Black Neon Tetra

Scientific Name: Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi

The Black Neon Tetra is a peaceful South American schooling fish known for its striking horizontal black stripe contrasted by a bright iridescent greenish-gold line above it. Its darker coloration gives it a completely different appearance from the common Neon Tetra and makes a large school stand out especially well against planted aquariums and darker backgrounds.

Black Neon Tetras are hardy, active, and beginner-friendly. They tolerate a broader range of aquarium conditions than many small tetras and make excellent community fish when maintained with other peaceful species. They should be kept in a proper school, where they become more confident and display their best natural behavior.

Care Level: Easy
Temperament: Peaceful / Active / Schooling
Adult Size: Approximately 1.4–1.6 inches
Minimum Tank Size: 15–20 gallons recommended
Temperature: 72–82°F
pH: 5.5–7.5
Diet: Omnivore
Recommended Group Size: 8–10 or more

Recommended Setup: A planted aquarium with plenty of open swimming room is ideal. Live plants, driftwood, darker substrate, and slightly subdued lighting can help emphasize their contrasting black and iridescent coloration. Keep Black Neon Tetras with other peaceful community fish and maintain them in a good-sized school. Feed a varied diet of quality flakes or micro pellets supplemented with appropriately sized frozen or live foods such as brine shrimp and daphnia.

Please Note: Black Neon Tetras naturally vary in size, sex, and coloration. Juveniles or recently transported fish may initially appear pale, with stronger coloration developing as they mature and settle into the aquarium. Male and female fish are selected at random, and a specific sex or ratio cannot be guaranteed. The fish you receive may not look exactly like the individual pictured.

All livestock from Felipe’s Fish is carefully selected and prepared for safe transport. Please review our shipping and Live Arrival Guarantee policies before ordering.