How Long Do Neon Tetras Live? (How To Increase Their Lifespan)

Neon tetras are freshwater fish species that every fishkeeper wants to add to their home tanks.

The query for the lifespan of neon tetra arises in two situations: when we want to add them to our tank and when our neon tetra passes away. So, How long do neon tetars live? Let us find out.

Neon tetras have an average lifespan of 5 years in captivity, whereas up to 8-10 years in the wild. The lifespan of tetras in captivity depends upon their living conditions. You can increase the lifespan of your tetra in captivity by providing them with ideal living conditions and high-quality food.

The article below discusses how long neon tetras live and how to increase their lifespan.

How long do neon tetras live as pets?

Neon tetras can thrive up to an average of 5 years in captivity, whereas they live about 8-10 years in the wild.

You can increase the lifespan of your neon tetras in captivity by providing them with suitable housing conditions.

And suppose you place them under inadequate living conditions, pair them with aggressive tankmates, and provide them with low-quality food. In that case, it will weaken your tetra’s immune system, make them suffer from several diseases, and eventually pass away.

Despite being hardy species that can thrive in a wide range of water parameters, sudden fluctuations in the water temperature can lead to shock in your tetras, eventually making them suffer from extreme stress and pass away.

So you should always provide adequate living conditions to your neon tetras to ensure their well-being and a longer lifespan.

How to know if your neon tetra is dying?

Here are the signs shown by your neon tetras when they are about to pass away

1.  Your neon tetras losing their appetite and not showing interest in eating their food indicates that your fish is about to pass away.
2. If you discover your neon tetras hiding most of the time, it indicates that your fish is about to pass away.
3. Your neon tetras turning lethargic and staying at one spot indicates that your tetras are about to pass away.
4. Your neon tetras gasping at the tank’s surface indicates that your fish is about to pass away.
5. Your neon tetras getting fat or bloated indicates that your fish suffers from severe health issues and can pass away. 

The above are some signs shown by your neon tetras that indicate that your fish is about to pass away.

What can we do to ensure neon tetras’ longer lifespan?

Here are the ways to ensure your neon tetra’s longer lifespan

1. Maintain good water conditions in the tank
2. Ensure adequate water parameters in the tank.
3. Provide high-quality nutritional food to your neon tetras.
4. Provide ample space in your neon tetras tank.
5. Maintain a stress-free environment in your neon tetras tank.

Maintain good water conditions in the tank.

You should provide good water conditions in your neon tetras tank to ensure the longer lifespan of your fish.

Inadequate water conditions in the tank can lead to severe health issues like loss of appetite in your tetras, making them weak and prone to several diseases and parasites and pass away eventually.

You should perform a 30% water change weekly and add a sound filtration system to your neon tetras tank to ensure your fish’s well-being and a longer lifespan.

Also, read: Do Neon Tetras Need a Filter?

Ensure adequate water parameters in the tank.

You should maintain adequate water parameters in your neon tetras tank to ensure your fish’s well-being and a longer lifespan.

Despite being hardy species, a sudden change in the water temperature can lead to severe health issues in your neon tetras, eventually making them pass away.

Here are the ideal water parameters for your neon tetras

Particulars	Neon Tetras
Water Temperature	72-76°F
Ph Level	6.0-7.0
Ammonia Level	0ppm
Nitrite Level	0ppm
Nitrate Level	Below 20ppm

Therefore, you should keep eyeing the tank’s ammonia and nitrite levels, as excess ammonia can cause health issues like ammonia poisoning in your fish, eventually making them pass away.

Provide high quality nutritional food to your neon tetras

You should provide high-quality nutritional food in a moderate amount to your neon tetras to ensure their well-being and a longer lifespan.

Providing low-grade food can lead to severe health issues like constipation in your neon tetras, weakening their immune system and making them prone to several diseases and parasites.

Here are some best food options for your neon tetras

Neon Tetras Dietary Needs	Serving Amount	No.of times
Brine Shrimp	One pinch	1-2 times a week
Daphnia	One small pinch	1-2 times a week
Mosquito Larvae	12-15 pieces	2-3 times a week
Bloodworms	One pinch	1-2 times a week
Veggie Pellets	One pinch	2 times a day
Blanched Veggies ( Cucumber, Zucchini)	One small slice	2-3 times a week

Consider providing the amount your neon tetras can consume in under two minutes to avoid overfeeding and underfeeding.

Also, read: How Often To Feed Neon Tetras?

Provide ample space in your neon tetras tank

You should provide ample space in your neon tetras tank to ensure your fish’s well-being and longer lifespan.

Lack of space in the tank can stunt your fish’s growth and make them aggressive with their tank mates.

In addition, overcrowding your fish tank can cause excessive stress in your tetras, which can further lead to the passing away of your fish.

So, we advise you to follow the one-inch-one-gallon rule to provide ample space in your fish tank.

One-inch-one-gallon rule means one gallon of water per inch of your fish.

Neon tetras are schooling fishes with an average size of 1-1.5 inches. So, to house a school of six neon tetras, you will require a minimum 10-gallon tank.

Also, read: How Many Neon Tetras In A 10-Gallon Tank?

Maintain a stress-free environment in your neon tetras tank

You should maintain a stress-free environment in your neon tetras tank to ensure your fish’s well-being and longer lifespan.

A stressful environment in the tank can affect the health of your fish, eventually making them prone to several diseases and parasites.

Here are some ways to maintain a stress-free environment in your neon tetras tank

1. Provide ample space in your tetra’s tank.
2. Pair your neon tetras with compatible tank mates.
3. Maintain good water conditions and parameters in your neon tetras tank.
4. Provide high-quality food to your neon tetras.

The above are some ways to maintain a stress-free environment in your neon tetras tank. 

Also, read: 10 Signs Of Stress In Neon Tetras

Conclusion:

1. Neon tetras can thrive up to 5 years in captivity, whereas they live about 8-10 years in the wild. 
2. You can increase the lifespan of tetras in captivity by providing them with suitable housing conditions.
3. Placing neon tetras under inadequate housing conditions can shorten their lifespan in captivity.
4. Your tetras losing appetite, swimming slowly, or gasping at the tank’s surface indicates that your fish is about to pass away. 
5. Provide good water conditions, high-quality food and maintain a stress-free environment in the tank to ensure your neon tetras’ longer lifespan.

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Reference: WIKIPEDIA