirodon simulans, CC BY-SA 2.5

The beautiful blue neon, with its bright blue stripes, comes from the Amazon region of Brazil. It is a tropical and freshwater ornamental fish. As a real schooling fish, it feels particularly comfortable in a large school. The small, easy-care neon fish is one of the most popular aquarium fish. It belongs to the family of the so-called real tetras. He can reach an age of up to five years. The fish feels at home in densely planted aquariums where it can hide well. But he still needs enough space to swim.

Since captive breeding is rarely successful, most fish offered for sale are wild-caught in Brazil. The blue tetra likes to swim with its swarm in the middle of the aquarium and only reveals its beauty in a large swarm. In terms of keeping, this means: the larger the tank and the swarm, the better. It is particularly important for the blue neon fish to be able to form a school with its own kind. If there are too few fish in the aquarium, they swim individually without forming a swarm. Only when more fish are added does a clear swarm cohesion finally form.

gender differences

It is not easy to tell males and females of the blue neon apart. Neon neon fish females are slightly larger and fuller than males. The breeding of the blue neon in the aquarium is quite difficult and rarely succeeds. The fish are so-called free spawners. This means that the females lay their sticky eggs between the aquatic plants, where they stick. Blue neon fish mostly spawn in pairs. As a pair, they swim together and circle each other during courtship.

socialization

As a peaceful and sociable schooling fish, the blue tetra can be kept well in a community tank with other fish species. The fish species should have similar requirements in terms of care and water parameters. Fish must be selected that do not see the blue neon as prey. Small cichlids are suitable for socializing, e.g. B. the butterfly cichlid as well as armored catfish, loricariid catfish, danios or hatchet. Large cichlids such as discus fish or angelfish are not suitable. Blue neon tetras also get along well with gouramis, catfish or red fire dwarf shrimp.

Blue neon tetra videos

Blue neon tetras in nature: