Lone Neon Tetra

As some may know, I recently experienced a tank crash. Lost two platies, 12 neon tetras, and two of my cories. Hopefully the tank has finally stabilized.
But after this crash, I am left with one lone neon tetra. He doesn’t seem particularly freaked out, he’s kind of hanging out with my platies but I know that he would be much happier in a school.
Once I’m positive that whatever killed my fish is gone, I intend to replace my platies and cories but after so many losses of neon tetras (this isn’t my first group to pass unfortunately), I don’t want to do them again. So I’m wondering if there are any other types of fish that my lone tetra would potentially school with? Obviously he’s most likely to school with other neons but I’d like to find out any other options if possible.

The current tank stock is:
-6 platies
-4 corydoras
-1 dwarf gourami
-1 neon tetra
My tank is a 30 gallon that is always around 78°F

 

I have a lone rasbora I got it as an endler and couldn’t give it back he usually schools with my rummy nose tetras
Beside the fact that a schooling fish must be with his kind not others in my opinion if you find some type of a tetra which looks like neons(example cardinals) your lone tetra will school with it but his lifespan will definitely get shorter
You can always consider rehoming too

 

He or she will probably only school with other neon tetras of the same type. My black neon and glow light neons only school together when I'm doing a water change or something and they're stressed. Otherwise they form separate groups. Occasionally though one of the glow light neons like to hang out with the black neons.

 

what do you think caused the problem in your tank? is there a live thread you can direct me to? or can we discuss here?

 

Lately a lot of people have been having problems with neons.

 

Cardinal tetras are much hardier than neons, and they look much similar. You could also add a group of other tetras or rasboras. I added rasboras when I had half of my neon school die from a fungus, and they lived together in harmony.

 

what do you think caused the problem in your tank? is there a live thread you can direct me to? or can we discuss here?

I added in some new fish without quarantine (rookie mistake, I know) and it must’ve introduced something. No idea what. Everyone just started dying.

Cardinal tetras are much hardier than neons, and they look much similar. You could also add a group of other tetras or rasboras. I added rasboras when I had half of my neon school die from a fungus, and they lived together in harmony.

I have a lone rasbora I got it as an endler and couldn’t give it back he usually schools with my rummy nose tetras
Beside the fact that a schooling fish must be with his kind not others in my opinion if you find some type of a tetra which looks like neons(example cardinals) your lone tetra will school with it but his lifespan will definitely get shorter
You can always consider rehoming too

So cardinals or something similar would be best for him? I’ll look into them

 

Are fish still dying?

Cardinals would be good, but more neons are better. Cardinals are just more hardy and don't die as easily

 

Are fish still dying?

I believe they have stopped. I don’t intend to add any new fish for a while even after I know it’s okay.

 

Well done. I would add two more cories and finish the neon school with 5 cardinals, along with adding a few otos. That is my opinion

 

this my personal opinion. I think neons do best and show their best colors in acidic water. ive got a mixture of rasbora het., cardinals, green neons, and neons nearing 5 yrs in age, never ever get sick, I get random deaths here and there but it is few and far between (months) and never death in groups like from an outbreak, I chalk them up as anomalies since I test the water, they have been in 5.5pH water.

I also quarantine newcomers in a 88F, 2 tablespoon of iodized table salt per 10 gallon and 1 tablespoon of magnesium sulfate per 10g. hospital tank which is 10g. this method kills ich and other parasites that exist in pet store tanks. this hospital tank also has loads of daphnia, marimo moss balls, substrate and other surfaces teeming with tubifex worms and detritus worms. if you are fast enough to catch any dead fish before it is consumed by detritivores that fish was doomed to die anyway. get your money back guarantee if the store has one. the other more resilient fish will thrive, get fat, healthy and strong eating from the buffet of live goodies, I serve them fresh frozen gammarus shrimp. (gammarus if not killed before served can sometimes ruin the ecosystem of a planted tank with their voracious nature if allowed to invade.)

 

When I had a viral disease that killed all but 2 of my neons, I added mirrors to the outside of the tank so they could school with their reflections. They do it non stop! So instead of 2, there's "4".