What Do Neon Tetras Eat?

Neon tetras are small aquarium fish, generally less than an inch in length, that prefer to live in school of at least five. Known for their bright colors, neon tetras have bright stripes of blue along their body and splotches of bright red near their tail. Their diet of both plants and animals makes them omnivorous.

  1. Wild Neon Tetras

    • Like many other omnivores, wild neon tetras are opportunistic eaters. They will eat whatever plant or animal matter is available to them. According to the Aquatic Community website, they eat many of the plants that are available in the Amazon and its tributaries and hide among these same plants. Wild tetra also commonly eat insects as well as insect larvae.

    Tropical Flake Food

    • Tropical flake food is a blend of fish meal, vegetable matter, grains, vitamins and color additives, according to the Foster and Smith Aquatics website. This food is suitable for the omnivorous neon tetra, as it has meat and vegetable matter in the mix. The color additives help to keep a tetra's colors bright. Tropical flake food will provide most of the nutrition neon tetras need, but the addition of treats will introduce variety into their diet.

    Freeze-Dried and Live Treats

    • Neon tetras will eat a variety of freeze-dried treats if offered. These are good for additional protein and give your tetras something different and interesting to eat. Freeze-dried bloodworms, tubifex worms and krill are among the freeze-dried small creatures that are recommended at About-Pets.com The fish will also eat live versions of all of these foods.

    Plants

    • Neon tetras need plants, not just to eat, but to hide in as well. According to the About-Pets website, neon tetras originate in the Amazon River and its tributaries, and these rivers are dense with plant manner. Adding plants to your tank can help the fish feel more at home as well as give them more variation in their diet. Make sure the plants you choose are edible, as Neon tend to nibble on any plants in a tank (as well as long fins on other fish).