ok a few questions. I was reading about tetras, I like them. Tomorrow I will have a spare 10g tank with a filter.

a few questions...

1. what do tetras eat? can they eat goldfish flakes too, or do they have their own food?

2. how many could I keep in a 10gallon tank? I know they like groups, would 4 work out ok?

3. can i treat the water with the same aquasafe stuff that I use for the goldfish?

They need tropical food, and in a 10 gallon u could probably keep a few glo-lights or neon tetras. My brother has 4 serpae tetras in his 10 gallon, they are very hardy because he almost never changes their water, overfeeds them and they have had finrot several times and he certainly does not match temps when he fills up his tank...yet he hasnt lost a single one...they also come in a long tailed variety, they r very pretty. What kind of tetras were u thinking of keeping? And yes the waterconditoner will b fine for them,

I think you could get 5-6 neon, cardinal or other small tetra breeds. Or if you liked, 4 of two different varities. Just make sure you have at least 3 of any type because they need a school to feel safe and be healthy. If you plant the tank they'll do even better

As for feeding, I have a 20 gallon tetra tank and I feed them spriluina flakes, bloodworms and tropical micropellets.
You treat the water just as you would for goldies, and obviouly you heat it.

I've found the hardest thing about tetras is getting through the first week or so. If they are healthy and adjust to their new home, they can really last a long time. I have three black skirt tetras that I've had for about 4 years now!

I agree that some tetras are not very hardy, especially neons and cardinals. I had purchase about nine neons hoping that 5 or 6 would survive the quarantine period. To my disappointment, all died within 2 weeks. This is not meant to discourage you, you may have better luck than I did. It all depends on the stock that the store receives from the wholesaler. There are other hardier species that you may want to try.

I have 4 neon tetras (1 female and 3 males) with 3 cory's in a 10 gallon. I heard neons weren't hardy but that's not my experience; I find them very hardy. I originally bought 6 last spring, but one died within a week and another mysteriously disappeared in Jan. (never found the bones or anything, even after moving the tank and completely cleaning it out). I love them; the female gets the male who goes off by himself whenever it's feeding time...she totally looks after him. It's so sweet.