Why Are My Neon Tetras Dying?

Neon tetras are popular freshwater aquarium fish, known for their beautiful colors.

But sometimes, these colorful little fish can succumb to disease and die.

If you’ve had neon tetras die in your aquarium, you may be wondering what went wrong.

In this blog post, we’ll explore some of the possible causes of neon tetra death and offer some advice on how to prevent it in the future.

So, without further ado, let’s start.

Why Are All My Neon Tetras Dying

There are a few potential reasons why your neon tetras might be dying.

1. Bad Genetic

Neon tetras are popular all around the world! So many people rear neon tetras for the purpose of selling them.

On average, there are almost 2 million neon tetras sold every month for home aquariums.

Because neon tetras are so numerous, people don’t have time to count them; instead, they merely calculate their weight.

During this rapid procedure, quality control is virtually nonexistent.

As a consequence, some neon tetras die young because they have poor genes.

2. Insecurities

Neon tetras should be maintained in schools since they are shoaling fish.

When neon tetras don’t see many of their buddies, they become anxious and concerned.

Some fishkeepers begin their hobby with only two or three neon tetras, but this isn’t sufficient.

A school of six neon tetras is the bare minimum.

3. Bad Water Parameters

Water parameters are the levels of various chemicals in the water.

If any of these levels are off, it can be deadly for your fish.

Neon tetras need water that is slightly acidic with a pH of 6 to 7, a temperature of 68°F to 82°F degrees Fahrenheit, and a hardness of 2-8 KH.

If your water does not meet these requirements, you will need to adjust it using a water conditioner.

4. Not Getting Enough Oxygen

One of the most common reasons for fish to die is a lack of oxygen.

This could be due to overcrowding, poor water quality, or an inadequate filter.

If your tank is not big enough for your number of fish, you may need to get a bigger tank or reduce the number of fish you have.

Additionally, make sure you are doing regular water changes to keep the water quality high.

If your filter is not big enough, you may need to get a bigger one.

5. They Are Suffering From Fish Disease

Neon tetra diseases are another common reason why fish die.

There are many different types of fish diseases, and they can be caused by a variety of factors, such as poor water quality, overcrowding, and stress.

If you think your fish might be suffering from a disease, you should take them to a vet.

6. Eaten By Predators

If you have other fish in your tank, they may be eating your neon tetras.

Certain types of fish, such as bettas and goldfish, are natural predators of neon tetras.

If you think this might be happening, you may need to get a tank with taller sides or add some decorations to the tank to make it harder for the other fish to get to them.

7. Dying of Old Age

Neon tetras have a lifespan of about 5-10 years.

So, if your neon tetras are around 10 years old, it is possible that they are simply dying of old age.

There is not much you can do to prevent this, but it is important to remember that all animals have a natural lifespan and will eventually die.

What Are Signs of a Dying Neon Tetra?

There are a few signs that you can look for to determine if your neon tetra is dying.

1. Abnormal Swimming Patterns

If you spend some time looking at the neon tetras throughout the day, you may determine if they are exhibiting unusual swimming ways.

These irregular movements indicate that the fish are scared and on their way out.

The normal neon tetras swim in a straight line around the aquarium, but dying neon tetras might have twitches or jerks while swimming.

They go round and round and flicker as they swim.

You can keep track of it for 24 hours. If it persists, quarantine the fish.

So that other fish don’t get sick from what happened to them.

2. Lethargy

If the neon tetra is not swimming around and is just floating at the top or bottom of the tank, this suggests that it is very sick.

Neon tetras are usually very active fish and will spend most of their time swimming around.

If your fish is lethargic, this is a sign that it is close to death.

3. changes in Color

One of the first signs that a fish is sick is that its color starts to change.

The healthy neon tetra has a bright blue body with some red stripes.

However, if the fish becomes ill, its body might turn pale or it may lose its stripes altogether.

If you see any of these changes in your fish, it is a sign that it is not doing well.

4. Excess Mucous

If you see excess mucus coming out of the fish’s gills or mouth, this is a sign that the fish is battling a serious infection.

Mucus is produced as part of the immune response to fight off infection, so seeing excessive amounts of it means that the fish is fighting a losing battle.

If you see this symptom, you should take the fish to a vet immediately.

5. Red or White Spots

Red spots are often indicative of a bacterial infection, while white spots are often indicative of a fungal infection.

Both of these are serious infections that can quickly kill a fish if left untreated.

If you see either of these symptoms, you should treat the fish with antibiotics or fungicides as soon as possible.

6. Swollen Abdomen

A swollen abdomen is often a sign that the fish has been infected with parasites.

These parasites can quickly kill the fish if left untreated.

If you see your fish’s abdomen start to swell, you should treat it with a deworming medication as soon as possible.

How Can I Prevent My Neon Tetras From Dying?

To prevent your neon tetras from dying, you should take some steps to ensure that they are healthy and safe.

1. Keep the Tank Clean

One of the most important things you can do to keep your fish healthy is to keep the tank clean.

Make sure to change the water and clean the tank regularly.

This will help eliminate any harmful bacteria or parasites that might be present.

2. Quarantine New Fish

If you are adding new fish to your tank, make sure to quarantine them first.

This will help prevent any diseases from spreading to the other fish in the tank.

3. Provide a Healthy Diet

A healthy diet is essential for keeping your fish healthy.

Make sure to give your fish a variety of foods, including both live and frozen food.

This will help ensure that they get the nutrients they need to stay healthy.

4. Keep the Temperature Appropriate

It is important to keep the temperature of the tank within the appropriate range.

If it is too cold, the fish will become sluggish and may die.

If it is too hot, the fish will become stressed and may also die.

5. Avoid Stressful Situations

There are a number of things that can cause stress in fish, including changes in the water quality or temperature, overcrowding, and aggression from other fish.

Try to avoid these situations as much as possible to keep your fish healthy.

Neon tetras are a delicate species of fish, and they can easily die if they become sick.

By taking some precautions and being aware of the signs of illness, you can help keep your neon tetras healthy and safe.

6. Keep Neon Tetras In School

This is one of the most important things you can do to keep your neon tetras healthy.

As we mentioned, neon tetras are schooling fish, and they feel safer when they are in a group.

So, if they are kept in schools of 5 or more, they will be less likely to become stressed and will be healthier overall.

FAQS

Can neon tetras die easily?

Neon tetras can live up to ten years in captivity, but they are fragile and vulnerable.

If the water chemistry changes drastically, the fish become stressed, unhappy, lose their immunity and then die.

How Often Do Neon Tetras Die?

In the wild, neon tetras may live up to ten years.

However, in a tank, their typical lifespan is only three years.

A neon tetra can survive for all three years if properly cared for.

However, it will perish quickly if you put it in a tank with poor living conditions.

Can I Add New Neon Tetras To Existing Neon Tetra Tanks?

You’re well aware that neon tetras should be maintained in cycling tanks, but adding new fish to an established tank; is a good idea?

That is a poor decision. We have no way of knowing if the new fish are healthy.

Even though they may appear healthy when purchased from reputable aquarists, neon tetras occasionally get sick.

Those new fish can even infect our existing neon tetras if combined with our well-setup tank.

As a result, you should quarantine the new neon tetras for at least a few weeks to protect our current neon tetras from bacterial illnesses and the deadly Neon Tetra Disease.

Last Words

Neon tetras are a beautiful and popular type of fish that are often kept in aquariums.

However, they are delicate creatures that can easily die if they become sick.