Black neon tetra
Encyclopedia
The black neon tetra
is a freshwater
fish
of the characin
family
(family Characidae
) of
order
Characiformes
. It is native to the
Paraguay
basin of southern Brazil
.
This species is of typical elongated tetra
appearance; it is of plain basic
coloration but with two distinct, adjacent longitudinal stripes, white above
black. The eye has two thin but distinctive color bands across the top, red
above yellow. It grows to a maximum overall length of approximately 4 cm (1.5 in). Despite its common name, it does not particularly resemble the neon tetra
, which belongs to a different genus.
The fish's natural diet consist of small invertebrate
s and plants.
H. herbertaxelrodi is commonly kept as an aquarium
fish by hobbyists.
The black neon tetra is sometimes called the black tetra, but that name more
properly refers to a different species, Gymnocorymbus ternetzi.
These fish swim at the top level of the aquarium, and do not feed from the bottom of the tank. Therefore it is recommended that they are kept with bottom dwelling fish (such as a pygmy corydoras
) so that leftover food is then eaten up off the substrate and not left to waste.
Black neon tetras can be fed a variety of foods, including flake, frozen and freeze dried food. Small live foods like worms and brine shrimp are also recommended as they bring out the fish's colours.
Although the Black Neon Tetra can be kept in water harder and more alkaline than its natural habitat, for breeding it is necessary to get closer to what The Black Neon Tetra would get in the Amazon. Breeding The Black Neon Tetra requires acidic water with no more than 4̊ of hardness. Use dim lighting.
The Black Neon Tetra is an egg scatterer, laying adhesive (sticky) eggs over plants, etc. One female can produce several hundred eggs. The Black Neon Tetra parents will eat their own eggs and babies, so it is normal to remove the parents after spawning. As with many fish, The Black Neon Tetra often spawns in the early morning.
Raising the fry can be more difficult because of their small size. The first food will normally be protozoa (infusoria). Very fine fry food can be used, graduating to slightly coarse fry food. At all ages, The Black Neon Tetra benefits from suitable size live food.
Breeding of the Black Neon Tetra is mentioned on on these websites:
http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/pages/show_article.php?article_id=508, http://www.bettatrading.com.au/Black-Neon-Tetra-Fact-sheet.php
is a freshwater
Freshwater
Fresh water is naturally occurring water on the Earth's surface in ice sheets, ice caps, glaciers, bogs, ponds, lakes, rivers and streams, and underground as groundwater in aquifers and underground streams. Fresh water is generally characterized by having low concentrations of dissolved salts and...
fish
Fish
Fish are a paraphyletic group of organisms that consist of all gill-bearing aquatic vertebrate animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish, as well as various extinct related groups...
of the characin
family
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
(family Characidae
Characidae
The Characidae, characids or characins are a family of freshwater subtropical and tropical fish, belonging to the order Characiformes. The name "characins" is the historical one, but scientists today tend to prefer "characids" to reflect their status as a by and large monophyletic group at family...
) of
order
Order (biology)
In scientific classification used in biology, the order is# a taxonomic rank used in the classification of organisms. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, family, genus, and species, with order fitting in between class and family...
Characiformes
Characiformes
The Characiformes are an order of ray-finned fish, comprising the characins and their allies. Grouped in 18 recognized families, there are a few thousand different species, including the well-known piranha and tetras.-Taxonomy:...
. It is native to the
Paraguay
Paraguay River
The Paraguay River is a major river in south central South America, running through Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Argentina...
basin of southern Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
.
This species is of typical elongated tetra
Tetra
thumb|right|250px|Pristella tetra — [[Pristella maxillaris]].thumb|right|250px|Golden Pristella tetra, a [[morph |morph]] of [[Pristella maxillaris]].thumb|right|250px|[[Silvertip tetra]] — Hasemania nana....
appearance; it is of plain basic
coloration but with two distinct, adjacent longitudinal stripes, white above
black. The eye has two thin but distinctive color bands across the top, red
above yellow. It grows to a maximum overall length of approximately 4 cm (1.5 in). Despite its common name, it does not particularly resemble the neon tetra
Neon tetra
The neon tetra is a freshwater fish of the characin family of order Characiformes. The type species of its genus, it is native to blackwater or clearwater streams in southeastern Colombia, eastern Peru, and western Brazil, including the tributaries of the Solimões where the water is between...
, which belongs to a different genus.
The fish's natural diet consist of small invertebrate
Invertebrate
An invertebrate is an animal without a backbone. The group includes 97% of all animal species – all animals except those in the chordate subphylum Vertebrata .Invertebrates form a paraphyletic group...
s and plants.
H. herbertaxelrodi is commonly kept as an aquarium
Aquarium
An aquarium is a vivarium consisting of at least one transparent side in which water-dwelling plants or animals are kept. Fishkeepers use aquaria to keep fish, invertebrates, amphibians, marine mammals, turtles, and aquatic plants...
fish by hobbyists.
The black neon tetra is sometimes called the black tetra, but that name more
properly refers to a different species, Gymnocorymbus ternetzi.
In the Aquarium
Black neon tetras should be kept in soft acidic water, which should be kept clean at all times. Their tank should contain live plants, a darker substrate and open water for swimming. Black neons should be kept in groups of at least 4-6.These fish swim at the top level of the aquarium, and do not feed from the bottom of the tank. Therefore it is recommended that they are kept with bottom dwelling fish (such as a pygmy corydoras
Pygmy corydoras
The pygmy corydoras or pygmy catfish, Corydoras pygmaeus, is a tropical and freshwater fish belonging to the Corydoradinae sub-family of the Callichthyidae family. It originates in inland waters in South America, and is found in the Madeira River basin in Brazil. It was originally described by J...
) so that leftover food is then eaten up off the substrate and not left to waste.
Black neon tetras can be fed a variety of foods, including flake, frozen and freeze dried food. Small live foods like worms and brine shrimp are also recommended as they bring out the fish's colours.
Breeding
Black Neon tetras can be spawned rather easily if the water quality is right. Before attempting to breed the Black Neon Tetra, condition the prospective parents with good food. Fish of about one year old are suitable for breeding. The sex of the fish can be determined by its body shape. The female Black Neon Tetras are much deeper in the body than the males.Although the Black Neon Tetra can be kept in water harder and more alkaline than its natural habitat, for breeding it is necessary to get closer to what The Black Neon Tetra would get in the Amazon. Breeding The Black Neon Tetra requires acidic water with no more than 4̊ of hardness. Use dim lighting.
The Black Neon Tetra is an egg scatterer, laying adhesive (sticky) eggs over plants, etc. One female can produce several hundred eggs. The Black Neon Tetra parents will eat their own eggs and babies, so it is normal to remove the parents after spawning. As with many fish, The Black Neon Tetra often spawns in the early morning.
Raising the fry can be more difficult because of their small size. The first food will normally be protozoa (infusoria). Very fine fry food can be used, graduating to slightly coarse fry food. At all ages, The Black Neon Tetra benefits from suitable size live food.
Breeding of the Black Neon Tetra is mentioned on on these websites:
http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/pages/show_article.php?article_id=508, http://www.bettatrading.com.au/Black-Neon-Tetra-Fact-sheet.php