What size school of neon tetras should I order?

Ten is the working minimum, 15-20 is where they properly come alive. Small groups hide and wash out; a real school shoals tightly, swims boldly in open water, and the blue stripe glows visibly brighter. In a 40-litre tank or larger, more is always better.

What's the difference between neon and cardinal tetras?

On a neon the red stripe runs only the rear half of the body; on a cardinal it runs nose to tail. Neons are the hardier of the two and happy slightly cooler (20-26°C), while cardinals prefer warmer, softer water. Both must be kept in schools.

Are neon tetras good for beginners?

Yes, with one rule: never make them the first fish in a new tank. Neons are sensitive to the ammonia swings of an uncycled setup. Cycle the tank, run it a few weeks with hardier fish or fishless, then add the school — kept this way they're genuinely easy.

What fish can live with neon tetras?

Small, peaceful company: rasboras, ember tetras, corydoras, otocinclus, cherry shrimp and honey gouramis all work well. Avoid adult angelfish — in the wild, neon-sized characins are literally what they eat — and any fish with a mouth big enough to try.

Neon Tetra for Sale UK

Neon Tetra (Paracheirodon innesi) for sale UK. Vibrant schooling fish perfect for community aquariums. Live arrival guarantee.

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Match adult size, water needs and social behaviour
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2 products

Close side view of a Neon Tetra showing the blue stripe and red rear body

Moderate

Neon Tetra (Paracheirodon innesi)

20–26°C

£2.99

Easy

Diamond Neon Tetra (Paracheirodon innesi)

20–26°C · pH 5–7.5 · 40L

£4.99

Before you choose from this collection

Captive-bred neon tetras (Paracheirodon innesi) plus the gold and diamond colour variants, sold individually so you can order exactly the school size you want. The blue-and-red shoal that defines the planted community tank.

One honest caveat: neons want a mature, fully cycled tank — adding them to a brand-new setup is the single most common way they're lost. Get the tank settled first, then add a proper school of ten or more at 20-26°C, and they'll reward you for years.

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Frequently asked questions

From about £2.40 per fish, with gold and diamond variants slightly higher. Since neons must live in schools of ten or more, budget for the full group up front — a school of 10-15 is the standard order, and mixed sizes settle in together without any trouble.

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