neon tetras, their life span, and you

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Megalofyia

Aquarium Advice Freak
Joined
Jul 1, 2003
Messages
290
Location
Nebraska
Just out of curiosity, since these fish seem to be so freaking fragile, what is the longest someone has owned a neon tetra?

So far for me it's 2 years.
 
Oh and if your wondering or didn't know according to the literature their life span is supposed to be 10 years.
 
*Hey Megalofyia!* Plese don't take offense at this post! :wink: It's not meant to be rude!

What literature states this? Internet sites, books, scientific journals? Did you read this at http://www.fishpondinfo.com/neon.htm ?

I've read more like 3-4 years max in a couple of books. I'll check on that, though. Petsmart.com has "The Neon Tetra has a ten year average life span" written on their page. What a ridiculous thing to state, though. By whose standards of average? If you averaged all aquarium-dwelling NTs, you'd probably get an average life of 4 days. If you averaged lives in the wild, you'd probably get a few hours or a day (most eggs or fry eaten immediately...). Well, sorry. The wording is just pretty poorly thought-out!

I'd love it if they do have such a lifespan--much more time to enjoy them! It's hard to believe, though! :D

If I remember, I'll read up on this...

As for me, I've only kept mine for a few months, but they're going strong! 8)
 
I have had horrible luck with neons. Every time I bought them all execpt one would die! It happend so often I think it was the supplier to the LFS that I got them from.

I switched to Cardinals....Had to save up longer to get a good school, but in the long run it worked out cheaper!
 
madasafish said:
*Hey Megalofyia!* Plese don't take offense at this post! :wink: It's not meant to be rude!

What literature states this? Internet sites, books, scientific journals? Did you read this at http://www.fishpondinfo.com/neon.htm ?

I've read more like 3-4 years max in a couple of books. I'll check on that, though. Petsmart.com has "The Neon Tetra has a ten year average life span" written on their page. What a ridiculous thing to state, though. By whose standards of average? If you averaged all aquarium-dwelling NTs, you'd probably get an average life of 4 days. If you averaged lives in the wild, you'd probably get a few hours or a day (most eggs or fry eaten immediately...). Well, sorry. The wording is just pretty poorly thought-out!

I'd love it if they do have such a lifespan--much more time to enjoy them! It's hard to believe, though! :D

If I remember, I'll read up on this...

As for me, I've only kept mine for a few months, but they're going strong! 8)


ok um.. yeah.. that would have been the point of my post. That I've read that they have this long life span when in reality I've yet to hear of someone who's actually had a neon tetra longer than 2 or so years.

Anyways if you still don't believe me. . . here are some links.

http://www.giveusahome.co.uk/allpets/fish/neontetra.htm
http://www.petsmart.com/fish/answers/breed_guide/articles/article_3937.shtml
http://www.fishpondinfo.com/neon.htm
http://petplace.netscape.com/Articles/artShow.asp?artID=3004
 
I've read 10 years as well. I think you have to have a damn stable tank for it to work though, never moved, never changed out much, same fish, 10 years.
 
My current neon's are a little over a year old... They are as big as my guppies!

My cardinals are much younger....

I bought 2 neons still have 2. I bought 5 cardinals still have 5.

West Coast ROCKS.. :)

Maybe species tank would help with longevity. Maybe pH is a factor..
 
I bought 6 neon tetras to cycle my 33 gallon tank. I put them in after the tank had been going 6 days. One neon died in the first week. My tank has been running for months now and all 5 are going strong and getting quite big. Quite proud of myself :)
 
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