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Fish profile · Characidae
Neon tetra
Paracheirodon innesi
A small shoaling fish of Amazonian blackwater and clearwater streams. Its blue stripe sits above a red band confined to the rear half of the body, unlike the longer red band of a cardinal tetra.
Last reviewed 13 October 2026 · 4 sources
- Max length
- 4 cm
- IUCN
- LC
- Least Concern
- Family
- Characidae
- order Characiformes
Category from the IUCN Red List, via GBIF (CC BY 4.0); it may lag the latest Red List assessment.
How big?
Linear scale · hand 18 cm
Up to 4 cm.
How to identify
- Reflective blue stripe along the upper side.
- Red lower stripe begins around the middle of the body and continues towards the tail.
- Silver-white belly and mostly transparent fins.
Look-alikes
Cardinal tetraThe cardinal has a red stripe running along most of the lower body; the neon has red mainly on its rear half.
Habitat
Dark blackwater and clearwater forest streams.
- Diet
- An omnivore that accepts suitably small prepared foods and small invertebrates.
- Native range
- Amazon basin in South America.
Aquarium care
- Minimum tank
- 38 L
- Temperature
- 22–24°C
- pH
- 6–7
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Group size
- 6+
Sources
Last reviewed 13 October 2026