Blue neon – features, types and rules for keeping fish

Incorporating a blue neon fish into your aquarium is a striking and captivating option for adding some color. Aquarists love these little fish because of their delicate, iridescent scales and eye-catching blue colors. They add vibrancy to any tank and can be calming to watch with their calm, shimmering appearance. Beyond their allure, blue neons have unique requirements and traits that make knowing how to take care of them crucial to their continued happiness and health.

The Characidae family of freshwater fish includes blue neons, which are native to the South American Amazon Basin. Although they are sometimes mistaken for related species, such as the neon tetra, each has distinct characteristics of its own. The eye-catching red stripe that runs along their midsection and their bright, electric-blue bodies are characteristics of blue neons. They stand out in the aquarium thanks to these features, but they also require special maintenance to stay in top condition.

Blue neons need special care in their surroundings and diet. Their natural habitat, soft, slightly acidic water in tanks with dense plants, is ideal for their growth. Although they are peaceful little fish that are ideal for community tanks, they do require the feel of security that comes with being housed in schools. They don’t have very specific dietary needs, but giving them a well-balanced, premium flake or pellet food will help preserve their healthy, vivid colors.

This post will go into great detail about blue neon fish, including the various varieties, how to care for them, and how to set up an environment in your aquarium that will support their growth. Regardless of your experience level, being aware of these stunning fish’s requirements will guarantee that they continue to be the focal point of your aquatic setup.

Neons in nature

Neons can be found in South America’s natural habitat, which is primarily found in the rivers of Brazil, Peru, Suriname, Guyana, and French Guiana.

The Frenchman Auguste Rabot made the discovery of the glowing fish in 1935 in the Brazilian Putumayo River. And from then on, they became very well-liked by aquarists and have remained so to this day. Those who caught and sold exotic fish in the middle of the 20th century profited greatly from this trend.

Neons, with their vivid hues, are drawn to the semi-darkness of tropical thickets and the murky waters of small, placid rivers and swampy ponds. Such reservoirs have a high concentration of humins, which not only intensifies the gloom but also raises the acidity. Hardy fish also do not suffer when the water’s qualities change during dry spells or heavy precipitation. Their high vitality makes breeding them in aquariums simple.

Main characteristics

It is hard to think of a more appropriate name in this instance for a living being. The fish is easily recognized by its bright blue stripe along its silvery-olive body, which has a neon sheen to it, and its scarlet stroke towards its tail.

The same stripe, which is straight in males and slightly bent in females, indicates the sex. Size is another area where genders differ. Compared to males, female neon fish are larger.

Although it appears that the distinctive stripe glows on its own, this is untrue. Its distinctive glow is a result of special chromatophore cells reflecting sunlight.

Transparent fins are another characteristic that sets neon fish apart, along with their small size and inherent mark. Furthermore, males and females have an additional fin on their backs that is completely made of fatty tissue and lacks the typical bony rays, in addition to the typical dorsal and anal fins. Apart from that, the fish has a traditional flattened shape, a small head, large round eyes, and small silver scales all over it.

Although it usually varies from 2 to 6 cm, the average length is 3.5–4 cm.

Keeping conditions

Compared to their more demanding counterparts, the blue neons are thought to be among the easiest to keep: red, green, and African gold.

They have a six-year lifespan if basic maintenance needs are satisfied.

Suitable aquarium

It is advised to base your decision on the need for at least 50 liters of water for six to eight people. This is the amount that is advised for the first phase.

The fish feel uneasy in a packed container even though they are schooling. Prior to settling, an established biogeocenosis must be established in order to facilitate rapid adaptation. In order to achieve this, the aquarium must be kept for at least three, but ideally up to five, days along with all of its contents, including plants, treated soil, decorative elements, and connected equipment.

Temperature

Neonates can comfortably swim in water that is between +22 and +25 degrees. Fish become less active in colder weather and lose their motivation to spawn when they become too hot.

Remember that they are native to areas with semi-darkness and soft, acidic water. As a result, we also keep an eye on the indicators of softness and acidity.

You can use devices with diffused warm light for lighting and special air conditioners to darken the water for increased comfort. Every seven to ten days, it is also advised to replace 25–30% of the water volume with clean water.

Decor

The plants listed below are good for designing a suitable area:

And other medium- and low-sized ones, in order to remove any obstructions from the upper layers that would hinder the neon flock’s quick travel through space. But since these slaves are in dire need of shelter, a rest area should be created by placing plants and tiny ornamental items there. For the soil, sand and pebbles work well, especially in dark hues.

Neons are perfect for aquascapes because they don’t harm the vegetation and their vibrant colors enhance miniature landscapes to perfection.

Food

Prepare ingredients ahead of time for a diverse diet. Bloodworms, brine shrimp, and daphnia are suitable, both frozen and live.

It is suggested to use Tetra Micro Crisps, Neon, and mini granules as a dry food Co booster or high-protein granules Negongran.

It is preferable to rub chips in the form of flakes and ensure that any leftover food does not float to the top. Excess food left unfinished for two minutes can lead to obesity and overfeeding in fish, as well as the bottom where the decaying processes begin to affect the fish and its surroundings.

Adult fish only need one meal per day; juvenile fish are fed twice daily.

All of the information you require to add the fascinating blue neon fish to your aquarium can be found in this article. We’ll go over the special qualities of the blue neon, talk about the various varieties that are out there, and offer helpful hints for maintaining their health and well-being in your tank. Having a thorough understanding of these fundamentals will enable you to provide your blue neon fish with a healthy and lively aquatic habitat, regardless of your level of experience.

Independent breeding

Because they are fertile, neonatal females can deposit 100–150 clear eggs each week. The appearance indicates whether a female is ready to spawn; in females, the abdomen is slightly rounded, and in males, the swimming bubble makes it more obvious.

In the past, a couple were planted in separate tanks for two weeks and given an abundance of food that was mostly live. To safeguard them from a damaging abrupt change in parameters, at least one-third of the volume should consist of water from the regular aquarium, with the remaining water designated for use as separate swimming and spawning grounds.

In order to eliminate the new generation, separate, previously cleaned dishes are used, and the water temperature is between 18 and 22 degrees without soil (you can plant moss there) and without a filter that could harm the eggs. Egg fertilization will not succeed if the water hardness level is higher than 4◦.

When the eggs are laid and fertilized in the morning, the fish of different sexes that were planted for spawning in the evening are brought back to the aquarium before the parents consume their progeny. The larvae hatch after two days, at which point a daily change of one-third of the water volume with progressively higher hardness is required.

The fry need to be shielded from bright light, which is bad for them!

It’s time to feed the babies six days after they are born. Infusoria or special fry food is the best food for them; they can also be ground in a coffee grinder.

The larvae must be fed four to five times a day because they are unable to find food on their own and must instead consume what swims to them. To ensure that the food particles are constantly moving, some people use a fine spray for their compressor.

When the young reach three months of age, they are prepared to go to a regular aquarium.

The most popular species

Aquariums can contain the following subspecies in addition to the common blue neon with turquoise and scarlet shining stripes:

Elongated fins with curls, blue eyes, and a longitudinal color that changes to a shimmering azure

The body is decorated with bluish horizontal stripes and a red half-discharge surrounding the eyes in various tones of gold paint.

Compatibility with neighbors

An aquarium featuring vibrant, active neon lights is highly self-sufficient.

However, if you wish to fill the container with a variety of fish, choose fish that are as serene, adorable, and modest in their interactions with others as Neon himself:

Predators of any kind in the neighborhood are strictly prohibited:

It will look particularly fashionable if neighbors with similar colors are selected from among the calm fish. For instance, destroyers, discus, and rainbow are appropriate.

Tips for maintenance

1. At night during sleep, neons become paler – this is how nature protects them from predators. A female after spawning can also temporarily lose brightness. But if your fish turn pale during the day and for no reason – this may be a sign of illness. Most likely, we are talking about a fungal infection for which, unfortunately, there is no cure. A sick specimen should be immediately removed.
2. If the neon is covered with separate pale spots – this is plistophorosis, a tissue-destroying infection that blue neons suffer from more often than red and others. When infected, the fish loses weight, appetite and activity, and even the neon stripe loses its shine. At the initial stage, the disease can be treated with drugs such as albendazole, fumagellin, toltrazuril. As the infection progresses, the sick fish are eliminated and the aquarium is disinfected.
3. A rash in the form of semolina is a manifestation of ichthyophthirius. Increase the water temperature and oxygen content by a couple of degrees.

A neon aquarium’s water can be made softer by adding rain, boiling, distilled water, or sanitized peat.

Video review of blue neon

Feature	Details
Common Name	Blue Neon Tetra
Scientific Name	Paracheirodon innesi
Appearance	Small, vibrant blue body with a red stripe
Size	Up to 1.5 inches (4 cm)
Habitat	Originates from the Amazon Basin, prefers soft, acidic water
Tank Setup	Needs a well-planted tank with dim lighting
Tank Size	At least 10 gallons (38 liters)
Water Temperature	75-78°F (24-26°C)
Water pH	Acidic to neutral (pH 6.0-7.0)
Behavior	Peaceful, enjoys schooling with others of its kind
Diet	Omnivorous; accepts flake food, micro pellets, and live or frozen food
Compatibility	Good with other peaceful fish; avoid larger or aggressive species
Breeding	Relatively difficult; requires a separate breeding tank and careful water conditions

Aquarium enthusiasts find blue neons to be a captivating option because they bring a vibrant splash of color and energy to any tank. They are a unique species that is simple to recognize and enjoy because of their vivid blue and red colors. These little fish are a favorite choice for novice and expert aquarists alike because they add a vibrant dynamic to your aquarium setting in addition to their attractive appearance.

It’s critical to recreate the natural habitat of blue neons as closely as possible when keeping them. They flourish in tanks that are lushly planted and have a moderate water flow, allowing them to dart and shimmer amidst the foliage. These fish can maintain their health and activity levels if their surroundings are stable and the water parameters are appropriate. Maintaining your blue neons happy and vibrant will require regular care and observation.

Blue neons are a great option whether you’re starting a new aquarium or want to expand your current collection. They are a rewarding species to keep because of their beauty and relatively simple care needs. These gorgeous fish will continue to brighten your tank with their captivating colors if you give them the proper care and habitat.

Video on the topic

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