In addition to the popular Cardinal Tetra and the exotic Gold Neon Tetra, some freshwater fish species of the Characidae family pretty much kept and bred - including Neon Tetra which is popular first among the aquascapers world. Small sized, the body length can reach about 3 cm.

Paracheirodon innesi which comes from Colombia, Peru, and Brazil is often described as the jewel of the freshwater aquarium hobby. It is easy to see why Neon tetra is one of the most popular freshwater tropical fish species for aquascaping. With their iridescent blue bodies and bright red tails, Paracheirodon innesi creates an exciting splash of color in any aquarium, especially when kept in schools of six or more.

Native to the clear water streams of South America, Neon tetra prefers densely planted systems with plenty of low light areas to hide. To best recreate its natural habitat, place rocks and driftwood amongst the plants for added areas of refuge. However, the Paracheirodon innesi will tend to swim or remain suspended in the water column in schools to create a breathtaking display of color. Extremely peaceful, the Neon Tetra should be kept with similarly non-aggressive tankmates of a similar size.


As the member of the Characidae family, Neon Tetra thrives in the slightly acidic water with stable water parameters. Separate a pair of Tetra fish into a "breeding tank" with no lighting at first usually done by the breeders to breeding Neon Tetras. They also gradually increase the lighting until spawning occurs and for the optimal results. Another thing to note regarding the breeding of Neon Tetra - the water hardness should be less than 4 dH and live foods such as mosquito larvae are great inducers. Be sure to remove the adults after the eggs have been laid, as the adults will eat them. The eggs should hatch within 30 hours.

Water quality is a matter that should be in maintaining the Neon Tetra. Common diseases of Tetra fish species such as White Spot or Ich usually caused by the poor water quality. In addition to the regular aquarium water replacement, add the methylene blue into aquarium water to protect Neon Tetra from the white spot disease.

Read more »

The Gold Neon Tetra also known by the name Blue-Lined Albino Neon Tetra is a beautiful, opalescent fish developed through selective breeding. Very similar to the standard neon in behavior. However this species has a more subdued neon line through it. The jewel-like Gold Neon Tetra boasts a distinct golden body that sets it apart from the popular Neon Tetra. The Gold Neon Tetra still has the blue and red stripe typical of the Neon Tetra, but subdued to an elegant highlight. They can appear very white, or a slightly yellowy white. Part of their body, as seen in the photo is translucent. Kept in schools of five or more, you'll marvel at the swirl of color these tetras create as they swim together throughout your aquarium.

This Paracheirodon innesi var. included in the group of popular freshwater fish originally came from the clear water streams of South America. The Gold Neon Tetra is an excellent addition to the planted aquarium, subdued lighting on the bottom with dark substrate. To mirror its natural habitat, incorporate rocks, driftwood, and plants to provide hiding places. The Gold Neon Tetra thrives in slightly acidic water and will do best when water parameters are kept constant. I have found them to be very curious fish tetras, who rarely venture far from the bottom. Care must be taken not to put them with overly aggressive fish since their curiousity will often bring them close to other fish or invertebrates, especially around feeding time.


The males are smaller, females are larger, rounder and fatter. Some claim that males have a straight blue neon line, while females have crooked lines. To breed Gold Neon Tetras, separate a pair into a "breeder tank" with no lighting at first, and then gradually increase it until spawning occurs. Water hardness should be less than 4 dKH and live food such as mosquito larvae are great inducers. Be sure to remove the adults after the eggs have been laid, as they will eat them. The eggs should hatch within 30 hours.

Feeding Gold Neon Tetras is the same as feeding the other tetras. As well as Cardinal Tetras, Blue-Lined Albino Neon Tetra will accept many small foods. They can eat frozen bloodworms, flake, pellets. Although flakes must sink for them to eat it - they are not surface feeders.

Read more »

The freshwater tropical fish from the Tetras groups below is including the most popular aquarium fish species in aquascape world. Usually kept in in groups of six or more and be housed with equally peaceful tankmates. They live and swim in groups such as commanded thus yielding interesting attraction.

Currently, Cardinal Tetra is the number one, most popular and widely kept in nature aquariums. Not only in groups of fish tetras, when compared with other fish species, the Cardinal Tetra is still the most widely used in the aquascape aquarium. Cardinal Tetra became a favorite because it has the most striking color of the group members other tetra fish.

Appearance of fish species that has name Paracheirodon axelrodi brings delicate beauty to any home freshwater aquarium. It has a bright blue stripe contrasted by a lower red stripe that runs the entire length of its body. This coloration differs from its cousin, the Neon Tetra, which has a red stripe that runs only halfway down the body. Equally as peaceful as Neon Tetras, Paracheirodon axelrodi will school together for a brilliant display of activity and color to dress small to large aquarium systems.


Though relatively hardy, the Cardinal Tetra does best in soft, acidic water with few fluctuations in water parameters. Breeding the Cardinal Tetra requires very soft water in the 1-2 dH range, a pH of 5-6, and low lighting levels. The female may lay as many as 130 eggs and the adults should be removed at this time. The eggs will hatch in about 24 hours and will become waterborne in approximately five days. Feed the fry baby brine shrimp and other suitable small foods.

The Cardinal Tetra will accept many small foods such as brine shrimp or daphnia, freeze-dried bloodworms and tubifex, micro pellet food, and high quality flake food.

Read more »

Tetras are small freshwater aquarium fish species found in streams and rivers throughout the subtropical and tropical zones of South & Central American, and Africa. They are members of the Characidae family which are distinguished from other fish by the presence of a small adipose fin between the dorsal fin and caudal fin. Most tetras are peaceful and have an unaggressive temperament and save for any aquarium plants which makes them suitable in any peaceful community aquarium. They are are active schooling fish that work well in the peaceful community aquarium. It is ideal to keep six or more fish of the same species in the aquarium.

Many different schools of tetras can be maintained in the aquarium providing a unique display of color. In their natural enviornment most tetras live in soft and acidic waters (pH 5.5-6.8) with temperature ranging from 25 to 28° C.

Tetras do best in a well-planted aquarium with moderate lighting using dark substrate to display their vibrant colorations. In many species, male tetras claim small territory which they defend against other males, but this leads to the liveliness of the aquarium.

Good tankmates for smaller tetras include rasboras, dwarf cichlids, corydoras, hatchetfish, pencilfish, and plecos. Larger tetras such as Bleeding Heart Tetras, Diamond Tetras and Congo Tetras can be kept with larger fish such as Angelfish and Discus. Species such as the cardinal tetras are among the most popular of all freshwater fish, adding a touch of brilliance and social interaction to the community aquarium.

In some species, sexing is quite easy. Adult females are more full bodied and wider in the stomach area, whereas, males are slimmer, sometimes having larger dorsal fin, and coloration is usually more intense. Males are often territorial and will defend their space against their neighbors by presenting themselves in profile with the dorsal and anal fins fully extended, and their coloration intensified, making the edging of the body patch stand out prominently. This is a wonderful display when it happens. Sometimes they will exchange blows which can tear the fins, but this damage heals quickly.

Most tetras are not easily breed. The Aquarist must be willing to spend a lot of time and have patience to breed them. The tetras do not engage in any type of brood care, but simply deposit their eggs on plants or scatter them around the tank. Water conditions must be very soft and acidic with a separate breeding tank for this purpose. Once the eggs are laid the parents must be removed or they will eat the eggs. The finest of food must be available for the fry, and in some species baby brine shrimp is even too large for the first couple of days. Although difficult to do, breeding the freshwater tropical fish is not impossible and can be one of the best experiences in your hobby.

Read more »