Have a question!!! fish question

[Flatcoatluver]

I really want some neon tetras and have a filter and a 10 gallon aqauirom (SP) and i really want neon's because i think there beutiful but i have been told they need a heater too. SO do i need one or not????

[Flatcoatluver]

Bump?????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :(

[Jessika]

Neon Tetras are tropical fish and thrive in warmer waters, 22-26C (72-79F). Therefore yes, you will need a heater. ;)

Also keep in mind the rule of thumb for the amount of fish for your tank is 1inch of adult fish per gallon! Since an adult Neon Tetra can grow to be about 1.5 inches, then for a ten gallon tank you should not get any more than six - seven fish.

[Flatcoatluver]

yeah the guy petco said i didn't need a heater!!! And i was thinking they did because they were tropical thanks jessika just needed to confirm my argument

[Jessika]

Wow the guy at PetCo is an idiot. My PetCo must have had the smartest employees of any PetCo because the one I worked at we HAD to know stuff about whatever the customer asked us about or we didn't get put in that section. We had to take written tests and certify in stuff and everything lol

[chocolatepuppy]

I've had neon tetras for years. I don't have a heater. There is a light over the tank however, which does warm up the water. ;)

[Flatcoatluver]

a light didin't come with it so if i had it right on the water would that be ok.

[Jessika]

a light didin't come with it so if i had it right on the water would that be ok.

For a 10 gallon tank using a heating bulb would work. Not just a regular household lightbulb though ;)

You can get a heater for like.. $10 at walmart

[Flatcoatluver]

ok that great i will check at walmart,

[chocolatepuppy]

I was talking about the light in the hood of the tank. Please don't rig something up and fry your fishies! :eek: For a ten gallon tank , if you don't already have a lighted tank, I'd go with the heater. :D

[binka_nugget]

You might be okay without a heater. I had a ten gallon tank that was constantly 72-74. I rarely had the light on too.. it just had a hood.

[jackie]

Tetras are schooling fish which need to be with there own species in groups no smaller than 5. If you already have a diamond tetra, you should add more diamonds rather than neons. Most fish stores will accept exchanges on fish, so see if you can change the diamon for a neon.

[Flatcoatluver]

thanks for all your advise!! I think i will just stick to bettas lol. when i get my pay check i will save up for neons and a more expensive tank with heater and light!! lol.

[tikeyas_mom]

yes, neon tetras are a tropical fish. they should be kept in schools of 6 or more... they need a heater that will keep their tank around 29Celcius..

[areias]

The heater I have is a Neptune 25 watt submerisible, for half of a 10 gallon tank. So for a full 10 gallon I would go with at least a 50watt. Mine was only about $10, and I believe the 50 watt was $15. It works well. I got it at petsmart.

Normally in petstores, every freshwater fish that isn't a goldfish is tropical and needs water at least 75 degrees. :)