Black Neon Tetra

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Characiformes
Family:	Characidae
Genus:	Hyphessobrycon
Species:	H. Herbertaxelrodi
Binomial name:	Hyphessobrycon Herbertaxelrodi

The black neon tetra, scientifically named Hyphessobrycon Herbertaxelrodi, is of the freshwater variety and belongs to the Coercion Group (Characidae family) and of the Characiformes order. They are indigenous to the Paraguay basin of the southern part of Brazil.

Habitat and range

This Neon tetra is a freshwater pelagic fish, endemic to the tropical regions of the northern part of South America. Its origin is the Western regions of Brazil, Eastern regions of Peru and Southeast of Colombia. Besides, you can see the wild Neon tetra in the head-waters of the Amazon River, Napo, Tiger and Yarapa. We find them in the tributaries of the clear waters and also in the black waters. But they are not seen in the rivers of white water, flowing through the Andes. The Black Neon tetra has brilliant colors, with an iridescent stripe, so that they are visible in the dark blackwaters.

Rio Solimoes is the name connected to an upstream portion of the Great River of Amazon, from where much of the Neon was caught. Rio Solimoes is that portion which begins from the boundary of Peru and Brazil and ending at the convergence of the river along the Rio Negro. (In the region of Brazil this fish in generally called Rio Maranon but at times they advance upstream, when they are called Rio Solimoes)

The waters of the rivers, Clearwater and Blackwater streams of the continent of South America are acidic to some extent.  The water temperature of the water bodies that run along the regions of the tropics remains about 20⁰ to 26⁰C and is higher at times. The Neon Tetras that are bred for commercial purposes adapt to the situations that are quite dissimilar to their native habitat.

Description

The Black Neon Tetra is a variety of tetra that is tiny and structure of the body is very slender. Normally this fish attains around 1.5 inches (4cm) in custody in your homes and survives for 5 to 10 years. The Black Neon Tetra is specifically diverse from the rest. This fish is recognized with ease; because their stripes are whitish-enamel tending to neon like green stripes that contrast, with the deep black velvet color beneath it.

Breeding

Good quality water makes the Black Neon Tetras to spawn with ease. Prior to breeding the Black Neon Tetras, prepare the fish (future parents) with quality food. The right age for breeding the Black Neon tetras is when they are one year old. The body shape of the fish indicates its sex; the body of the female is to a great deal deeper when compared to the body of the male fish.

Even though the Black Neon Tetras fare well in water that is additionally hard and where the alkalinity is more when compared to its native habitat, you must try your best to breed them with the quality of water that is similar to that of their original Amazon habitat. In order to breed the Black Neon Tetras they need the acidity of water that is just four degrees above the hardness. Provide faint lighting system.

The Black Neon Tetra scatters their eggs, they lay their eggs that are gluey and stick to the plants and the like. A single female Black Neon Tetra produces many hundreds of eggs. Following spawning separate the parents from their eggs and fry, because, they consume them. Similar to the majority of the fishes the Black Neon Tetras also spawn in the early hours of the morning. It seems a hard task to bring up the babies on account of their tiny size. Usually their initial food is protozoa (infusoria). Use extremely fine food for the fry, and in due course increase it to some extent fry food that is coarse.                                            

HOW TO GROW AT HOME

Tank

It is to a certain extent challenging to raise Black Neon Tetras in comparison to the Neon Tetra.  This variety of fish is lively and performs well with a six of its counterparts; therefore, it needs an aquarium of size 20 gallons. They perform well when the texture of the water is soft and peat filtered. The Black Neon Tetras favor an enclosure with plants and also make use of dark colored gravel.  To obtain the best results from these fish, arrange a biotype aquarium. Provide a few bent roots, driftwood and sand from the river for the substrate. In order to colorize the water to pale brown, add a few dry leaves; regularly change the leaves after some weeks. Provide faint light so that they get best of color.

In the aquarium trade, they are bred in great numbers, which makes it adjustable and they multiply in aquariums that are properly maintained. When the aquarium is filled with thick growth of plants, you can see them well, although they look slightly paler when the decoration is scarce.

Water condition

The Black Neon Tetra is one of the best fish for aquariums if they have sufficient plants and the quality of water is acidic to a certain extent. There is a green-yellow stripe that extends to the whole body and a black portion beneath the green-yellow stripe in the case of the Black Neon Tetra. Actually, it is remarkable to watch the shoal of these fish flit around. The behavior of the Black Neon Tetra though smaller in size when compared to the Neon Tetra and Cardinal Tetra display a behavior akin to children when they are housed in small sets of six or above. These fish are peace loving and do not place them with bigger kinds of fish that have the capacity to eat  them. The pH required for them is 5.5 to 7.5 and also soft to medium.

Nutrition

The Neon Tetras are omnivorous. Though they like most of the varieties of flake food, still, give them tiny food particle, by sticking them to the sides of the aquarium. Food such as like Daphnia, Frozen, Dried Blood Worms, Tubifex, and Shrimp are preferred, Also supplement them with micro pellets along with their food. A tropical pellet that sinks is apt. In addition, the majority of the brands contain color enhancers that project the color of the neon tetras. Certain foods that are frozen food add diversity in their diet, like the frozen blood worms.

Glow light setup

It is advisable to place your fresh Glow light tetras for some weeks in a quarantine tank so that you keep a watch on them prior to launching them in your main aquarium. A good number of the Glow light tetras obtained in the market are raised on the farms; however, they are capable of yet becoming susceptible to the variations in the temperature and pH.  It is better that you take your own time to accommodate them in the water of your main aquarium.  Gradually keep adding a little quantity of your tank water to the bag each 10 minutes to acclimatize them to their future home.

The Black Neon Tetra is a peace loving variety of fish.  Similar to the other type of Tetras the Black Neon Tetra prefers schooling and perform their best when they are in groups of five or above.  A set of this size require an aquarium if around 15 gallons or above. In a peace loving group of fish these Black Neon Tetras are a wonderful addition.  Their preferred mates in the aquarium are the major types of Gouramis, Danios, Rasboras and other types of tetras.  They are also kept along with fish that are peaceful and dwell at the bottom.