Black neon tetra

Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi

A pale line above a broad black stripe

Look for the light stripe just above the broad black band and an orange-red upper iris. Its silver-grey body creates a very different pattern from the red-and-blue neon tetra.

Adult length: Up to 3.5 cm (standard length, without the tail fin)
Water temperature: 20–28 °C
pH: 5–7.5
Hardness: 1–12 dGH

Natural habitat: Native to the Paraguay River basin.

Small size does not remove the need for swimming space; allow an 80 cm long footprint.

View comparison →

Same-species behaviour

Keep at least 8–10 of mixed sexes.

Space requirements

Allow a footprint of at least 80 × 30 cm, with a swimming lane outside the planted areas.

Diet and feeding

Provide small dry foods with suitably sized live or frozen foods.

Compatibility limits

Choose similarly sized, non-predatory companions with matching space and water needs.

Aquarium environment

Dense planting or sand and wood can provide cover. Plan room for the group to swim around the planted areas.

Sources

www.fishbase.se ↗ 2026-10-25

www.seriouslyfish.com ↗ 2026-10-21

www.aquariumcoop.com ↗ 2026-10-21

researcharchive.calacademy.org ↗ 2026-10-22