Albino Neon Tetra Care Guide
If you are looking for a peaceful, eye catching schooling fish for your community aquarium, Albino Neon Tetras are an excellent choice. Their pale bodies and bright reflective stripe make them particularly attractive in planted aquariums.
At Friendly Fish Aquatics in Harlow, Essex, we regularly stock Albino Neon Tetras and have created this simple care guide to help you keep them healthy and thriving in your aquarium.
Albino Neon Tetra Quick Facts
Scientific name: Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi
Common name: Albino Neon Tetra / White Neon Tetra / Albino Black Neon Tetra
Adult size: Around 3–4 cm
Temperature: 22–26°C
Temperament: Peaceful
Group size: 6+, ideally 8–12+
Minimum aquarium: Around 60 cm long
Diet: Omnivore
Swimming area: Mainly middle levels
Community suitable: Yes
Beginner suitable: Yes
Overview
Albino Neon Tetras, sometimes sold as White Neon Tetras, are an albino colour form of the Black Neon Tetra (Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi).
They have a pale, almost translucent body with a bright reflective horizontal stripe. Under aquarium lighting this stripe can appear almost white and gives a group of these fish a particularly striking appearance.
Despite their name, they aren’t an albino form of the standard Neon Tetra (Paracheirodon innesi).
They are small, peaceful schooling fish and are particularly well suited to planted community aquariums.
Identification
Albino Neon Tetras are easy to recognise thanks to their:
- Pale, almost translucent body
- Bright reflective horizontal stripe
- Pale or pinkish eyes associated with the albino colour form
- Small, streamlined tetra body shape
Their reflective stripe can look particularly impressive against plants, dark substrates and subdued aquarium lighting.
Tank Size
An aquarium around 60 cm long or larger is recommended for a small school, giving them sufficient open space for swimming while still allowing room for planted areas.
Because they are schooling fish, they should always be kept in a group rather than individually.
A minimum of six is recommended, although groups of 8–12 or more generally look better and allow the fish to display more natural behaviour.
Water Conditions
Typical care guidelines are:
- Temperature: 22–26°C
- pH: Around 6.0–7.5
- Water hardness: Soft to moderate
The fish we sell have been gradually acclimatised to our local water conditions. This can make the transition into aquariums using similar local tap water easier than fish arriving directly from much softer water.
Stable water conditions and good aquarium maintenance are more important than trying to constantly adjust the water to achieve an exact pH value.
Plants, driftwood and natural botanicals can also help create the shaded environment these fish enjoy.
Natural Habitat
The Black Neon Tetra, from which the albino colour form originates, is native to South America, particularly the Paraguay River basin in Brazil.
Its natural environment includes slow-moving waters with vegetation and areas shaded by surrounding plant growth.
A planted aquarium with a combination of shelter and open swimming space therefore suits these fish particularly well.
Setting Up the Fish Tank
Albino Neon Tetras thrive in aquariums that provide a balance of open swimming space and planted areas.
A good setup can include:
- Open mid-water swimming areas
- Dense plants around the sides and back
- Driftwood or other natural decorations
- Floating plants to provide areas of subdued lighting
Suitable easy-care aquarium plants include:
- Java Fern
- Anubias
- Cryptocoryne species
- Hygrophila
A darker background or substrate can also provide a nice contrast against their pale colouring.
Diet & Feeding
Albino Neon Tetras are omnivores and should be offered a varied diet.
A good-quality tropical flake or micro pellet can form the basis of their diet, supplemented with small frozen or live foods such as daphnia, brine shrimp, Cyclops and small bloodworm.
Because these are small fish with small mouths, make sure the food offered is appropriately sized.
Feed small amounts that the fish can comfortably consume rather than allowing excess food to settle in the aquarium.
Tank Mates
Albino Neon Tetras are peaceful community fish and can live alongside many other appropriately sized, non-aggressive species.
Suitable tank mates can include:
- Other peaceful tetras
- Rasboras
- Corydoras catfish
- Kuhli Loaches
- Small peaceful Gouramis
- Otocinclus
Avoid keeping them with large or aggressive fish that may bully them or see these small tetras as food.
Behaviour and Group Size
Albino Neon Tetras are schooling fish and should always be kept in groups.
A group of at least six is recommended, although we prefer to see them kept in groups of 8–12 or more where aquarium size allows.
Larger groups can help the fish feel more secure and create a much more impressive display, particularly when they swim together through the middle levels of a planted aquarium.
Frequently Asked Questions About Albino Neon Tetras
Are Albino Neon Tetras aggressive?
No. Albino Neon Tetras are peaceful fish and are generally very well suited to community aquariums containing other small, non-aggressive species.
How many Albino Neon Tetras should I keep?
Keep at least six together. Where aquarium space allows, a group of 8–12 or more can provide more natural behaviour and a more impressive display.
What size aquarium do Albino Neon Tetras need?
An aquarium around 60 cm long or larger is recommended for a small school.
Can Albino Neon Tetras live with other tetras?
Yes. They can live with many other peaceful tetra species provided the aquarium is large enough and their water and temperature requirements are compatible.
Can Albino Neon Tetras live with Corydoras?
Yes. Corydoras can make excellent tank mates. The tetras mainly occupy the middle areas of the aquarium while Corydoras spend much of their time around the bottom.
Are Albino Neon Tetras good for beginners?
Yes. In a properly cycled and maintained aquarium, they can be a good choice for beginners looking for a small peaceful schooling fish.
Are Albino Neon Tetras the same as normal Neon Tetras?
No. Despite the name, the Albino Neon Tetras commonly sold in the hobby are an albino colour form of the Black Neon Tetra (Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi), rather than an albino version of the standard Neon Tetra.
Our Fishkeeping Tip
We find Albino Neon Tetras look particularly impressive when kept in a larger group. Although six is a sensible minimum, a group of 8–12 or more, where aquarium space allows, creates a much more noticeable display.
Plants, darker backgrounds and areas of subdued lighting can also provide a great contrast against their pale bodies and reflective stripe.
About Our Fish
Fish sold at Friendly Fish Aquatics go through our quarantine process before being offered for sale. Our tropical fish shop in Harlow has more than 100 aquariums with individually filtered sales tanks, and we specialise in tropical community fish.
Looking for Albino Neon Tetras?
We regularly stock Albino Neon Tetras at Friendly Fish Aquatics in Harlow, Essex. Our fish are quarantined and acclimatised to local water conditions before being offered for sale.
See our Albino Neon Tetras currently in store, or visit us in Harlow for advice on whether they’re suitable for your aquarium.