Why Is My Neon Tetra Turning Black? (All You Need To Know)

Neon tetras are freshwater fish species that make your tank look attractive with their colors. But, your neon tetras can lose their color and turn black for many reasons, requiring immediate action.

Your neon tetras turning black is a matter of concern as it indicates several health issues in your fish. So, why is my neon tetra turning black? Let us find out.

Stress and ammonia burns are the leading reasons behind your neon tetras turning black. Other factors like black spot disease and genetics can make tetras turn black. Consider providing ideal water parameters and a stress-free environment to prevent such issues and to ensure your tetra’s well-being.

In the below article will discuss about the reasons behind your neon tetras turning black. In addition, we will also learn how to prevent such issues in neon tetras.

My neon tetra is turning black.

Stress is the leading cause behind your neon tetras turning black. However, other factors like ammonia burns, black spot disease, and genetics can also make your neon tetras turn black.

Poor water conditions in the tank can lead to severe stress in your neon tetras.

In addition, it can also spike the tank’s ammonia and nitrite levels leading to such issues in your neon tetras.

We advise you to take immediate action in such a case, as ignoring such a situation can lead to severe health issues in your neon tetras.

What are the reasons behind my neon tetra turning black?

Here are the reasons behind your neon tetras turning black

1. Stress
2. Ammonia burns
3. Black spot disease
4. Genetics

Stress

Stress is the leading cause behind your neon tetras turning black. Your fish can suffer from stress when they are added new to the aquarium. 

However, many other factors, like pairing your tetras with aggressive tankmates, poor water conditions, and providing low-grade food, can cause stress in your fish, eventually making them turn black.

Ammonia Burns

Ammonia burns can make your neon tetras turn black. Ammonia burns are caused due to a spike in the tank’s ammonia level.

Poor water conditions in the tank are the leading reason behind ammonia spikes. 

Ammonia poisoning can burn your neon tetras gill, eventually turning them black.

Here are some other reasons behind ammonia spikes in your neon tetras tank.

1. Chemically treated tap water can cause ammonia spikes in the tank, eventually making your tetras suffer from ammonia poisoning.
2. Leftovers in the tank can cause ammonia spikes, eventually making your tetras suffer from ammonia burns.
3. Chemically treated tap water can lead to ammonia spikes in the tank, eventually causing ammonia poisoning to your fish.
4. Placing your neon tetras in an overcrowded tank can contaminate the tank’s water leading to ammonia spikes and making your neon tetras suffer from ammonia burns.

The above are some reasons behind ammonia burns in your neon tetras.

Black spot diseases

Black spot disease can make your neon tetras turn black.

It is a parasitic infection that can cause black spots in your neon tetras body.

Your neon tetras can suffer from black spot disease if you keep them in a tank with snails.

We advise you to consult your marine vet in such a situation to provide adequate treatment to your neon tetras.

Genetics

Genetics can also make your neon tetras turn black.

Your neon tetras turning black due to genetics will remain black for the rest of their lives as there is nothing you can do to make them regain their natural color.

However, your fish turning black due to genetics is not a problem as it does not point out any health issues.

Can your neon tetra regain its natural color?

Your neon tetra turning black due to genetics will be unable to regain its natural color.

However, if your fish has turned black due to other factors like ammonia burns, you can make them regain their natural color by providing adequate treatment.

We advise you not to ignore such a situation, as it can lead to severe health issues in your fish, eventually making them pass away.

How to treat neon tetra in such a issue?

Here are the ways to treat your neon tetras in such an issue

1. Perform a major water change in case of ammonia spikes.
2. Consult your marine vet.

Perform a major water change in your fish tank.

We advise you to perform an 80% water change if ammonia spikes are the reason behind such an issue.

Consider treating the tap water with a water conditioner while performing water change in your neon tetras tank.

Also, read: Do Neon Tetras Need Water Conditioners?

Poor water quality, dead plants, and passed-away fish are the leading reasons behind ammonia spikes in your neon tetras tank.

You should keep eyeing the tank’s ammonia and nitrite level to ensure the well-being of your fish.

Consult your marine vet

If you are a beginner and do not know much about neon tetras, you should consult your marine vet in such a situation.

Your fish turning black can also be a sign of several infections and parasites.

So, consulting your marine vet and providing medical treatment will be advisable for your fish’s well-being.

How can you prevent such issues in your neon tetra?

Here are the ways to prevent such issues in your neon tetras

1. Keep your neon tetra tank clean
2. Maintain ideal water parameters in the tank.
3. Isolate new fishes
4. Avoid overfeeding your fish 
5. Maintain a stress-free environment in the tank

Keep your neon tetras tank clean.

You should keep your neon tetras tank clean to avoid such issues and to ensure your fish’s well-being.

Consider performing a 30% weekly water change and adding a water filter to your tetra’s tank to maintain the tank’s water quality.

Also, read: Do Neon Tetras Need a Filter?

A water filter helps to break down the ammonia produced by your fish and maintains the tank’s water quality by eliminating all the harmful chemicals.

Always treat your tap water with a water conditioner as it helps to eliminate all the harmful chemicals like chlorine and chloramine from the water, making it safe for your neon tetras.

Maintain ideal water parameters in your neon tetras tank.

You should maintain ideal water parameters in your neon tetras tank to prevent such issues and to ensure your tetra’s well-being.

Low ph levels in the tank can lead to ammonia spikes, eventually making your fish suffer from ammonia burns and turn black.

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

Isolate new fishes

You should isolate new fish before adding them directly to your neon tetra tank.

There are chances that the new fish being exposed to ammonia in their last tank.

In such a case, adding them directly to your neon tetras tank can increase the chances of ammonia buildup, eventually making your fish suffer from ammonia burns and turn black.

So, it will be advisable to isolate the new fish for alteast a week before adding them directly to your neon tetras tank.

Avoid overfeeding your fish

It would be best to stop overfeeding your neon tetras to prevent such issues and to ensure your fish’s well-being.

Overfeeding your neon tetras can contaminate your tank’s water rapidly, eventually leading to ammonia spikes in the tank.

A spike in the ammonia level can further lead to ammonia burns in your fish, eventually making them black.

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

Also, read: Can Neon Tetras Die From Overfeeding?

Maintain a stress-free environment in the tank

You should provide a stress-free environment to your neon tetras to prevent this issue and to ensure their well-being.

Stress is the leading cause behind your neon tetras turning black and many other health issues.

Here are the ways to provide a stress-free environment for your neon tetras

1. Avoid overcrowding your fish tank
2. Provide high-grade food to your fish
3. Maintain ideal water parameters and conditions in your fish tank
4. Pair your tetras with compatible tank mates.
5. Provide ample hiding spots in your neon tetras tank.

Also, read: 10 Signs Of Stress In Neon Tetras

Conclusion:

1. Stress is the leading cause behind your neon tetras turning black. However, other factors like ammonia burns, black spot disease, and genetics can also make neon tetras turn black. 
2.  Neon tetra turning black due to genetics will be unable to regain its natural color.
3. However, if your fish has turned black due to factors like ammonia burns, you can make them regain their natural color by providing adequate treatment.
4. You can treat your neon tetras by performing a significant water change and consulting your marine vet.
5. You can prevent such issues by maintaining good conditions, ideal water parameters, and providing a stress-free environment for your fish.

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Reference: NCBI