Neon tetras are one of the most popular fish in freshwater aquariums. As such, there are a lot of myths surrounding neon tetra egg and breeding. In this article, I’ll tackle the myths about neon tetra egg, pregnancy, and neon tetra breeding. There’s a lot to learn about breeding and raising aquarium neon tetra fish so don’t be shy about asking questions in the comments if you’re interested in learning more!
- 1 Does Neon Tetra Lay Eggs?
- 2 What Does a Pregnant Neon Tetra Fish Look Like?
- 3 What Do Neon Tetra Eggs Look Like?
- 4 What Color are Neon Tetra Eggs?
- 5 How Big are Neon Tetra Eggs?
- 6 Where Do Neon Tetra Lay Eggs?
- 7 How Does Neon Tetra Egg Nest Look Like?
- 8 How Many Eggs Does A Neon Tetra Lay?
- 9 After How Long Neon Tetra Eggs Hatch?
- 10 Are Neon Tetras Egg Layers?
- 11 How to Care Neon Tetra Eggs?
- 12 Neon Tetra Egg Sacs
- 13 Neon Tetra Egg Bound
- 14 Neon Tetra Eggs Not Hatching
- 15 Neon Tetra Eggs Turning White
- 16 Final Words
Does Neon Tetra Lay Eggs?
The short answer is “Yes”, Neon tetra fish lay eggs, which are very small and difficult to see without a magnifying glass.
What Does a Pregnant Neon Tetra Fish Look Like?
The first and most obvious sign of a pregnant neon tetra fish is the appearance of a large, round lump in the belly area, just above the anal fin. This lump will be larger than any other neon tetra fish in your tank, but it is not harmful. Each individual egg is visible within the lump.
Additional physical signs, such as a bulging anal fin, may be present.
Another common sign is an increase in appetite. A pregnant female can eat several times her regular amount. You may also see her hovering near the surface of the water in search of food or swimming close to any food that you put in the tank.
A pregnant female neon tetra fish will also exhibit behavioral changes. The fish may swim erratically and she may stay away from other fish in the tank.
As your neon tetra starts to get closer to giving birth, you should notice a dark spot on her stomach. This dark spot is called the gravid spot and helps you know how long she has left until she gives birth.
What Do Neon Tetra Eggs Look Like?
The eggs of Neon tetras are very tiny, almost microscopic, barely 1mm in diameter, and have a roundish shape. They are so small and transparent that you can hardly see them with naked eyes.
What Color are Neon Tetra Eggs?
The eggs do not have any particular color, instead, they are milky white and sticky. They look like tiny bubbles in the water.
How Big are Neon Tetra Eggs?
Neon tetra eggs are very small and when they are first laid by the female fish, they are about 1.5mm in diameter. However, once the fry hatches from the egg, it is only about 5mm in length.
Where Do Neon Tetra Lay Eggs?
Neon tetras will lay their eggs on any flat surface, but if a male neon tetra fish and female are together in the tank, the eggs will be laid on the glass of the aquarium. This is because when a female neon tetra releases her eggs, she does so into the water column and the male will then fertilize them. When this happens, they usually fall to the bottom of the tank onto some sort of substrate. If you have a spawning mop in the tank, they may attach themselves to that instead.
If you have only one pair in your tank, they will more than likely lay their eggs on the glass. However, if you have other pairs in there as well, they could lay them anywhere.
How Does Neon Tetra Egg Nest Look Like?
The neon tetra egg nest is home to the eggs of a Neon Tetra. It is constructed by the male neon tetra fish using his mouth to glue together several pieces of aquatic vegetation. The eggs are then deposited in the nest and fertilized by the male.
Neon tetras will become very protective of their eggs and any fish that approaches the nest will be chased away by the parents.
Once the eggs are hatched, the fry (newly hatched fish) will remain in the nest for a few days before venturing out on their own.
How Many Eggs Does A Neon Tetra Lay?
The answer to your question is not a simple one. The amount of eggs laid by the fish Neontetra is dependent on many factors.
The most common and important factor that decides how many eggs will be laid by a female fish is her age. The older the fish, the more eggs it can lay. You should know that only mature female and male neon tetra fish can reproduce and lay eggs. If a female fish has not reached maturity and if she has not been in contact with a male fish (matured) for a long time, then she will have difficulty in laying eggs even if she lays them.
But generally, Neon Tetra will lay 100 – 300 eggs every 6 – 12 days. You can expect to see this happen once per month.
After How Long Neon Tetra Eggs Hatch?
The hatching of the Neon Tetra fish eggs depends on the surrounding temperature. If the temperature of the water is 75 degrees Fahrenheit, then it will take about 2 to 3 days for the eggs to hatch and the babies become free-swimming a few days after that.
If the water temperature is at 80 degrees Fahrenheit, then it will only take a day for the eggs to hatch.
The eggs hatch as soon as they have absorbed enough energy from their yolk sacs. Once they are hatched, they do not feed until they have absorbed all of the remaining yolk sacs.
Are Neon Tetras Egg Layers?
Yes, Neon tetras are egg layers, and when they are ready to breed, the female will release her eggs and the male will fertilize them.
How to Care Neon Tetra Eggs?
Once the eggs have been laid, it’s up to you to take care of them so they will survive and grow into adult fish.
How do you know if your neon tetras have been bred? You may notice that the male and female fish spend a lot of time together or that they seem to be chasing each other around the tank. If you look closely at the female, you may notice that her stomach seems bigger than usual. This is because she will be storing the eggs inside her body until it is time for them to be released.
As soon as you see signs of breeding, place a breeding trap in your tank. This is a special plastic box with holes large enough for neon tetra fry to pass through but small enough to keep adults out. As soon as the female releases her eggs, she can be placed inside this trap for safety until the adults have been removed from the tank. The adults should then be removed, leaving only the fry inside their new home.
Once you have removed the adults, you’ll find that the female has laid approximately 100 to 250 eggs. Keep an eye on the trap and your fish to make sure everything goes smoothly.
Neon Tetra Egg Sacs
As I have mentioned above, Neon Tetra fish eggs are laid in batches of around 200, and the egg sacs float to the surface. After the eggs have been hatched, the fry will not become free swimming until several days. During this time, they remain attached to the egg sac.
After hatching, the fry still needs to be protected from being eaten by other fish or sucked into a filter intake. An aquarium with a sponge filter is ideal because it allows plenty of water movement while keeping large particles out. Small particles can be removed by placing a nylon stocking over the intake.
You can attempt to raise the fry without their parents present, but this is often unsuccessful. Neon tetras are best raised in a separate aquarium containing peat moss or oak leaf litter for cover and tannins for water coloration. The latter will also help prevent fungus on the egg sacs and young fry.
Neon Tetra Egg Bound
Egg binding is a common issue among female betta fish, but you do not often hear about neon tetra egg bound.
But there were few cases reported when neon tetra was also suffering from egg bound. In this condition, the fish will keep holding their eggs inside the body which can lead to some serious health issues and even death.
Types of Neon Tetra Egg Bound
There are two types of neon tetra egg bound:
Complete egg binding: In this type of egg binding, the female neon tetra will not be able to lay eggs at all.
Partial egg binding: In this type, the female neon tetra will have trouble laying eggs and might show some signs like having her belly pressed against the glass. She might also try to hide behind the plants or driftwood or any other place she can find to feel safe.
The best treatment for egg binding is prevention by avoiding overfeeding and keeping the tank water clean at all times. If your female neon tetra does become egg bound, you can treat it with a course of antibiotics and by adding Epsom salts to your tank water to help relax her pelvic fin muscles.
Note: Please do not use these medicines on your own if you are not sure what you are doing. Rather, Seek help from a nearby specialist.
Neon Tetra Eggs Not Hatching
It is not uncommon for Neon Tetra eggs to fail to hatch. There are a many reasons why this can occur. The most common reason is that the water has become contaminated with fungus.
If you do not have an air stone in the tank the eggs will not receive enough oxygen and they will die. If you do have an air stone but the eggs are still not hatching then it is likely that your water is too acidic or too alkaline which can cause them to die.
There could be many other reasons why this could happen but these two are the most common ones.
Neon Tetra Eggs Turning White
If the eggs are turning white, the fry are dying or have died. This is usually caused by a fungus, which will take over and kill a batch of eggs if it’s not controlled. You can buy a medication designed to fight fungus, and use it as directed.
I usually just use aquarium salt. It’s not quite as effective, but it works, and you probably already have some in your home. I always add salt to my tanks anyway, so I don’t have to worry about fungus. You use 1 teaspoon per gallon for every 24 hours you’re using it. After that time period ends, do an 80% water change and re-add the salt for another 24 hours.
I prefer using salt because it’s cheaper and doesn’t harm fish or plants.
Final Words
Breeding Neon Tetras has some challenges associated with it and they do require a certain level of proficiency. At the same time, they are fish that can be rewarding to breed.