Neon Tetra Care Guide | AquaAutomate

The Neon Tetra (*Paracheirodon innesi*) is one of the most popular freshwater aquarium fish — and for good reason. Their iridescent blue and red stripes look incredible under the right lighting, they're peaceful, hardy, and perfect for beginners.

Quick Facts

Parameter	Value
Scientific Name	Paracheirodon innesi
Size	1.5 inches (3.5 cm)
Lifespan	5-8 years
Temperature	70-81°F (21-27°C)
pH	6.0-7.0
Minimum Tank	10 gallons
School Size	6+ (more is better)
Difficulty	Beginner

Water Parameters

Neon Tetras prefer soft, slightly acidic water:

Temperature: 70-81°F (ideal: 74-76°F)
pH: 6.0-7.0
Hardness: 2-10 dGH
Ammonia/Nitrite: 0 ppm (always)
Nitrate: Below 20 ppm

Pro tip: Use a Tuya water quality sensor + Home Assistant to monitor these parameters 24/7 and get alerts on your phone.

Tank Mates

Neon Tetras are peaceful community fish. Good tank mates include:

Corydoras Catfish
Harlequin Rasboras
Cherry Shrimp
Otocinclus
Dwarf Gouramis
Cardinal Tetras

Avoid: Angelfish (will eat neons), large cichlids, aggressive species.

Feeding

Feed 1-2 times daily, only what they can eat in 2 minutes:

High-quality micro pellets or flake food
Frozen or freeze-dried brine shrimp (1-2x per week)
Frozen daphnia (great for color)

Automation idea: Use a smart auto-feeder on a Home Assistant schedule. Set up vacation mode with slightly reduced feeding.

Lighting

Neon Tetras prefer moderate to low lighting. Their colors actually pop more with dimmer lights against a dark background. A Hygger Full Spectrum light on a sunrise/sunset schedule is perfect.

See our guide: Automate Your Tank Lighting

Common Issues

Neon Tetra Disease (NTD)

Symptoms: White patches, faded colors, erratic swimming
Cause: *Pleistophora hyphessobryconis* parasite
Treatment: No cure — quarantine and remove affected fish immediately

Fin Rot

Symptoms: Ragged, deteriorating fins
Cause: Poor water quality + bacterial infection
Treatment: Fix water quality first, then medicate if needed

Automate Their Environment

Set up Home Assistant to keep your neons happy automatically:

configuration.yaml

# Temperature Alert for Neon Tetra Tank
automation:
  - alias: "Neon Tank Temp Alert"
    trigger:
      - platform: numeric_state
        entity_id: sensor.aquarium_temperature
        above: 82
    action:
      - service: notify.mobile_app
        data:
          title: "🐟 Tank Alert"
          message: "Neon Tetra tank is {{ states('sensor.aquarium_temperature') }}°F — too warm!"

  - alias: "Neon Tank Temp Low Alert"
    trigger:
      - platform: numeric_state
        entity_id: sensor.aquarium_temperature
        below: 68
    action:
      - service: notify.mobile_app
        data:
          title: "🐟 Tank Alert"
          message: "Neon Tetra tank is {{ states('sensor.aquarium_temperature') }}°F — too cold!"