Last Updated on 2024-09-10
Black neon tetras are great freshwater aquarium fish for people who like things to be simple. They are active little fish that will stand out around green aquarium plants and light-colored substrate. They are also calm and active, which makes them easy to pair with other fish and a great addition to a community fish tank. However, not all fish can live with black neon tetras, so you must be careful about which fish you put with them. That’s why we made this article to help you choose the best black neon tetra tank mates!
Do Neon Tetras Need Tank Mates?
So, we know the best neon tetra tank mates. However, are they completely necessary? Do neon tetras need other fish in the tank to survive and thrive?
Yes! Even if your neon tetra’s “tankmates” are just other neon tetras, it is crucial that your neon tetra is not alone in the tank. This is because neon tetras get stressed and lonely and will eventually die if they do not have other fish to swim along with. This is obviously an outcome we want to avoid!
The neon tetra is a social schooling fish, so getting some other tetras for it to school with, as well as having an active and vibrant community in your tank, is extremely important for the health of your neon tetra.
How to Set Up a Neon Tetra Tank
As with any other kind of fish, it is important to design your tank to the specifications of the main fish you want to put in there. In your case, if you’re reading this article, that probably means it’s neon tetras. So how do you set up a tank to the neon tetras specifications?
Tank Size
A more inexperienced aquarium owner might say that since neon tetras are such small fish, that means you can put them in smaller 5 or 10-gallon sized tanks. However, this would be incorrect. After all, neon tetras are schooling fish, meaning they need room to swim around in rather large groups.
15 gallons should be the minimum size you are aiming for as the size of your neon tetra fish tank. However, a size like 20 gallons is probably better for the amount of fish you are looking for. This is due to the fact that yes, you want your 10-15 neon tetras, but tank mates as well! Make sure there is room for everyone.
If you’re willing to spend, bigger is better. Make sure there is enough room for everyone! You don’t want your fish bumping fins too much.
Temperature
The neon tetra prefers water that is between temperatures of 68 and 79 degrees Fahrenheit. Since they come from the rivers of Peru, Bolivia, and Colombia, they are most certainly considered tropical fish. Make sure their water is heated to the proper level so that it matches their natural habitat! This will keep the neon tetras and their tank mates happy and healthy.
pH Level
In the wild, neon tetras inhabit extremely acidic and soft waters. Since this is difficult to replicate in an aquarium, especially with tank mates involved, try to keep the water between a pH of 6.0 and 8.0, trending towards the lower end (between 6.0 and 7.0 is ideal).
This will give the neon tetras their familiar acidity without being harmful to the other fish in your tank.
Blackwater
The river water in Peru, Bolivia, Colombia, and other tropical regions that neon tetras are mostly found in blackwater rivers. This means that the water is stained a darker brownish color.
You might think this is due to dirt or pollution, but you’d be wrong! It’s actually because of the release of tannins from decaying plant matter and wood that is in the water and is crucial for the health of your neon tetras!
You see, tannins reduce light penetration, making it more difficult for light to reach into the tank and bother your fish. As a low-light fish, neon tetras certainly prefer blackwater, as it keeps light away from them.
Tannins also make the water a bit more acidic and provide natural antibiotics to any fish that may be sick! What a great bonus!
For these reasons, it is recommended that you use a blackwater tank when you are housing neon tetras. There are a few ways to achieve this effect!
- Add plant matter and wood! Things like driftwood, seed pods, and Indian almond leaves are perfect. These will decay in the water and naturally produce the tannins needed to create a blackwater tank.
- You may also speed up this process by boiling the wood and leaves you’ve chosen, sticking them in the fridge for a bit to chill, and adding them to the tank after it is set up.
- For ease of use, you can also purchase commercial blackwater extract.
Just make sure you don’t change your tank too fast! A sudden change in conditions can shock a fish, which is not good for the neon tetra’s overall health.
A blackwater tank isn’t required, but it is helpful. Clearwater tanks can be used as well, as long as the light is not too powerful and there is a ton of proper cover.
Other Tank Setup
There are other things you’ll need to do to build the perfect neon tetra tank. Firstly, make sure you have a ton of cover. Things like plant matter and driftwood work perfectly since they are in the neon tetras’ natural habitat, they decay and release tannins, and they provide much-needed shade for low-light fish.
Neon tetras are perfectly fine with slow or medium water flow, making shopping for filters a breeze. Any standard filter for your tank size should be fine for neon tetras.
Cover is not always enough, so make sure that the lights above and around your aquarium are low to simulate the environment that your neon tetras (and most likely, their tank mates) live in naturally.
Finally, your neon tetra will prefer a water hardness of between 2 and 10 degrees dH. This will properly simulate the soft, acidic waters it comes from in South America.
Will Neon Tetra Attack Their Tank Mates?
The neon tetra is not an aggressive species, so they should be fine with most kinds of tank mates. This means that you can keep most any kind of fish in the tank, provided they do not see the neon tetra as food, and they will be healthy in the neon tetras water conditions.
However, be careful. Neon tetras are an omnivorous species, meaning that they aren’t picky about what they eat! If they are underfed, or things get feisty due to territory disputes within the tank, don’t be surprised if the neon tetras get a little aggressive with your other fish!
This can be avoided with proper care, but it should be noted that it is possible. A large enough tank with proper conditions should solve most of these problems, and a proper feeding schedule and good tank mates will take care of the rest, leaving you with a beautiful, peaceful fish community in your aquarium.
What Are The Best Tank Mates For Black Neon Tetras?
Putting together groups of fish that get along is hard for every aquarist because there are so many things to consider. Instead of experimenting with fish combinations that may or may not work, so here are our recommendations.
1. Zebrafish
- pH: 6.8 to 7.5
- Temperature: 70°F to 78°F
- Tank Size: 10 gallons minimum for 5 fish
- Fish Size: 1.5 to 2.5 inches
- Lifespan: 3.5 years
- Difficulty Keeping: Easy
Zebrafish are naturally thin little fish that look like black neon tetras from the side, apart from the fact they have more stripes. They are peaceful and calm, so they can live together with your tetras.
They both like almost the same water conditions and can eat the same food, so taking care of zebrafish with your Tetras is like caring for a single fish species.
2. Cory Catfish
- pH: 5.5 to 7.0
- Temperature: 70°F to 78°F
- Tank Size: 10 gallons minimum for a pair
- Fish Size: 1 to 4 inches
- Lifespan: 3 to 5 years
- Difficulty Keeping: Easy
Corydoras are bottom-feeding, non-territorial fish that don’t like to mess with black neon tetras. These catfish like to stay still at the bottom, but they get along well with other fish and are easy to care of, so they are a great friend for your tetras. They also need the same conditions in the tank, making keeping them together easy.
3. Guppies
- pH: 6.8 to 7.8.
- Temperature: 72°F to 82°F
- Tank Size: 5 gallons minimum for 5 fish
- Fish Size: 0.6 to 2.4 inches
- Lifespan: 2 years
- Difficulty Keeping: Easy
Since black neon tetras and guppies are calm and friendly fish, keeping them in the same tank is easy. They also need almost the same water conditions, making keeping them together easier. Make sure your fish tank is big enough for at least six black neon tetras and six guppies.
4. Honey Gourami
- pH: 6.0 to 7.5
- Temperature: 71°F to 82°F
- Tank Size: 10 gallons minimum
- Fish Size: 3 inches
- Lifespan: 4 to 8 years
- Difficulty Keeping: Beginner
Like black neon tetras, honey gouramis like slightly acidic water. These fish will also eat the same things as the black neon tetras, so you can feed them the same food together. Honey gouramis are shy and peaceful fish, but it’s important to remember that you shouldn’t keep them in large groups, so they don’t pick on each other.
5. Cardinal Tetra
- pH: 4.6 to 6.2
- Temperature: 73 °F to 81°F
- Tank Size: 10 gallons minimum for a pair
- Fish Size: 2 inches
- Lifespan: 4 to 5 years
- Difficulty Keeping: Intermediate
If you want to add another fish to your black neon tetra tank, you should put another tetra, specifically, cardinal tetras. They are tough, can get to a wide range of water parameters, and are easy to care for, making them an excellent pair for your cardinal tetras. Both fish live in groups, so make sure your fish tank is big enough to hold groups of both.
6. Dwarf Gourami
- pH: 6.0 to 7.5
- Temperature: 72°F and 82°F
- Tank Size: 10 gallons minimum for 3 fish
- Fish Size: 4 to 4.5 inches
- Lifespan: 5 years
- Difficulty Keeping: Easy
Most gouramis are known for being aggressive, but dwarf gouramis are shy and peaceful, so they can live with your black neon tetras. They also need the same amount of water as black neon tetras, which makes it easy to keep both of them. Both fish need a lot of places to hide, so make sure to give them a lot of hiding spots so they can feel safe and avoid fighting.
7. Kuhli Loaches
- pH: 5.5 to 6.5
- Temperature: 73°F to 86°F
- Tank Size: 20 gallons minimum for a pair
- Fish Size: 3 to 4 inches
- Lifespan: 7 to 10 years
- Difficulty Keeping: Easy
Because they are peaceful, Kuhli loaches and black neon tetras can live together without much trouble. Also, neon tetras and kuhli loaches like the same kind of water, so you can meet both of their needs at the same time. Just make sure the fish have enough space to swim around because kuhli loaches are big and black neon tetras need to be kept in groups.
8. Clown Pleco
- pH: 6.0 to 8.0
- Temperature: 73°F to 82°F
- Tank Size: 20 gallons minimum
- Fish Size: 3.5 to 4 inches
- Lifespan: 10 to 12 years
- Difficulty Keeping: Easy
Clown Plecos are one species of pleco fish that maintain their small size even after reaching adulthood, making them an excellent companion in the tank for neon black tetras. They are very shy fish who hide during the day and only come out at night to eat the algae off the tank’s glass and other surfaces. Plecos like to hide, so make sure you give them a cave or tank decorations they can hide into.
9. Bristlenose Pleco
- pH: 5.7 to 7.8
- Temperature: 73°F to 81°F
- Tank Size: 30 gallons minimum
- Fish Size: 4 to 5 inches
- Lifespan: 5 to 8 years
- Difficulty Keeping: Easy
Bristlenose plecos are a great fish to add to an aquarium with black neon tetras because they are peaceful and can get used to the water your black neon tetras like. They are so calm that they don’t care about other fish and may spend the day hiding under a decoration or some driftwood, only coming out at night to eat algae on the tank’s walls. You should remember that if you let this fish go hungry for a while, it might also eat the plants in your aquarium.
10. Harlequin Rasbora
- pH: 6.0 to 7.8
- Temperature: 72°F to 81°F
- Tank Size: 10 gallons minimum for 6 fish
- Fish Size: 2 inches
- Lifespan: 5 to 8 years
- Difficulty Keeping: Easy
Rasboras and black neon tetras get along great because they like water conditions that are similar to each other. Also, they are easy to care for and eat the same things as the black neon tetras. Rasboras are also peaceful fish and live in the tank’s middle and upper levels, so they won’t bother your black neon tetras.
11. Angelfish
Angelfish come in many different varieties, and each of them will look fantastic in your aquarium. They are unique-looking fish, with long trailing fins that stream behind them as they swim. They are easy to see as well due to their size.
Angelfish are relatively peaceful, but they have been known to eat very small fish. Do not place them in a tank with fish that are less than one inch or babies.
Angelfish also like tall tanks, and they swim on every level; this can mean they run into other fish a lot. A big tank will help avoid this, though.
12. Hatchetfish
This strange-looking fish is a fun and unique twist in any aquarium! They are extremely flat and wide, so they look thin when viewed from in front. However, from the side, you can see them in all of their silver beauty; their bright color and interesting shape are easy to spot even among the most crowded tanks.
Hatchetfish have a peaceful temperament and are schooling fish.
13. Mollies
Mollies are an exceptionally popular fish, especially in community tanks. They come in many different varieties, such as black mollies and lyretail mollies, among others. They are very active swimmers and will make your tank a much more lively place. Despite this, they are peaceful and will not harass your neon tetras or your other peaceful fish.
Like some other fish on this list, a 1:2 ratio of male to female is preferred to keep competition low.
14. Rummy Nose Tetras
Again, you can’t go wrong with more tetras! Many different kinds of tetras could hypothetically be good tank mates for your neon tetras, but I’ve chosen what I believe to be the two best ones.
The reason rummy nose tetras are great as an addition to your neon tetra tank is just like your neon tetra; they are a peaceful schooling fish and will create a tranquil environment for your other fish to live in. They won’t school with your neons as the cardinal tetras will, but this doesn’t make them not a good tank mate!
What Tank Mates Should You Avoid With Black Neon Tetras?
Black neon tetras are peaceful fish that can do well with many other species, but some tank mates may also not get along. Before you choose a companion for your black neon tetras, it’s essential to be aware of which ones should be avoided. Here is a list of fish you should avoid when choosing tank mates for black neon tetras.
1. Large Cichlids
Cichlids are known to be quite aggressive, so, like betta fish, it is best to avoid pairing them with neon tetras. Since neon tetras are small and timid, aggressive fish will fight or eat them quite easily, and your neon tetras will either die or spend all day hiding. Not a good pair!
2. Large Barbs
Large barbs like Tiger and Tinfoil barbs should be avoided when picking tank mates for black neon tetras. These fish are very active and can out-compete the small neon tetras for food and chase them around the tank. This type of activity may cause undue stress to the black neon tetras.
3. Gourami
Gouramis are known for their aggressive behavior and can harm your neon tetras. The size difference between gouramis and black neon tetras makes them vulnerable targets, so it is best to avoid housing them together.
4. Betta Fish
Bettas are known for their aggressive nature and will not get along with other fish in the same tank. Black neon tetras could become targets of aggression due to their small size and bright colors. So, it is best to avoid keeping betta fish with black neon tetras.
5. Catfish
Some catfish, like Pictus and Synodontis, can be too giant and aggressive for neon tetras, so it is best to keep catfish of a smaller size. Catfish also like to hide in the substrate, making it difficult for neon tetras to find food.
6. Cherry Shrimp
It may not be the best idea to put cherry shrimp with black neon tetras because of the size difference. In some cases, your black neon tetras may be aggressive or hungry and end up eating your red cherry shrimp!
7. Freshwater Sharks
Freshwater sharks are territorial and aggressive, so they can’t live with a black neon tetra. The black neon tetra will always be stressed out because these fish will pick on and chase it.
8. Black Widow Tetra
Black Widow tetras are mean to other fish, so they are not a good choice for tank mates. The Black widow tetra will only stress out your black neon tetra, which will cause them to get sick or die in the long run.
9. Golden Wonder Killifish
Golden Wonder Killifish are big fish that used to eat other fish. As I’ve said, the bigger fish in the tank tend to eat the smaller ones. So, your black neon tetras won’t be safe in your tank with these fish.
Recap
There are tons of great tank mates for neon tetras and many more beyond just the ones listed here. Still, this list is a great start, and if you’re looking to pair your neon tetras with tank mates, I encourage you to choose a few from the list above!
Overall, you’re looking for peaceful fish that will play to the tetra’s strengths. Pretty and colorful schooling fish are great.
It is also important for the health of your tank to make sure that you have fish that swim and live in every level of your tank. This will give your fish some room to spread their fins and also create a more functional ecosystem.
So what are you waiting for? Don’t let your neon tetras swim all alone! Get some tank mates and build yourself that dream aquarium today.
