Neon Tetra or Black Neon Tetra?

Caliban

Hello, folks. I'm planning what to do with a 15 gallons substrate planted tank once I get it going... it may take a while. My thought is to have a neon tetra based community tank. Would I be better off with black neons? What may make a good companion fish for both? I'd like to have at least 2 kinds of fish in the tank, 3 if it can be done in a way that will keep the fish happy. I've never kept tetras before, and my water tends to have a high pH, 7.6 or higher if it goes untreated. Thoughts?

ElectricBlueJackDempsey

its pretty much up to you. I would prefer Black Neons because the standard neons seemed to be over used.

Caliban

I have heard neon tetras have become weaker in general due to a lot of inbreeding. Are black neons any hardier?

fish joey

hey me again...I have neons, celestial pearl danios and otos

Byron

You can browse the fish profiles for suitable fish for your water parameters; second tab from the left in the blue bar across the top of the screen takes you to the profiles. Tetra are under "characins." Info on how many to have, tank minimum size, water parameters, compatibility, etc.

Marginatus

I would go with Cardinal Tetras, larger and more colouful.

I would also stick with just one species of shoaling Fish as they tend to shoal better like that.

AaronCombs

I've had several species of schooling fish in a tank... Tetra's, danio's mostly without problems.

I think a great option for you though, if you can find them that is... your tetra's black or neon your call, with endler's livebearers. Both have lots of color and are active.

Check them out see your thoughts.

Caliban

Hey guys! Seems I was accidentally unsubscribed from my own thread! So, I just discovered people had been responding :). I really like cardinals. My new plan includes guppies, however, and I've heard cardinals can fin nip with them. I am willing to nix the guppies, however, for the right tetra combo that can handle a higher pH. I have been researching in various places, but there's so much conflicting info... one site says cardinals are compatible with guppies... another says they aren't because they nip. One site says neons are tolerant of pH, another says they require 7.0 or lower. I'm tryin to err on the side of caution, but that limits my options a great deal. I have a while yet, before I have to decide. I'm starting to substrate plant the tank now, and due to various and sundry things it will probably be a few months at least before I start thinking about stocking it. I would like two kinds of fish. However if it were a really fantastic tetra to watch all by itself that could stand out in a heavily planted tank...

AaronCombs

neon's can be in a huge range, that includes those up over 7.0... I think the max for them is 8.0 or there around it.

Caliban

That's encouraging. I really adore them, but I'd been hearing that they could be sensitive to high pH. I know they're "common," but I've never had fish before (aside from my new betta), so they're still novel to me. They're so bright and zippy!