hwofnt
Junior Member
Posts: 43
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Post by hwofnt on Oct 7, 2009 6:24:20 GMT -5
I had no luck with them - in beginner's tank without adjustments. Still curious if they are possible to keep, are they difficult as discus, or cardinal tetras are the more reliable substitute?
I know now that neon tetras require soft water, possibly with blackwater extract (or boiled wood, lignin or something like that - sorry, forgot what it was), possibly cultivating live food, are prone to neon tetra disease and most of them could be not healthy already at the time of arrival to the fish store.
Still, by looks and size, they are fish #1 for 10g tank, not much other fish can fit there, except black-and-white danios.
Your thoughts? Thanks.
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Post by murdock6701 on Oct 7, 2009 9:34:12 GMT -5
zebra danios are nice along w/ silver hatchets and there are a number of small tetras such as the orange flame del rios that work in a 10
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Post by Carl on Oct 7, 2009 9:47:29 GMT -5
My experience with Neon Tetras is that the "source" often determines success, Since most are captive bred (unlike cardinals), they are generally raised in confined spaces with the possibility of multiple disease pathogen exposure. As well because they are captive bred, the importance of soft water is often over-rated; generally keeping your chemistry stable, a balanced Redox, and adequate filtration (along with UV Sterilization) will provide for long term health of Neon Tetras providing you start with good stock. Carl
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Post by Suzie Q (Lori) on Oct 8, 2009 11:06:31 GMT -5
My experience with Neon Tetras is that the "source" often determines success, Since most are captive bred (unlike cardinals), they are generally raised in confined spaces with the possibility of multiple disease pathogen exposure. As well because they are captive bred, the importance of soft water is often over-rated; generally keeping your chemistry stable, a balanced Redox, and adequate filtration (along with UV Sterilization) will provide for long term health of Neon Tetras providing you start with good stock. Carl Carl...I was told that Neons were wild caught and that was were the problem lies...that it was hard to acclimate them to "tank" water. hmmmm good to know that is not the case. I have 3 or 4 neons that came with the 75g and they are happy and healthy. I am afraid to add anymore to the tank because I have always been told "buy 20 and enjoy the 5 that make it"... Anyway...glad to know that if I want to add more that it won't be such an issue. I also have 2 (lost 1 the other day) zebra Danio's too
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hwofnt
Junior Member
Posts: 43
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Post by hwofnt on Oct 9, 2009 9:01:34 GMT -5
Same was with me, after the only 5-6 that I had didn't make it How many neon tetras or danio with other fishes could do well in 10g tank? Thanks, everybody, very educative thread.
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Post by Suzie Q (Lori) on Oct 12, 2009 10:27:27 GMT -5
If it is JUST neons...then 10 to 15 with the proper filtration. You MAY be able to go 20 but I'd stick closer to the 10-15...the neons I have are much larger then I thought they got...like right at 1inch..I thought they stayed at around 3/4 inch. If you are looking for colorful fish for a 10g...you can go with Endler's live bearers...seriously!!! I have probably close to 75 in a 10g heavily planted tank...I also have about the same in Red Cherry Shrimp. The males get to be about 1/2 inch and the females get about 3/4 inch. I don't know why/how these fish are able to survive and not make the water nasty but they are healthy and happily reproducing. Anyway just a thought...if you want to see what a "Peacock Endler" looks like...go to my site ( overacoppermoon.com). IF you decide to go with these fish over tetra then find a breeder online and ask if they are "True Endler's"...lots of hybrid (Endler/guppy cross) out there and what I have said does not apply to them. Anyway...good luck with which ever you decide ...now I'm thinking I will get more neon's for the 75g (our local petstore sometimes runs a 10 for 10 on neons )
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Post by babygeige on Oct 13, 2009 19:50:00 GMT -5
White Clouds are good 10 gallon fishes. They are pretty and not as demanding as neons
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Post by Suzie Q (Lori) on Oct 14, 2009 13:45:41 GMT -5
White Clouds are good 10 gallon fishes. They are pretty and not as demanding as neons I forgot about White Clouds!!!
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Post by parker002 on Jun 9, 2010 11:17:43 GMT -5
Sorry to dredge up an old topic, but I thought it was more courteous than starting a new thread.
My wife bought some "replacement" fish at Petco because we had lost some mollies. She bought 3 long-fin danios and 5 neon tetras.
We're now 4 days in and all 3 danios are doing great. However, the neon tetras have not fared nearly as well. 3 of them are dead and in my freezer. Only one of them is completely unharmed, so I'm not certain as to cause of death. The other two are missing quite a bit of tissue due to the other fish.
Are neon tetras just fragile?
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Post by Carl on Jun 10, 2010 10:20:43 GMT -5
I have found that Neons can be quite fragile, but this often depends upon the source and care given in acclimation (this includes acclimation prior to purchase by the hobbyist aquarium keeper) As well Neons tend to be more susceptible to many infections that other fish are not so much susceptible to such as a Sporozoan infection dubbed "Neon Tetra Disease"Carl
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Post by parker002 on Jun 15, 2010 22:20:44 GMT -5
The lady at the LFS said neon tetras have been inbred for so long that they often just aren't very hardy. I got some of these instead: They have the same metallic glow to them but completely red - no blue.
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Post by Carl on Jun 16, 2010 9:52:44 GMT -5
This appears to be a "Glo-Lite" Tetra. Very similar to the Neon, but I will agree is less fragile.
Carl
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Post by goldenpuon on Jun 16, 2010 11:22:10 GMT -5
Just curious but are other species of tetras like Glo-Lites and Black Phantom Tetras also prone to Neon Tetra disease or are Neons the only one?
Sorry for getting off track in this treat. I just thought it would be better to post it here than starting a new thread because we are already on the topic on Neon Tetras.
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Post by Carl on Jun 16, 2010 13:06:01 GMT -5
All tetras can get this, but based on my experience (non controlled though), the glo-lite is more susceptible maybe due more similarity, but this is just conjecture on my part.
Carl
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Post by parker002 on Jun 16, 2010 16:30:33 GMT -5
This appears to be a "Glo-Lite" Tetra. Very similar to the Neon, but I will agree is less fragile. Carl That's exactly what they are. VERY similar to the neon in terms of their almost phosphorescent color - it's just not blue. They're also considerably bigger than a standard neon tetra, they're between 1 and 1.5 inches. Just curious but are other species of tetras like Glo-Lites and Black Phantom Tetras also prone to Neon Tetra disease or are Neons the only one? Sorry for getting off track in this treat. I just thought it would be better to post it here than starting a new thread because we are already on the topic on Neon Tetras. The article Carl linked says that all tetra species are susceptible, as are danios. So I would assume these guys would be as well. The difference between these and neon tetras would be that their from less screwed-up genetic stock, so they're less prone to all of the other maladies a fish can get. And they're just hardier in general. All tetras can get this, but based on my experience (non controlled though), the glo-lite is more susceptible maybe due more similarity, but this is just conjecture on my part. Carl How common is it anyway?
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Post by Carl on Jun 16, 2010 19:29:34 GMT -5
Based on "house calls" I made over the years as well as questions, I think Neon Tetra Disease get blamed far too often for other issues, whether it is FNT disease, Saprolegnia, fluke, or quite often ammonia poisoning is the real culprit.
With good stock, and healthy aquarium maintenance procedures (the more the better), I have found it quite rare. I have not had a personal case in years and even with my full contract maintenance customers it was extremely rare. Most cases were from "occasional" customers or "one time" service clients (fish "doctor" calls) as well as poor stock that was received by me.
The short answer being not all that common IMO.
Carl
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Post by parker002 on Jun 16, 2010 20:54:25 GMT -5
Based on "house calls" I made over the years as well as questions, I think Neon Tetra Disease get blamed far too often for other issues, whether it is FNT disease, Saprolegnia, fluke, or quite often ammonia poisoning is the real culprit. With good stock, and healthy aquarium maintenance procedures (the more the better), I have found it quite rare. I have not had a personal case in years and even with my full contract maintenance customers it was extremely rare. Most cases were from "occasional" customers or "one time" service clients (fish "doctor" calls) as well as poor stock that was received by me. The short answer being not all that common IMO. Carl If that's the case, then getting hardier species like the Glo-Lite seems like it would be a bigger benefit, since they're better able to tolerate more common problems...
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Post by angelminx on Jul 8, 2014 1:00:59 GMT -5
When I was growing up, we had cardinals at one time, but I don't remember much about the situation with them; but we never had problems with the neons--this was in the '60's. I remember in the early '8o's, when I was a groomer at a pet store in San Diego, we didn't have as much of a problem, either, and you could get 20 for $1! After I moved to Illinois, I wasn't able to keep neons for anything--and you had to buy them individually.
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