The "Green Neon Tetra", "Paracheirodon simulans", is closely related to the Neon Tetra, Paracheirodon innesi, and the Cardinal Tetra, Paracheirodon axelrodi. It is not as popular as its two gorgeous cousins although it is also a stunning fish. In our shop, by far the most popular tropical fish is the Neon
Tetra. The Cardinal Tetra is less popular despite being one of the most
beautiful fresh water aquarium fish, its higher price puts some people
off. I would suggest that it is only the existence of its two close
relatives in the aquarium trade that stops the Green Neon tetra being
the most sought after tropical fish.
To my eyes, the Green Neon
Tetra is not very green, but we have to call it something. Other common
names are the "False Neon Tetra" and the "Green Tetra". Other
scientific names that have been used for this fish are "Cheirodon simulans" and "Hyphessobrycon simulans".
If
anything the Green Neon Tetra is slightly smaller even than the Neon
Tetra. Its maximum size is reported to be about one and a half inches
(4cm) long although I have never seen one much over half this size.
The Green Neon Tetra has a more restricted range than the Neon Tetra
although it is not a threatened species in the wild. It comes from The
Rio Negro in Brazil and Colombia, and the upper part of the Orinoco in
Venezuela.
The red section of the Green Neon Tetra is shorter than that of the Neon Tetra, and a lot shorter than the Cardinal Tetra's.
Water Conditions
In
the wild, the Green Neon Tetra comes from very soft, acidic water at a
temperature in the mid to high twenties in degrees C (the seventies in
degrees F). These are the ideal conditions for this fish. It will
adjust to neutral water with some hardness and a temperature of 24 degrees C (75 degrees F) and is fine in a community tank with small peaceful fish.
Avoid
having a filter with excessively strong water intake because this fish
is prone to get sucked in by strong currents, perhaps even more so than the Neon Tetra.
Food
The Green Neon Tetra is an
omnivore and will eat normal fish foods of a suitable size. Small live
food is good as is frozen blood worms.
Companions
The Green Neon Tetra is a schooling fish and the larger the number kept
together the better. If there are not enough Green Neon Tetras to form
a school, they will school with Neon Tetras and Cardinal Tetras.
Other appropriate companions are suitable sized peaceful fish
such as White Cloud Mountain Minnows, Cherry Barbs, Penguin Tetras, Harlequin Rasboras, Guppies, Endlers
Guppies and Corydoras catfish like the Peppered Catfish. If they are in
a reasonable sized aquarium, they should be all right with Siamese Fighting Fish as long as the fighting fish is not one of the few that has learned to catch small fish.
I would be more cautious about putting Green Neon
Tetras with fish like Red Eye Tetras, Silvertip Tetras, Gold Barbs,
Rummy Nose Tetras , Scissortail Rasboras, Lemon Tetras, Emperor Tetras,
Head and Tail Light Tetras, Glass Bloodfin Tetras, Swordtails, Platies,
Mollies, Zebra Danios, Black Widow Tetras, Rosy Barbs, Tiger Barbs,
Paraguay Tetras, Buenos Aires Tetras and Colombian Tetras although they
may well be all right with young ones of these species.
I would not put them with any large or predatory fish.
Sexing
There
is not much difference in appearance between the sexes of this species;
when in breeding condition, the female in broader than the male.
Breeding
Green
Neon Tetras need water similar to the waters they live in in the wild;
extremely soft water with a pH of about 6 and a temperature of around
77 degrees F (25 degrees C). Ideally the water should be highly stained
by the tannins from peat, in subdued light, shaded by plants.
The Green Neon Tetra spawns in a school although in the actual act of
spawning one female may be closely associated with one or more males.
Something like 130 eggs can be laid by each female. The parents
should be removed after spawning. The eggs should hatch in 24 hours.
The eggs are light sensitive so avoid much light.
The
babies are very small and infusoria (protozoa) is necessary early on.
As they grow, this can increasingly be supplemented with fine
commercial fry foods. Green Neon Tetras can breed again after a couple
of weeks.
Pest Fish Although I find it a
little difficult to view the Green Neon Tetra as an environmental
vandal, normal precautions should still be exercised to prevent this
fish getting into waters it is not native to.
Sources
I am grateful to the following places for information about the Green Neon Tetra: The Planted Tank, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology Animal Diversity Web and FishandTips.com.
Steve Challis
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Green Neon Tetra
By Sascha Biedermann (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-2.5 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons
