How to Care for a Neon Tetra Fish?

Neon fish originate in the Amazon basin in South America. They often live in a sewage environment. In its surroundings, there is much foliage. To have healthy fish we recommend the following:

When choosing the size of the tank remember that they are very active fish and need enough space to move freely, to hide and to swim. The tank should be at least 10 gallons.

The decor is variable, but you can choose plants like the "Amazon sword". There should be no  large fish tank decorations with sharp edges or toxic chemicals. With some artificial plants and fish tank bubbler decoration will work perfectly well.

The floor of the fish tank does not have many specifications, either works well for this species, only takes care of the medium stones or places sand. It is also advisable to choose a substrate of darker color, if very bright can stress the fish.

The Enlightenment must be dim, they do not need to have so much light. For the other elements these fish require a heater that maintains the aquarium at about 72 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. In addition, a filter is needed to provide a home for beneficial bacteria and to aerate and clean the water. A peat filter is a very natural choice for these small tetras as it makes the water little acidic and can induce reproduction.

While the main diet of neon tetras and consists of insects, they should be fed with a variety of other foods as well. This ensures that they stay healthy and well nourished.

How to Choose an Aquarium for a Tropical Fish ?

The first decision you have to make when building your own aquarium is if you want to have freshwater or saltwater fish. It's up to you whether you want one option or the other, but if it's your first fish bowl, then I suggest you start with the fresh ones.

The reason is that saltwater ponds are more expensive and require more care. It has to deal with the salinity level of the water apart from the temperature and other general conditions. That's why freshwater fish are easier to care for if you are new to tropical fish care.

Here you have a number of tips to keep in mind when buying an aquarium:

Location

When deciding the location for your aquarium, remember that it can not be placed in a place where there are direct sun or at any other place that is exposed to changes abrupt temperature fluctuations.

In turn, remember that when you fill your aquarium with water, it will be much heavier. For example, a fish tank of 80 liters full, will weigh more than 100 kilograms. Keep that in mind when choosing the place where you want to place it, since then it will be impossible to move it.

Surface of support

You will need that the surface where it will support the fish tank is leveled. This will avoid fatigue in the material as well as the risk of cracking due to irregularities in the support platform.

Electrical Installation

Make sure your aquarium is located near a power outlet so you can plug in heaters, lights, filters, and pumps .

Accessible

You will need to have easy access to your fish tank to be able to manipulate the heater and oxygen regulator . In turn you will need to have a special place to place a net as well as for the decorative objects you want.

Shape

When choosing the shape of your aquarium, look for it is not very high and yes rather long. This way you will have more place on the surface of the water, which is better for your fish.

Size

It is better to choose a cheap fish tank that has from 35 - 40 liters capacity. Why? Because it is easier to care for a fish in a pond larger than a small one. Whatever type of fish tank you choose, eventually it will accumulate wastes that need cleaning. In a larger tank, such waste, sometimes toxic, has more space to disperse. That implies that the water will remain clean longer and will require that it be cleaned less than what would require a smaller fish tank.

Materials

Tanks may be made of glass or acrylic. Both materials have advantages and disadvantages, but I would advise beginners to start with glass. Why? First because they cost less, second because they do not scratch so easily and third because they only need to be fastened by the edges.

As you will see, you will need to devote time and effort to the task of choosing the right place for your aquarium. All the points mentioned here will influence in one way or another the type of aquarium that you decide to buy.