Your neon tetra disappearing from the tank is not usual and can raise several questions in your mind. So, why did your neon tetra disappear from the tank? How to find the missing neon tetra? Let us find out.
Here are the reasons behind your neon tetra disappearing from the tank
- Your neon tetra has passed away and is consumed by the other fish in the tank.
- Your tetra fish have got stuck in the tank’s pump or filter.
- Your neon tetra has jumped out of the tank due to poor housing conditions.
- Your neon tetra is hiding behind the tank decors.
- Your neon tetra is suffering from diseases like fin rot.
The article below discusses all the reasons behind your neon tetra disappearing from the tank. In addition, we will also learn how to find the missing tetra.
Contents
My neon tetra disappeared from the tank
There can be several reasons for your neon tetra disappearing from the tank.
Your neon tetras have passed away, stuck in the tank’s filter or got consumed by the other fishes in the aquarium.
In addition, there are chances of your neon tetras jumping out of the tank due to inadequate housing conditions.
Therefore, your neon tetras disappearing from the tank is a matter of concern requiring immediate attention for your tetra’s well-being.
What is the reason behind neon tetra disappearing from the tank?
Here are the reasons behind your neon tetra disappearing from the tank
- Your tetra have got stuck in the tank’s pump or filter
- They passed away and were consumed by the other fish in the tank.
- Your tetra was ill.
- Your neon tetra got stuck in the tank decors.
- Your tetra fish has jumped out of the tank.
Stuck the tank’s pump or filter
Your neon tetra can get stuck in the tank’s pump or filter.
It usually happens due to the strong currents from the filter that makes it a task for your fish to swim, eventually making them get stuck in the tank’s pump or filter.
Consider checking the tank’s pump and filter if you have a missing neon tetra.
Therefore, not removing your tetra fish in a short period can lead to their passing away.
Passed away and consumed by other fishes
There are chances that your neon tetra has passed away and is consumed by the other fish in the tank.
If you have snails and shrimp in your tank, they can consume your passed-away neon tetra overnight.
Your neon tetra was ill.
There are chances that your neon tetra is suffering from some diseases like fin rot and other parasites.
Such diseases can make your tetra body part fall into pieces, eventually making them disappear from the tank.
Your tetra got stuck in the tank decors.
Neon tetra is small in size and can hide in tank decors.
Consider lifting the tank decors and searching the crevice hole to find the missing neon tetra.
Your tetra fish has jumped out of the tank.
Your neon tetra may have jumped out of the tank due to inadequate water conditions, aggressive tankmates and lack of space.
Your neon tetra usually prefers to jump out of the tank when something unusual happens in their environment.
To know more reasons for your neon tetra jumping out of the tank, read my article Do Neon Tetra Jump Out Of The Tank?
Why is my neon tetra hiding and not moving?
Below are the reasons behind my neon tetra hiding and not moving
- You have paired neon tetra with aggressive tankmates
- Inadequate water conditions in the tank
- Too much light in your neon tetra tank
- Lack of space in your neon tetra tank
- Your tetra fish suffering from some disease or injury
- Your female neon tetra is about to lay eggs
You have paired your tetra fish with aggressive tankmates.
Neon tetras are non-aggressive fish species that do not prefer aggression in their tank.
Pairing your tetra fish with aggressive tankmates like betta can make them hide behind the aquarium decors.
In addition, the aggressive fish species in the tank can also cause several physical injuries to your tetra, eventually making them pass away.
Inadequate water conditions in the tank
Poor water conditions can make your neon tetra hide most of the time.
Contaminated water in the tank can also lead to a drop in the tank’s oxygen level, making your fish gasp for air at the tank’s water surface.
Poor water conditions in the tank can also lead to a spike in the tank’s ammonia and nitrite levels, eventually making your fish suffer from severe health issues like ammonia poisoning.
In addition, inadequate water parameters can also be the reason behind your neon tetra hiding.
The ideal water temperature for your neon tetra is between 72-76°F (22°C-24°C), and the appropriate pH level for your tetra is between 6-7.
Too much light in your neon tetra tank
Too much light in the tank can be the reason behind your tetra fish hiding most of the time.
Neon tetras are diurnal, meaning they remain active in the daytime and prefer to rest at night.
Consider providing light for 12-13 hours a day to maintain a proper circadian rhythm and to ensure your fish’s well-being.
Lack of space in your neon tetra tank
A lack of space in your neon tetra tank can also make your fish hide most of the time.
Placing your neon tetra in an overcrowded tank will not provide enough space for your fish to swim, eventually making them suffer from stress and hide in the tank’s corner.
To learn about the signs of stress in your neon tetras, you can read my article on 10 Signs Of Stress In Neon Tetras
Consider following the one-inch-one-gallon rule to maintain ample space in your neon tetra tank.
The one-inch-one-gallon rule refers to one gallon of water per inch of your fish.
Your tetra fish is suffering from some disease or injury.
Several diseases or injuries can make your neon tetra hide in the tank’s corner.
When neon tetras are sick, they prefer to hide in the tank’s corner.
In such a case, it is a task to detect whether your tetra fish is suffering from some disease or injury until it reaches its primary stage.
Consider monitoring the eating behaviour of your fish and look for any change in their physical appearance to examine the health of your fish.
Your female neon tetra is about to lay eggs.
Your female neon tetra will prefer to hide when it is about to lay eggs.
You can also discover many other behaviours, like not eating and sitting at the tank’s bottom when your fish is about to lay eggs.
Also, read:Â Why Are My Neon Tetras Not Eating?
How to find the missing neon tetra?
Here are the ways to find your missing neon tetra
- Search the crevice hole
- Run a check on your tank’s water conditions
- Check your missing tetra in a filter or a pump
- Check for your neon tetra in the surrounding area
Search the crevice hole.
Your neon tetra can hide behind the tank decors.
If you cannot find your missing neon tetra, check the decors and the crevice properly, as they might be hiding there.
Run a check on the tank’s water conditions.
If your neon tetra has passed away, you should check the tank’s water conditions, as poor water conditions can lead to several health issues in your fish, eventually making them pass away.
Perform a 30% weekly water change and add a sound filtration system in your neon tetra tank to maintain water quality and ensure your fish’s good health.
To learn more about the benefits of a water conditioner for your neon tetras, read my article Do Neon Tetras Need Water Conditioners?
Here are the ideal water parameters for your neon tetras
| Particulars | Neon Tetras |
|---|---|
| Water Temperature | 72-76°F |
| Ph | 6.0-7.0 |
| Ammonia | 0ppm |
| Nitrite | 0ppm |
| Nitrate | Below 20ppm |
Check your missing tetra in a filter or pump.
Your neon tetras can also get stuck in the tank’s filter or pump. We advise you to check the tank’s filter or pump, as they can pass away if stuck for an extended period.
Check for your neon tetra in the surrounding area.
Your neon tetra can also jump out of the tank due to poor water conditions, aggressive tankmates and inadequate water parameters.
In such a case, it would be best to check the tank’s surrounding area to find the missing tetra.
Conclusion:
- There can be several reasons for your neon tetra disappearing from the tank.
- There are chances of your tetra fish getting stuck in the tank’s filter or consumed by the other fish in the tank.
- Inadequate water conditions, aggressive tankmates and lack of space in the tank can be the reason behind your tetra fish hiding most of the time.
- Search the crevice hole and tank’s surrounding area to find the missing neon tetra.
- Always provide adequate housing conditions to your neon tetras to ensure your fish’s proper growth and development.
Reference: ResearchGate  NCBI