Neon Tetra
Paracheirodon innesi
The neon tetra, Paracheirodon innesi, is a small South American characin famous in aquariums for its bright blue side stripe and red lower body. Wild neon tetras come from shaded blackwater and clearwater tributaries in the Amazon basin, where they live in groups among soft, acidic water, leaf litter, and subdued light. Their size, color, and schooling behavior made them a staple community fish, but the best-looking fish are still delicate enough to show stress quickly when water quality or stocking is poor.
Aquarium care works best with groups, gentle tankmates, stable warm water, and a planted or shaded layout that lets the school move together. Sudden changes, rough handling, and immature tanks can lead to losses, so quarantine and gradual acclimation matter. Commercial breeding supplies much of the trade, and breeders manage soft water, small live foods for fry, and careful selection for color and body shape. Buyers should look for active fish with clean bodies, full color, and no bent spines or white patches, since transport stress and disease can spread through a school.
