Taiwan breeds neon tetras domestically for 1st time

台灣首次實現霓虹燈魚（紅蓮燈）的國內人工繁殖

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan has bred neon tetras domestically for the first time, marking a breakthrough that could reduce reliance on imports and support the local ornamental fish industry, per CNA.

Taiwan’s Fisheries Research Institute under the agriculture ministry said Thursday it has developed artificial breeding and fry production technology for the neon tetra. The institute said its research team simulated the water conditions of the species’ natural habitat, allowing the fish to be bred reliably in an artificial environment.

Native to the Amazon River basin in South America, particularly in Brazil and Colombia, neon tetras are among the most popular species in the global ornamental fish market. In the US alone, monthly sales can reach as high as 2 million fish.

Taiwan’s supply of neon tetras has traditionally relied on wild-caught fish or artificially bred fish imported from Southeast Asia. Annual imports exceed 1 million fish, highlighting the need to establish local breeding capacity.

To meet industry demand, the institute’s research team recreated the species’ natural environment by carefully adjusting factors such as lighting, water temperature, and pH levels inside breeding tanks. These controlled conditions successfully induced reproductive behavior.

Researchers also implemented precise feeding strategies and nutritional management to maintain healthy broodstock, which improved mating success, fertilization rates, and hatching rates. This allowed for stable artificial breeding throughout the year.

According to the institute, systematic trials have already established a mass reproduction process with potential industrial applications. The breeding program includes detailed protocols for breeding environment setup, water quality management, mating optimization, and fry growth monitoring.