Black Neon Tetra: The Neon's Understated Sibling

In this guide

Overview

Despite the name, the black neon tetra, Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi, is not a colour variant of the neon tetra but a distinct species from Brazil. It carries a bold black horizontal stripe with a thinner, greenish gold line above it, giving it a more subdued, elegant look than its brightly coloured namesake.

It grows to around four centimetres and is just as peaceful and easy to keep as the true neon, making it a good choice for a community tank that wants a bit of visual variety without added care difficulty.

Tank and water requirements

A group of eight or more does well in a tank of forty litres upwards. Black neons are tolerant of a range of water hardness and adapt well to typical Indian tap water once acclimatised, making them somewhat easier than cardinal tetras for a first soft-water-loving fish.

A planted tank with a darker substrate makes their black stripe stand out attractively, though they do fine in a simpler setup too.

Diet and behaviour

Small flakes, micro pellets and occasional live or frozen food suit them well. They are calm, unfussy shoalers that mix easily with other small, peaceful community fish such as corydoras and rasboras.

Because they are less commonly sought after than the true neon, they can make an interesting, slightly different centrepiece shoal for a keeper who has already kept the more common tetras.

Buying tips

• Priced similarly to neon tetras, generally fifteen to forty rupees per fish
• Less commonly stocked than true neons, so may need to be specially ordered from a shop
• Buy in a group of at least eight for the best schooling display

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