Fish like neon are very popular. It is not difficult to look after them, they will get along well with the rest of your aquarium favorites. Why not decorate a home aquarium with such colorful representatives of the aquatic world?
Features of Neon
The natural habitat is in the waters of Kolymbia, South America, Brazil, Peru. They like pure soft water with an impressive amount of vegetation. Fish size 1.5-4 cm received its name due to the bright blue-blue stripes along almost the entire body. On the sides the body is fleshy, long - elongated.
Neon are quite mobile inhabitants of the aquarium, preferring to live in a pack (5-10 individuals) than in solitude. In addition, against the background of green algae, the color looks even more impressive. For aquariums bred black, red and blue neon. The process of reproduction is very complex. To distinguish a male from a female is not easy, the latter usually have fuller tummies. This difference can be seen in adult fish.
Neon - conditions of detention
Neon fish in nursing are very unpretentious. The optimal temperature of the neon content reaches 18-24 degrees. With proper care, their age reaches 4 years. Remember that the increased water temperature in the aquarium will accelerate the metabolism of these animals, which will reduce their life to 1.5 years. It is also a signal that these cold-blooded individuals should not settle with tropical representatives.
Small sizes allow to settle these fish even in small-sized aquariums. It is advisable to change the water weekly, the most suitable hardness is 4 DH, that is, the water should be soft. A liquid of a hard type causes disturbances in the skin, provokes premature death.
Take care of the presence of green plants. To make the content of neon in the aquarium as comfortable as possible, it is recommended to add a dark soil there . First, you bring home conditions closer to natural ones, and secondly, a bright color will be better to stand out against a dark background. Preferably the top is weak lighting.
Experts recommend using a peat filter, you can add peat filtrate. Installation should not work at maximum, creating a violent flow. The presence of calm zones is necessary, since these fish are accustomed to live at depth without strong currents. Turn off the aeration if there are live plants in the tank. Transportation of new pets from the pet store or any other stressful situation will temporarily reduce the brightness of the neon strips on the body, after a while it will recover.
As for the feed, it should be shallow so that the fish does not choke. The food should be both dry and alive. In natural conditions, neons prefer to eat insects and very small crustaceans. Daphnia, small bloodworm, mosquito larvae, frozen cyclops are suitable for aquarium conditions. Good "goes" and dry flaky food. Feed the adult brood once a day. Neons are prone to obesity, so do not fatten pets. At least once a week it is useful to arrange a full unloading.
Pay attention to such an item as the content of the neon with other fish. As already mentioned, they are not too comfortable with tropical individuals. Do not populate large fish, since the "neon" young can go to their food. Predators like a green tetradon, a mecherote, will not accurately miss a potential dinner past the mouth. A large fish as neighbors is allowed, but it should not be predatory. For example, peacefully you can get along with the scalars. A flock of neon will make friends with danios, swordsmen, iris, cardinals, pecilia, tetrami and barbs.
Such a colorful fish, like neon, will please your look and will not cause any special trouble to the owners.