If you are looking for an aquarium fish that can become the star of your underwater world, take a look at the purple neon Kerry. This small but incredibly bright fish with smooth body lines immediately catches the eye. Its main decoration is a rich, iridescent purple stripe that lights up like a neon sign when properly lit.
Despite their apparent exoticism, these fish are quite suitable for aquarists with some experience. They are peaceful and gregarious, which means they only feel comfortable in the company of their own kind. Watching the coordinated movements of a school of these iridescent creatures is a real pleasure.
To ensure that your purple Kerry neon tetras remain a joy to behold for a long time, it is important to create the right conditions for them. They need clean, “old” water with specific parameters and soft, diffused light. A properly selected aquarium with picturesque plants and calm neighbors will be the perfect home for them, where their beauty will be fully revealed.
Habitat and lifestyle
It inhabits South America (Mato Grosso state, Brazil) in the Rio Aripuana basin and the upper reaches of the Rio Madeiro. It prefers humid tropical forests with dense riparian vegetation.
It settles in small rivers with slow currents and murky water. It is a schooling fish that stays in small groups in the lower layers of the water among snags or underwater vegetation. It does not like direct sunlight and always seeks out the most shaded areas of the water body.
The fish is peaceful in nature. There is no strict hierarchy in the school, but most often the oldest and largest individual is the leader. The members of the school do not fight among themselves for territory or food. Males may sometimes fight each other, but they do not cause each other harm.
The fish spends most of its time in the lower layers of the water, where it picks up food falling from above. It never stays in one place, constantly maneuvering in different directions to mislead potential predators. In case of danger, it tries to hide in a shelter and lie low.
— Alexey Podolsky Kazan, 4 years of experience in aquascaping
The purple neon tetra is a bright and undemanding fish that is an excellent choice for both beginners and experienced aquarists. It differs from ordinary neon tetras in its rich purple color and calm nature. These small aquarium inhabitants feel best in groups of 6 or more, and they love warm, clean water and densely planted tanks. The main thing is not to keep them with aggressive species and to monitor water quality, and then they will delight you with their appearance and active behavior for a long time.
Description
It belongs to the Characidae family and the Tetra genus. It is a small fish up to 3.5 cm long. The main body color consists of blue, purple, and magenta with a dark blue longitudinal stripe in the center.
In the light, their bodies shimmer with different colors. The dorsal fin can be green, yellow, or red. The anal fin is long and wide, with a pronounced reddish tint.
The tail is crescent-shaped and colored purple and blue. The head is small with a blunt snout, smoothly transitioning into the body. The mouth is wide with thick lips, pointing upward to pick up food falling from above. The eyes are large, with a bluish iris and a bronze tint.
Sexual dimorphism is well pronounced. Males have a longer adipose fin near the tail.
The other fins are brightly colored in blue and purple. The pectoral and pelvic fins are transparent. The body of males is colored in more saturated and bright colors compared to females. The abdomen is pale blue or beige.
Females have a reddish adipose fin. A dark blue and sometimes blackish longitudinal stripe runs along the body. The lower part of the body is blue or turquoise. The belly is white or silvery.
Maintenance
This species of aquarium fish is easy to care for, but it is still necessary to create the most favorable conditions possible.
Aquarium
Purple neon tetras are kept in small schools, so they require an aquarium with a volume of at least 50 liters.
In addition, the fish are active and energetic, which means they need free space. The minimum recommended parameters are 60x40x30 cm.
Temperature
The optimal temperature for keeping them is 23-27°C.
Water requirements
The fish prefers cloudy water. To achieve this, you can add a little peat concentrate. A filter is essential, as neon tetras like clean running water. The pH (acidity) level is 5.5-7.0, Gh (hardness) – 1-12°.
Yaroslav
A characin breeder from Volgograd
To make the water softer, you can periodically add distilled water. It is also necessary to create a weak current using an aerator. The water is changed by 25% every 7-10 days.
— Yaroslav Razvodchik, characin breeder from Volgograd
Substrate
This is an important factor, as the fish lead a bottom-dwelling lifestyle. They do not dig in the substrate, but stay close to the bottom.
The substrate should be dark or even black in color so that the fish feel comfortable. A light-colored substrate can cause stress. In addition, the fish look more beautiful against a dark background.
Decor
Neon tetras like to stay close to shelters at the bottom, so you need to place driftwood, ceramics, and underwater plants there. Without shelters, the fish experience severe stress.
Lighting
The light should be diffused. Direct rays of light are not allowed, as they scare the fish. The aquarium should be placed in a dark corner. At night, you can turn on a dim light for aesthetic purposes. The fish will be visible even with minimal lighting.
Feeding
In its natural habitat, this species picks up food falling from overhanging coastal vegetation or hunts small crustaceans and invertebrates.
Feed them appropriately. The food should fall slowly so that the fish has time to catch it. Neon tetras do not pick up food from the bottom due to the structure of their mouths. Flake food or slow-sinking pellets are best suited for this purpose.
You can also give them natural frozen food. This can be:
Ideally, natural and dry foods should be alternated to ensure a balanced diet. Feed twice a day, in the morning and in the evening. TetraMin and NeonGran have been specially developed for characins. Granulated food has proven to be the best.
Reproduction
Breeding purple neon tetras is quite simple. This requires a separate spawning aquarium with a volume of up to 30 liters.
Lighting should be as dim as possible. There should be as many underwater plants and various snags as possible at the bottom. Water hardness (Gh) should not exceed 5°, otherwise the males will not be able to fertilize the eggs. Before spawning, the fish should be fed protein-rich food. Then the females and males are separated into pairs. Two males per female is also acceptable.
Fish are placed in the spawning tank in the evening so that spawning and fertilization occur by morning. The entire process must be carefully monitored so that fish that are capable of eating their own eggs can be removed in time. The incubation period lasts no more than 2 days. For the first 3-4 days, the hatched fry lie motionless at the bottom. They feed on the yolk sac. As soon as they start swimming, they should be fed infusoria or rotifers.
As they grow, you need to increase the size of the feed and switch to artemia and egg yolk. Feed the young fish 5-7 times a day in small portions. At the same time, you should change 10% of the water daily.
Compatibility
This is a peaceful fish that gets along well with other aquarium inhabitants. The exception is slow-swimming fish species, whose fins may be bitten off by neon tetras.
The best neighbors are:
As for shrimp and snails, they will be safe. Neons rarely attack such prey due to their large size. They may eat smaller invertebrates. Also, do not keep them with predatory fish species that will hunt them.
More care tips:
Care tips
Here are some useful tips to help you care for your purple neons:
- The optimal flock size is 9-12 individuals. If the flock is smaller, the males may become aggressive. Especially if there are few females.
- Do not overfeed the fish, as this can lead to digestive problems and obesity.
- Fish are sensitive to sudden changes in temperature and water hardness. The conditions in which they are kept should always be kept at approximately the same level.
- The fish should be fed for 2-3 minutes. This is enough time to satisfy their hunger without overfeeding them.
- The aquarium should be covered with a lid to prevent the fish from jumping out if they get scared.
- Neons live in highly acidic conditions due to rotting vegetation at the bottom. You can throw tree leaves into the aquarium. This will help recreate their natural habitat.
- Any extraneous sounds or sudden movements frighten the fish and cause stress. It is better to place the aquarium in a quiet, secluded place.
- Under no circumstances should direct sunlight be allowed to enter the aquarium. The fish will constantly seek out dark places, which is harmful to their health.
Video review of purple neon tetras
So, the purple neon cory is a really small but bright decoration for your aquarium. Their calm nature and stunning coloration, which changes under different lighting, will not leave anyone indifferent.
To ensure that these fish bring you joy for many years, it is important to remember a few simple rules. Clean, soft water, subdued lighting, and peaceful neighbors are the key to their health. A varied diet will make their colors truly shine.
If you are ready to provide them with suitable conditions, purple neon tetras will be ideal pets. They will bring a touch of lively, iridescent magic to your underwater world and will delight you for a long time with their active and friendly nature.
