It is very likely that you have heard of the phrase “Neon Tetras water temperature”. Neon Tetras is an amazing fish if you are either a fish fanatic or an aquarium owner.
These brightly colored tropical fish originate from the streams in South America, where neon tetras live.
The popularity of these animals in the eastern countries, such as China and Thailand, prevents them from being naturally bred in western countries.
To maintain a healthy ecosystem, it is essential for the Neon Tetra to maintain an appropriate temperature balance.
As well as being a major factor in their health, the temperature is also a major factor in the success of their breeding process.
It is uncommon for aquariums to reach these temperatures naturally, so a heater is typically required to ensure that the tank is kept warm all through the day and night.
A temperature that does not meet our friend’s needs can result in dire and possibly fatal consequences for our colorful friends.
Does The Neon Tetra Need A Certain Temperature To survive?
Given that the Neon Tetras originated in South America, it is not surprising at all that the warm water they prefer is essential for their survival.
For a Neon Tetra to survive, it is recommended that the temperature is kept between 72 and 76 degrees Fahrenheit (22.2 – 24.4 degrees Celsius).
As a result of this, Neon Tetras should have a temperature between 75 – 76 degrees Fahrenheit (23.9 – 24.4 degrees Celsius) in order to breed.
The temperature must also be consistently maintained in order for this to occur.
If the temperature outside the aquarium is rising or falling, it is also possible that the temperature inside the aquarium may rise or fall as well.
Despite the natural transformations of temperature, it is the sudden and drastic changes of temperature that can ultimately be harmful to the Neon Tetra, since they become harmful when repeated for too long.
Is A Heater Necessary For Neon Tetras?
In order to properly maintain the temperature of Neon Tetra aquariums, aquarium heaters are one of the essential tools and pieces of equipment.
Tropical fish need to be kept in heated aquariums, therefore, they must be kept in a tropical environment.
Despite the fact that most of the day the aquarium will reach the desired temperature, it will not be enough for our neon friends to survive.
In order to get the best results, you need to invest in a heater for your aquarium, which will benefit your Neon Tetra.
It is important to know which type of heater you should select, as there are a wide variety of heaters available.
Depending on what type of heater you choose, it is important for you to choose the right wattage for your tank.
The wattage is decided based on the size of the tank and its recommended size.
In order to ensure that you are getting the correct wattage for your tank when you buy a heater, make sure that you do your research.
In general, between 2.5 watts and 5 watts per gallon of water per heating element is a good number.
The choice also lies with you to choose whether to go with a pre-set heater or an adjustable heater, and it entirely depends on the size and type of aquarium you have.
Ensure that you understand all materials associated with your chosen heater before buying.
It is particularly important to keep in mind when cleaning your aquarium that certain pumps may shut off if removed from the water.
In addition, you need to keep in mind that even when a heater is present in your aquarium, the outside temperature can still have a great effect on its temperature.
In order to set the tank heater at a certain temperature, the room temperature must rise enough so that the heater will also increase the tank temperature in order to maintain the set temperature.
If you want to cool down during the night, you must do the same thing.
Neon Tetra does not have a means through which they can communicate with you if they feel too hot or too cold, so you are responsible as the owner for ensuring the tank’s temperature at all times is just right.
In addition, be sure to monitor your tetras often in case anything goes wrong, or at the very least something won’t seem quite right.
Is Neon Tetras’ Survival In Danger When It Is Too Cold?
Suppose you have a neon tetra and it gets too cold? What exactly will happen? I can assure you that it will not be good.
Our little friend will be put into shock if the temperature falls below 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
It is almost certain to result in either his or her death or permanent weakness.
It is worth noting that these issues are not caused exclusively by cold water. There can also be negative effects if the water temperature of a Neon Tetra aquarium is kept too cool.
The point at which a temperature is referred to as cool is anywhere between 60 – 70 degrees Fahrenheit (15.5 – 21.1 degrees Celsius).
If your Neon Tetra’s metabolism is exposed to these temperatures, their digestion will be affected and even their breathing will be affected if they are exposed to these temperatures for an extended period of time.
Other illnesses can also be transmitted to us from ice-cold water or can be amplified by being in cold water, such as the following:
The rotting of the fish’s fins is a fatal ailment that can destroy them. Eventually, their fins begin to turn colored and can even fall off without warning if left untreated for a long period of time.
ICH – An organism that causes havoc on the gills and skin of fishes as well as causing havoc on the environment.
A large number of tetra fish are affected by neon tetra disease, another parasitic condition which affects them in a number of ways.
Neon Tetra Disease is not brought on directly by the cooling effect of cool water, but it does benefit from a weakening of the immune system as a result of cool water.
There are four main types of parasites: macroparasites that attack and weaken muscles; and parasites that become more potent as time goes on.
No matter what situation you are in, these are obviously not ideal, and you start to understand why it is imperative to maintain a perfect temperature for Neon Tetra.
If It Gets Too Hot, What Happens To Neon Tetras?
As you may have already noticed, the Neon Tetra is affected by both cold and warm temperatures-but what about if it’s too hot?
Tropical fish, such as Surgeonfish is a bit more resistant to warmer temperatures, although they are unable to tolerate extreme temperatures when they travel outside of their preferred range.
Should the temperature escalate too far, the effects can be just as devastating as when exposed to colder temperatures.
There are many definitions of excessively warm water, but in general, it is defined as a water temperature above 78 degrees Fahrenheit (25.6 degrees Celsius).
When the temperature rises to 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius), you can be sure that issues will start cropping up.
So what happens when the temperature rises to such levels? In addition to these unpleasant events, there are several others that do not make things much better for us:
Oxygen level and suffocation are factors that one must consider when putting together a well-acclimatized tank.
In water, the fish are also able to breathe oxygen, as you are probably aware.
However, warm water will cause the Neon Tetra to become very hyperactive, as it will increase its body temperature and increase its metabolism.
Having hyperactive fish as part of your pond would be a big problem in part because they will consume more oxygen at the same time.
It’s not only that warmer water lacks oxygen; in a nutshell, it is as if there is an additional threat to the Neon Tetra.
The threat that the neon tetras can actually face could be the threat that will cause them to suffocate.
What Are The Effects Of Sudden Temperature Changes On Neon Tetras?
It is important to take note of how suddenly the temperature changes of the Neon Tetra can also affect its health.
As a general rule of thumb, the most important thing to consider when it comes to changing the temperature of your Neon Tetra is to make sure it happens gradually and slowly.
Generally speaking, sudden temperature changes will weaken the immune system, which in turn will cause the person to be sick.
The reason for this can be both stressful and changes in their digestive system. Stress can cause irreversible damage to the body, even if the distress is only temporary.
If your tetra is weakening its immune system, it opens it up to further risks of infection by bacteria and parasites including ICH and other diseases.
It is usually the sudden or drastic change in temperature that has the greatest impact when it comes to drastic or sudden weather changes.
It is highly likely that the Neon Tetra will go into shock when the temperature of the aquarium falls dramatically – even for a short period of time.
In addition, while it is not guaranteed that this will result in the death of the tetra, it is significantly debilitating to it, significantly decreasing its life span.
Both the tetra’s muscles would get weakened as well as would undergo high-stress levels. The reason for this is stress is toxic, not only to humans but usually to animals as well.
A small amount of this substance can cause a person’s health to deteriorate, which can ultimately lead to their premature demise.
A sudden change in heat can also have the same effect, as can a small amount of this substance.
There is enough discomfort in your Neon Tetra as a result of the increased heat that you may start to notice physiological changes in your pet as a result.
We know that the ideal temperature and the right level of warmth for healthy and successful Neon Tetras is a constant temperature in aquariums, so let’s take a look at how we can ensure that this temperature is maintained in the aquarium consistently.
Conclusion
The Neon Tetra is one of the most popular freshwater tropical fish in aquariums at present which adds its vibrant color and beauty to the tank.
It is extremely important that you maintain the water temperature for this attractive fish in the right manner to ensure they are in the best possible way taken care of.
There are several risk factors they can face in their lives that are serious enough to result in death, which we, as humans, would prefer not to experience.
For this reason, it is vital that you do not allow the water to become slightly warmer than 72-78 degrees Fahrenheit (22-25 degrees Celsius) if you wish to prevent any issues with the Neon Tetras.
A thermometer and a water heater can be used for this purpose.
Hopefully, you have found this article to be of some use in learning about the ideal water temperature to keep your neon tetras.
Video About Neon Tetras Water Temperature
Annette M. Chaney is an experienced marine biologist with over 20 years of experience as an aquarist and fishkeeper. She started her first aquarium at a young age, filling it with frogs and goldfish obtained from the ten-cent pet store.
Annette grew up caring for and breeding African Cichlids, which led to a hobby in high school that doubled as a profitable means. Attending Reed College gave her time to solidify herself as an accomplished aquarium caretaker with an eye for sales. After that, from 2009 – 2013, she studied at Roger Williams University – one of the most prestigious universities for Aquaculture and Aquarium in USA. She is the founder of AquariumCircle since 2010.