Black Neon | Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi

Characins / Characinae / Black Neon

Profile: Black Neon
Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi
SYN: None
PD: Laterally compressed body. The back is brownish black to silver, while the belly is silver. A black band extends from the gill cover through the tail. Above is an iridescent green to yellow stripe. The iris is orange to red.
SIZE: To 2" (5 cm)
SS: Flag Tetra ( Hyphessobrycon heterorhabdus), Vilma's Tetra ( H. vilmae)
HAB: South America; Rio Taquari of the Mato Grosso, Brazil
S: bottom, middle
TANK: 20" (50 cm) or 10 gallons (38 L). Arrange the tank in dark colors and provide a cover of floating plants to diffuse the lighting. The tank should be well-planted and open swimming areas should be left. Use a filter that provides a moderate current.
WATER: pH 5-7.5 (6.7); 6-15 dH (8); 75-82°F (24-28°C)
SB: A peaceful community fish that likes to be kept in shoals of five or more fish.
SC: Tetras, Corydoras, Apistogramma, Loricarids, Discus, Colisa.
FOOD: Flake; live; insect larvae-especially black mosquito larvae, Brine Shrimp, Tubifex.
SEX: Mature females have a fuller stomach.
B: If fed with such live foods as black mosquito larvae, they will breed in breeding tank that has water filtered through peat. Remove the parents after spawning. The fry hatch after 36 hours. Start feeding with Paramecia and Brine Shrimp nauplii.
BP: 6. The Black Neon is not a difficult fish to breed.
R: Not closely related to Neon as its name suggests. Named after well-known American Ichthyologist, Dr. Herbert Axelrod.
DC: 3. A hardy fish that requires frequent partial water changes to thrive.