Arrrgggghhhh. Need Advice On Neon Tetras

[sneezy]

I'm currently doing a fishless cycle and I was intending to stock with Neon tetras, white cloud minnows left over from my coldwater tank and male guppies but I've read a few things saying that neons need a mature tank.

Do i really have to wait 6 months before adding them? Also don't you have to fully stock a tank after fishless cycling, meaning I'll have to put something in instead of the neons.

I had my heart set of neons because I've only got a 15 gallon so am a bit limited anyway

Many Thanks

 

[hyak2]

I'm currently doing a fishless cycle and I was intending to stock with Neon tetras, white cloud minnows left over from my coldwater tank and male guppies but I've read a few things saying that neons need a mature tank.

Do i really have to wait 6 months before adding them? Also don't you have to fully stock a tank after fishless cycling, meaning I'll have to put something in instead of the neons.

I had my heart set of neons because I've only got a 15 gallon so am a bit limited anyway

Many Thanks

Hi there

Mature tanks are better for most tetras but still, 6 months is a bit excessive! Perhaps a more delicate species like cardinals could do with a mature tank of at least 3 months plus though. Neon tetras should be fine in you new tank should you wish to put them in soon after the cycle is done, some shops even put down on their labels that they are suitable for NEW tanks to do a fish in cycle , and I do know people who have done this successfully and not lost ANY whatsoever in the process.

You don't HAVE to fully stock you tank after the fishless cycle ends, you can put in (say) half the fish and then add slowly a few fish at a time over the coming weeks/months if you want to, but remember to keep testing the water. YOur tank can support the full load of fish after the cycle ends but if you only put a few fish in, the bacteria will scale back to accomodate the amount of bacteria there is food for (ie fish waste), so then you have to add new fish slowly to allow the filter bacteria to catch up after each new batch.

If you are worried you could put the other fish in then wait and put the neons in at a later date.....but you definately DON'T have to wait 6 months!

good luck

 

[tenohfive]

Read these forums for any length of time and you'll see stories of neon's dropping like flies after being added straight after cycling. Personally I'd advise waiting a couple of months, and seeing what some of the guys on here who've been posting for years and have post counts of 1000+ say.

 

[backtotropical]

Neon tetras should be fine in you new tank should you wish to put them in soon after the cycle is done

I disagree. Neons get incorrectly labelled as 'hardy' by many an LFS and some aquarists.

Neons are actually very sensitive fish and definitely do require a mature tank to give them the best chance of survival. I would advise you to wait at least 3 months before adding Neons. 6 months is preferable, but 3 months should be ok, assuming you don't have any problems with your water quality in those 3 months.

Hope this helps.

Cheers

BTT

 

[Miss Wiggle]

I agree with BTT, you are in a slightly unfortunate predicament though in that you're gonna stock with your existing WCMM's, neons and guppies. Both neons and guppies are weak from years of inbreeding and neither are suitable for newly cycled tanks. Personally I would just add the WCMM's and then leave the tank to mature for a few months before adding anything else.

Read these forums for any length of time and you'll see stories of neon's dropping like flies after being added straight after cycling. Personally I'd advise waiting a couple of months, and seeing what some of the guys on here who've been posting for years and have post counts of 1000+ say.

While I agree with you, having a big post count does not mean you are knowledgeable or right. There's a few people been on this forum over the years with massive post counts because they post inane drivel or absolutle rubbish advice all day every day......

 

[dazza2123]

Guess i got lucky with my neon tetras

I got 5 of them 4 days after i got the tank after bad advice from a LFS

But mine all survied

I must now be a good owner
or id like to think so

 

[martyn21uk]

There's a few people been on this forum over the years with massive post counts because they post inane drivel or absolutle rubbish advice all day every day......

So true...

 

[Miss Wiggle]

There's a few people been on this forum over the years with massive post counts because they post inane drivel or absolutle rubbish advice all day every day......

So true...

Just look at me as an example, i post loads and I talk utter rubbish plenty of the time, just ask my other half

 

[tenohfive]

While I agree with you, having a big post count does not mean you are knowledgeable or right. There's a few people been on this forum over the years with massive post counts because they post inane drivel or absolutle rubbish advice all day every day......

Agreed, theres a measure of discretion in there. But its a basic yard stick that I use (being new here myself) to work out who knows what-with the caveat that I ignore people who just dish out decree's when answering a question, rather explaining their answer

 

[jacko9901]

after i added my first fish i was told by my LF's to wait for 6 weeks before adding any neons. they survived for 3 quarters of a year and then they was all killed off in a massive disease.

 

[deucebrennan]

Neon tetras should be fine in you new tank should you wish to put them in soon after the cycle is done

I disagree. Neons get incorrectly labelled as 'hardy' by many an LFS and some aquarists.

Neons are actually very sensitive fish and definitely do require a mature tank to give them the best chance of survival. I would advise you to wait at least 3 months before adding Neons. 6 months is preferable, but 3 months should be ok, assuming you don't have any problems with your water quality in those 3 months.

Hope this helps.

Cheers

BTT

NEONS & CARDINALS are both very popular fish and end up being inbread and a bit weak and spazzy. Lots tend to die cos they are not as strong as they should be. If your LFS sells good quality health fish then you should have no worries. Luckily for me mine is great! I put 10 cardionalS into my vision 180 as soon as it cycled and they are still going strong with no losses. They have been in there for 3 months now. If your fish shop is a good one then a well cycled tank is fine. if they are a bit dodgy then they will need a mature tank.

my tank stats
ammonia 0ppm
Nitrite 0ppm
Nitrate 40ppm
Ph 7.4

REMEMBER: Its all a bit of gamble cos lfs dont alway get their fish from the same suppliers. you could end up with a batch of crappy tetras

Good luck

 

[ziouxpioux]

BTT
[/quote]

NEONS & CARDINALS are both very popular fish and end up being inbread and a bit weak and spazzy. Lots tend to die cos they are not as strong as they should be. If your LFS sells good quality health fish then you should have no worries. Luckily for me mine is great! I put 10 cardionalS into my vision 180 as soon as it cycled and they are still going strong with no losses. They have been in there for 3 months now. If your fish shop is a good one then a well cycled tank is fine. if they are a bit dodgy then they will need a mature tank.

my tank stats
ammonia 0ppm
Nitrite 0ppm
Nitrate 40ppm
Ph 7.4

REMEMBER: Its all a bit of gamble cos lfs dont alway get their fish from the same suppliers. you could end up with a batch of crappy tetras

Good luck
[/quote]

What is the main difference between Neons and Cardinals.
Which is the hardiest in ideal conditions,
Which is the least nippy
AND finally - are either less or more nippy in say schools of 10 or more??

Tanks a plenty! Karen Campbell

PS the statements about the inbreeding of these fishes sure makes sense. I can remember decades ago where they were a hardy, great beginner's fish, practically no losses. NOW WOWZER I bought some for a 10 gal about a year ago and lost everyone of them, I decided it was the age of the tank. But prob a combo of tank age and inbreeding. ???

 

[simon10]

Hi i was thinking about putting neon tetras in my new tank, wen it is cycled i was thinkin about putting in some glowlight tatras then some pentazona barbs, then some neon tetra? any good?

 

[waterdrop]

Hi i was thinking about putting neon tetras in my new tank, wen it is cycled i was thinkin about putting in some glowlight tatras then some pentazona barbs, then some neon tetra? any good?

Sounds ok to me. Sequence of introduction sounds right in terms of hardiness. Pentazonas are supposed to be a lot more gentle than tigers, so hopefully they won't nip the glowlights or the neons.

~~~waterdrop~~

 

[twin54]

A little while back in the fish emergency area I posted for help because I came home to a tank that was cycleing being filled with 13 neons by my fiance! Well an update on that is 12 of them are still here alive and well (1 was too small and got sucked into the filter ). HOWEVER over the time that it took the tank to cycle I had MANY (I can remember 9 times min) Emergency water changes! I woudl come home form work, or go out at night only to come back to see all my neons looking washed out and some of them having a hard time to not go belly up! I would do 50% water changes in a hurry and that is the only reason I still have them!

If you dont like the idea of emergency waterchanges, daily testing of water up to 2 times(after the emergency interventions) etc then do yourself and the fish a favor and just wait to make sure its established! As well the best recomendation I can give is gradually add them! Though they like to schoal and should be in larger groups they prefer quality water > everythign else