Gold Neon Tetra

 Quick Care Facts

• Care Level: Easy   • Temperament: Peaceful   • Maximum Size: 1.5"
• Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallons   • Water Conditions: 68-76° F, KH 4-8, pH 5.0-7.0
• Diet: Omnivore   • Origin: South America   • Family: Characidae
• Species: Tetras   • Aquarium Type: Community

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Neon Tetras originate from the streams and flooded woodlands of South America. They are a relatively small fish, but are very impressive when kept in medium to large schools. The Gold Neon Tetra is a selectively bred variant of the common Neon Tetra, where breeders have accentuated the opalescent qualities of the fish. Gold Neon Tetras has a golden colored body, but maintain the horizontal blue and red stripes running the length of the body.

These stripes are more subdued in the Gold Neon Tetra, with the blue stripe being a more pale blue and a red stripe visible just beneath the goldish hue of the body. The contrast of colors a school of Gold Neon Tetra produce under the bright aquarium lighting is truly an impressive sight.

Neons do very well in most community tropical freshwater aquariums, where their tank mates are of similar calm disposition and are not large enough to see the Neon as food. Neons prefer to be kept in an aquarium with plenty of plants and driftwood to afford them protection when they feel threatened. It is best to keep neons in water that is slightly acidic and has stable pH and temperature.

Be careful not to keep Gold Neon Tetras with Angelfish, Bala Sharks or similar larger semi-aggressive community species, as they will often prey on the small Gold Neon Tetras during the night while they are asleep. Gold Neons are not picky eaters as they will accept a variety of flake, frozen and live meaty foods.

Gold Neon Tetra will consume a wide variety of meaty and vegetable based foods. The foods should be small in size as the Gold Neon Tetra only grow to about 1 to 1.5 inches in length. A varied diet of crushed staple flake foods, freeze-dried or frozen worms, micro pellets, brine shrimp or mysis shrimp will provide the Gold Neon Tetra with enough vitamins and minerals to maintain a healthy immune system. Being a small fish they cannot eat large meals, thus they need to be fed small meals 2 to 3 times per day.