Red neon: description of fish, maintenance and breeding

Breeding of various fish is very popular. But not all species of aquarium animals are so easy to handle. The red neon fish definitely deserves attention - you just need to know its specifics.

Red neon is one of the most beautiful and sought-after aquarium fish. Its beauty is best revealed in a group that lives in an abundantly overgrown aquarium. There, these flocks will look as attractive as possible. Red differs from the representative of the same biological group - ordinary neon - by a large colored stripe. It goes just below the bluish line, which is exactly in the middle of the body.

Red neons were discovered and described by ichthyologists in 1956. In nature, they inhabit South America, where they are found mainly in slow rivers flowing through forests. The surrounding tropics are very dense, and therefore the reservoirs are almost devoid of sunlight. Most often, swarms of red neons are grouped in the middle depth level. The preferred natural food is worms and other insects.

The vast majority of specimens sold in our country are grown artificially. Very few individuals are harvested in the wild. The greatest length of neon is 0.05 m. It can live up to 3 years. Keeping this breed is more difficult than the common subspecies, as it places very high demands on water quality.

The elongated body of red neon from the sides seems to be flattened. Its shiny back shimmers with an olive green tone. Large scales are very visible externally. The eyes are bluish-green and the fins are transparent. The fish chooses places for spawning where there is no bright direct light.

Neon red in an aquarium should not be kept alone. Like other members of the Tetra group, he needs the ability to communicate. The best aesthetic results are achieved when 15 or more floats at the same time. And the fish themselves in such a large flock will be more comfortable. The optimal neighbors, according to ichthyologists and experienced aquarists, are:

• pristella;
• erythrozonus;
• black neon;
• tetra von rio.

Neon neighbors in the aquarium should live normally in water at 18-24 degrees and at a pH of 5.5 to 7.5. It is categorically impossible to settle this breed in one vessel with large predators and scavengers. Otherwise, the peaceful and calm neon will suffer very much - and the breakage of fins is still minimal damage.

A very important circumstance is the similarity of temperaments. If species differ in activity, they are unlikely to get along well. It is quite possible to populate neons along with such fish:

• by rasbora;
• cardinals;
• guppy;
• corridors;
• barbs.

Red neons are recommended for experienced aquarists. In the hands of newcomers, they often perish. Such fish, due to their modest size and calm nature, can be severely affected by the large inhabitants of the aquarium. Note: When neon is contained in slightly hard acidic water, it looks much brighter than usual. Another technique for visually emphasizing the merits of the fish is keeping it in a densely overgrown aquarium, where dark soil is placed.

In this case, the lighting should be moderately intense. A competent approach allows you to guarantee the long life of red neon. He will hardly be ill either. However, in aquariums with unstable environments, fish death occurs quickly.

Acid-base balance of less than 6 is critical for the content of red neon. At the same time, the hardness of the water is strictly limited - the maximum allowable indicator will be 4 dGH. If the hardness is higher, the color fades, and the overall life time is reduced. Water temperatures of at least 23 and not higher than 27 degrees are considered normal.

The main requirement for caring for such fish is the stability of the conditions. Even if they are violated, they need to be corrected carefully and gradually. Any rush here can cause additional harm to the animals. After all, their organisms, in fact, are subjected to an additional shake-up. A sharp change in environmental parameters in new aquariums is especially dangerous. The light should be moderately bright, shaded by abundant floating crops.

A few more nuances:

• red neons need both shelter and free areas;
• the most rational choice is a densely planted aquarium with a free center;
• the volume of the vessel does not have to be large - for 7 individuals, 60-70 liters of water is enough.

This fish breed does not require any very complex nutrition. You can give both live and ice cream, and even synthetic food. But it must be borne in mind that the mouth of red neon is small. Therefore, all products should be divided into as small portions as possible. The preferred food is tubifex and bloodworms.

From branded ready-made feeds, Tetra products are recommended. TetraMin is made from 40 or more types of quality raw materials. Everything that is necessary for full development is laid in the feed. The slow sinking flakes are designed to feed fish at different levels in the aquarium. It is worth taking a closer look at the slowly sinking Tetra Micro Pellets. This type of feed is also balanced in composition and easy to digest.

Pronounced dimorphism is characteristic only after the final maturation of neon. It is believed that males of neons are outwardly slimmer. Breeding this breed is very difficult even for experienced aquarists. In any case, you will have to start a separate aquarium for spawning. It maintains the following conditions: pH from 5 to 5.5, the softest water (up to 3 dGH maximum).

The spawning pond needs to be filled with plants with medium-sized foliage. It is on these plants that eggs will be laid. Light such an aquarium should be kept to a minimum. The upper tier of water should be filled with floating plants.

It takes about 24 hours for larvae to hatch. After another 72 hours, she begins to swim. At this point, the fry should be given egg yolk and microworm. The recommended capacity of the spawning aquarium is from 10 to 20 liters. A dividing net should be laid out at the bottom.

As soon as feeding begins, spawning grounds should be equipped with low blow spray nozzles. Systematically, without sudden jerks, the water hardness is increased. This is extremely important for the full formation of fish. When preparing to breed neons, it is worth taking old water and disinfecting it with ultraviolet light. Producers should be kept at a temperature no higher than 23 degrees and fed abundantly, and food should not be given in the last 24 hours before transfer to the spawning aquarium.

In some cases, spawning is delayed. Even professional biologists cannot foresee everything. If the clutch does not appear, you must immediately return the fish to the main aquarium. A second attempt is made after 3-5 days. In spawning grounds, neons are not fed in principle.

For information on how to keep and breed the red neon fish breed, see the next video.