Guppies and Neon Tetras have many things in common. They are peaceful, inexpensive, and colourful and can live with many other fish. Moreover, there are also several tetra species and a lot of guppy variety out there. Just a little care is required and you are all set for your new pets.
So, can Guppies and Neon Tetras live together in the same tank? Yes, Guppies and Neon Tetras can live together as both of them are peaceful fish and require simular water conditions such as temperature range, pH level of water and toxin.
General Guidelines For A Balanced Community Tank:
When you are choosing between fish species that are similar, it is essential to follow a few guidelines when planning to keep them together in a tank. Few of them are listed below:
1. Size Of The Aquarium Tank Is An Important Factor
You need to ensure that the size of the tank is accurate for housing different species all together in that area. It is very important to note that there should be the space of an inch size of fish for each gallon of water. Also, special attention is required for live-bearing fishes as they tend to multiply each month. Ignoring this fact can result in overcrowding in your tank within a few months.
2. Preference Of Aquarium Tank Regions
Invertebrates and bottom-feeder fishes make a great pair with Guppies as well as Neon Tetras. Your tank will not look empty as bottom feeder fishes will take up the bottom area of the tank and the rest will be taken up by the Guppies and Neon Tetras. It is more to look at the tank filled with fishes all over.
3. There Should Be Similarity In Behavior Of The Fish Breeds
It is ideal to put fish of different breeds having similar behaviour. Avoid pairing aggressive fishes with your peaceful ones. For instance, never pair fin-nippers/fin nibblers together with the male Guppies as they have larger fins as compared to them.
4. Water And Diet Requirements Of Fishes
Always set the water parameter which is good for both the species. Those fishes having similar water needs can only be paired together in a same water tank. Always study the preferred water requirements, diet, temperature, and mineral requirements before taking any decision.
5. Similar Size Of Fishes
Large sized fish will always attack the smaller ones. Also, large fishes will also eat up all the food, leaving nothing for the smaller ones. So, it is best to pair up the fishes with similar sizes, that is, small with the smaller ones and large with the larger ones.
Now that you have understood the general guidelines to keep different species together in a tank, let’s dive in to study the pair of Guppies and Neon Tetras.
Tank Space
Since the basic requirements of Guppies and Neon Tetras are almost same, you are sorted by keeping them together in a same tank. However, you need to make sure about the other requirements that can’t be neglected.
For instance, space is very important and you need to make sure that there is enough space for both the species. There is one more important fact that Guppies are live-breeding fishes while the Neon Tetras are not.
You need to ensure that there is much hiding space in the tank for the guppy fry as Neon Tetras could try to eat the young ones. This step is very crucial if you are planning to breed the guppies in the presence of the Tetras.
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Male And Female Ratio Of Guppies And Neon Tetras In A Same Tank
You might be thinking that having similar water conditions, you can easily keep Guppies and Neon Tetras in the same tank without considering their genders.
It is important for you to note that you need to maintain a ratio of 1 to 3 between male and female of both the species. By doing this, there won’t be any issues for the male species in Guppies in finding females of their species.
It can result in a serious threat if a male Guppy couldn’t find any female of its own species; he could end up in breeding with a totally different species and could possibly kill the female.
Water Parameters For The Live-Bearing Fish And Non-Bearing Fish
Since Guppy is a live-bearing fish as they give birth to the free swimmer fishes, the minimum size of the tank should be 20-30 gallons with a temperature of 64°-82° F and 6.0 to 8.0 pH levels is required.
However, Neon Tetras are not live-bearing fishes as they lay eggs after the spawning period and then the male fish will immediately fertilize the eggs. Minimum tank size should be 20-30 gallons, having a temperature of 72°-75° F and 6.0 to 7.0 pH level is a must.
Breeding And Caring For The Guppies And Neon Tetras
Live-breeds can breed easily and you just have to take care of the necessary requirements and the rest of the work is done naturally. It is the most beautiful feeling to watch the journey from a newborn baby to grow completely. However, it is completely different in the case of breeds that lay eggs. Let’s discuss both the cases separately.
Live-breeders are the preferable choice for the newbie’s as they are easy to take care of. These parents don’t give enough attention to their newborn as the fry Guppy is capable to take care of its own by hiding from its predators.
The live-bearers don’t have motherly instincts and they can eat up their own babies. Therefore, a lot of plants should be installed in order to get a good hiding spot for the babies.
In case of Neon Tetras, the breeding pair should be kept in a separate tank. Proper tank conditions are required to initiate the mating process. Always dim the lights and increase it gradually as it helps in the spawning process to initiate. When the female lays the eggs, it should be removed immediately so that male tetra can fertilize the eggs.
Both the parents should be removed after fertilizing as they can eat their own eggs, therefore, the eggs should be kept alone. It is your responsibility to take care of food and water requirements for the eggs and fry.
Posted by – Geetali
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