# Neon Tetra (*Paracheirodon innesi*)

Neon Tetras are tiny, colorful fish that glow in the water! They are popular in aquariums and love to swim in schools.

- **Category:** [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/fish)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 2/5 · Low
- **Habitat:** Freshwater rivers

![Neon Tetra](https://media.snappit.app/site-media-v1/68658ab211eb75faeea04de434b63e9fa3af94aa89ceae67572ae33da290b8fd/image-560x560/w-560.webp)

## Appearance

The Neon Tetra has a striking iridescent blue-green stripe running horizontally from its nose to its adipose fin, above a vibrant red stripe that extends from the middle of its body to its tail. Its small, slender body is mostly translucent, making these brilliant stripes stand out vividly.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Chordata
- **Class:** Actinopterygii
- **Order:** Characiformes
- **Family:** Characidae
- **Genus:** Paracheirodon

## Interesting facts

- Wow! A group of Neon Tetras is called a 'school,' and they stay close together for safety!
- Wow! In the wild, Neon Tetras often live in 'blackwater' rivers, stained dark by decaying leaves!
- Wow! The shiny blue stripe on a Neon Tetra doesn't come from pigment, but from special reflective cells!
- Wow! They can change the intensity of their colors, becoming duller at night or when they are stressed!

## Special abilities

- **Glow-Line Camo:** Neon Tetras have a glowing stripe that helps them blend into sun-dappled water or confuse predators in their dark jungle rivers.
- **Schooling Shield:** Neon Tetras can swim in large groups called schools because it makes them look like one big fish to confuse predators.
- **Dark Sight:** Neon Tetras have excellent eyesight to find tiny food and avoid danger in the dim, shaded waters of their rainforest home.

## Measurements & details

- **Length:** 2.5-4 cm
- **Weight:** 0.001-0.002 kg
- **Lifespan:** 3-5 years
- **Swim Speed:** 0.5 km/h
- **Maximum Depth:** 2 m
- **Water Type:** Freshwater

## Diet & Feeding

They are tiny omnivores, nibbling on small bugs, worms, and even tiny bits of plants and detritus.

- **Primary Foods:** Insect larvae, Small crustaceans, Algae, Detritus, Microscopic worms
- **Foraging Method:** Foraging

## Ecological connections

- **Eaten by:** Dwarf Pike Cichlid (*Crenicichla regani*) — A larger fish that preys on small tetras.
- **Eats:** Water Flea (*Daphnia pulex*) — A tiny crustacean that is a common food source.
- **Eats:** Green Algae (*Chlorella vulgaris*) — One of the algae types consumed by these fish.
- **Eaten by:** Red Shoulder Severum (*Heros efasciatus*) — A larger cichlid that might prey on them.

## Traits

- [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats.
- [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring.
- [Omnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/omnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet includes both plant and animal matter.
- [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
- [Freshwater](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/freshwater): Freshwater habitats include non-saline aquatic environments such as rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands, vital for numerous species.
- [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands.

## Collections

- [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/fish)

## Safety

**Danger:** 2/5 · Low

Watch quietly from a distance and never try to feed or chase wild animals.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Neon Tetra?

Look at body shape, where the fins sit and their outline, mouth position, stripes and spots. Young fish and breeding adults can wear different patterns, and aquarium color varieties can look nothing like wild fish. Fish Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How long is Neon Tetra?

2.5-4 cm

### How much does Neon Tetra weigh?

0.001-0.002 kg

### How long does Neon Tetra live?

3-5 years

### What does Neon Tetra eat?

They are tiny omnivores, nibbling on small bugs, worms, and even tiny bits of plants and detritus.

### How fast can Neon Tetra swim?

0.5 km/h

### Where is Neon Tetra usually found?

Freshwater rivers

### How does Neon Tetra hunt?

Foraging

## More Fish

- [Rainbow Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rainbow-trout) (*Oncorhynchus mykiss*)
- [Brown Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-trout) (*Salmo trutta*)
- [Brook Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brook-trout) (*Salvelinus fontinalis*)
- [Lake Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/lake-trout) (*Salvelinus namaycush*)

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Source: [Neon Tetra: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/neon-tetra)