1 kinds · tap one for a closer look
Peaceful, shy schooler of the mid-water; best in a dim, planted tank with other small peaceful fish.
189 species in our list are a good match.
Peaceful, shy schooler of the mid-water; best in a dim, planted tank with other small peaceful fish.
Micro-pellets, fine flakes and small frozen foods such as daphnia and baby brine shrimp.
Tap a food to see what it is.
Mature females are a little larger and noticeably rounder-bodied than males.
Common problems. Tap one to see the signs. This is a guide, not a diagnosis.
Egg-scatterer (rarely bred) · Hard
Rarely bred; not bred commercially, so most fish sold are wild-caught. Spawns better in a group than in pairs.
Needs a large group in mature, stable conditions; pairing is hard to control.
Roomy, planted tank with very soft acidic water (pH 5-6.5), subdued light and fine-leaved plants or a spawning mat.
Rain-season style changes: soft cool water changes, a small temperature rise and heavy live feeding.
About 130 eggs per spawning; fry hatch in about 24 hours.
Infusoria then brine shrimp nauplii; survival is poor without very clean water.
Native to blackwater tributaries of the upper Rio Negro and upper Orinoco in Brazil, Venezuela and Colombia; a smaller relative of the neon tetra, described by Géry in 1963.
French ichthyologist Jacques Géry described this fish in 1963, originally in the genus Hyphessobrycon. It was later moved to Paracheirodon alongside the neon and cardinal tetras. Its glowing blue-green stripe runs the full length of the body.
First described by Jacques Géry in 1963. Named for 'simulans' means imitating, for its likeness to the neon tetra.
17 facts checked with sources
Author (Géry, 1963); originally described as Hyphessobrycon simulans. In the trade it is sometimes sold as 'false neon tetra' or 'blue neon tetra' (Seriously Fish); it is easily confused with the neon tetra (P. innesi). Golden 'platinum'/'gold' wild fish are the same species (Seriously Fish attributes the colour to a parasite).
FishBase: Paracheirodon simulans, Green neon tetra · Seriously Fish: Paracheirodon simulans (Green Neon Tetra)Recent rename: Melo et al. 2024 split the old Characidae; FishBase now places Paracheirodon in Acestrorhamphidae (subfamily Megalamphodinae). Seriously Fish still says Characidae. Suggest 'Acestrorhamphidae (American tetras; formerly Characidae)'.
FishBase: Paracheirodon simulans, Green neon tetraBoth sources give SL (standard length, no tail): Seriously Fish 2.5 cm SL, FishBase 2.0 cm SL. Seriously Fish's figure recorded. Legacy 3 cm is plausible only as a total length.
Seriously Fish: Paracheirodon simulans (Green Neon Tetra) · FishBase: Paracheirodon simulans, Green neon tetraSeriously Fish (preferred for husbandry) 24-27; FishBase 23-27. Both top out at 27, below legacy 28. Seriously Fish notes wild temperatures of 24.6-35.2 °C.
Seriously Fish: Paracheirodon simulans (Green Neon Tetra) · FishBase: Paracheirodon simulans, Green neon tetraSeriously Fish (preferred) 3.0-6.5; FishBase narrower 5.5-6.0. Legacy upper value 7 is above both. Blackwater species.
Seriously Fish: Paracheirodon simulans (Green Neon Tetra) · FishBase: Paracheirodon simulans, Green neon tetraNew value (legacy had none). Seriously Fish 1-8 dGH; FishBase gives dH up to 4.
Seriously Fish: Paracheirodon simulans (Green Neon Tetra) · FishBase: Paracheirodon simulans, Green neon tetra45 x 30 cm footprint x 30 cm height = 40.5 L. Legacy 40 L matches.
Seriously Fish: Paracheirodon simulans (Green Neon Tetra)Legacy 10 is within the 8-10 minimum.
Seriously Fish: Paracheirodon simulans (Green Neon Tetra)No lifespan in FishBase, Seriously Fish or ADW (ADW says it has not been reported).
Animal Diversity Web (University of Michigan): Paracheirodon simulansSeriously Fish advises a species tank or very small, calm companions.
Seriously Fish: Paracheirodon simulans (Green Neon Tetra)FishBase 'pelagic' = open water rather than bottom; consistent with a mid-water schooler. Seriously Fish does not state a zone.
FishBase: Paracheirodon simulans, Green neon tetraSeriously Fish care rating 'Moderate'; it 'needs a well-established tank and stable water'.
Seriously Fish: Paracheirodon simulans (Green Neon Tetra)Legacy had range only in 'about' text (see story). Seriously Fish: middle-upper Rio Negro above the Rio Branco mouth, and the Orinoco between San Fernando de Atabapo and the Río Meta mouth.
FishBase: Paracheirodon simulans, Green neon tetra · Seriously Fish: Paracheirodon simulans (Green Neon Tetra)Body shape claim supported; the 'straight stripe' in males is not mentioned by the source.
Seriously Fish: Paracheirodon simulans (Green Neon Tetra)Seriously Fish has no reproduction section. 'Egg scatterer' is not stated by these sources.
Seriously Fish: Paracheirodon simulans (Green Neon Tetra) · FishBase: Paracheirodon simulans, Green neon tetraWeak source: ADW's wording ('neon tetras') may be generalised from Paracheirodon innesi. Treat as provisional; FishBase and Seriously Fish give no egg counts.
Animal Diversity Web (University of Michigan): Paracheirodon simulansSmaller than neon tetra: 2.5 cm SL vs 3.0 cm SL for P. innesi (Seriously Fish). Described as Hyphessobrycon simulans by Géry, 1963.
FishBase: Paracheirodon simulans, Green neon tetra · Seriously Fish: Paracheirodon simulans (Green Neon Tetra)