How to Draw a Neon Tetra (Easy Step by Step)
You will learn to draw a simple neon tetra fish using basic shapes like an oval body, a wavy tail, and a round eye, perfect for beginners. You can also add bubbles to make your drawing look like it's swimming.
- Start your neon tetra with a simple long oval body.
- Add a wavy tail, a top fin, and a small round eye.
- Draw floating bubbles to make your fish appear to be swimming.
- Use this easy, step-by-step guide as a beginner.
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A neon tetra is a tiny, bright fish, and this drawing keeps it simple: a long oval body, a wavy tail, a top fin, and a little round eye. A few floating bubbles make it feel like it is swimming in a tank. It is a great first fish for beginners.
- Easy
- 10 minutes
- 8 steps
You need: paper, a pencil, an eraser, and crayons or markers for coloring.
Start drawing
In this article (7 sections)
How to draw a neon tetra step by step
How to Draw a Neon Tetra · tinyhandscreate.com
Step 1: Guide shapes
Lightly sketch this oval. It only shows where the big parts go, so press softly. You will erase it at the end.
Step 2: The body
Draw a big long oval for the fish's body, with a little point on the left end for the nose. Leave two gaps on the right end, one at the top and one at the bottom, where the tail will go, and add a small bump on the bottom near the tail.
Step 3: The tail
At the right end of the body, start at the top gap and draw a wavy tail that curves out, dips in the middle, and swoops back to the bottom gap.
Step 4: The top fin
On top of the body, draw a small curved hill, like half a circle. Both ends of the curve touch the back of the fish.
Step 5: The gill line
Near the head, draw a curved line like a gentle bracket. It starts at the top of the body, bulges toward the tail, and ends at the bottom.
Step 6: The eye
Inside the head, to the left of the curved line, draw a round dot and color it in. Keep it big and friendly.
Step 7: The side fin
Below the middle of the body, a little behind the curved line, draw a small rounded triangle for the side fin. It looks a bit like a tiny leaf or a guitar pick.
Step 8: Bubbles
Above and to the left of the fish's nose, draw one bigger circle and one tiny circle floating up. Bubbles are just rings that do not touch the fish.
All done!
Erase the guide shapes, go over your lines, then color it in.
Finished your neon tetra? Keep the pencils out and learn how to draw a dolphin or how to draw a shark next.
Tips for drawing a neon tetra
- Start the body with a light oval so the nose and tail end come out smooth and even.
- The tail is the trickiest part. Start at the top gap, curve out and back in to the middle dip, then finish at the bottom gap.
- Draw the eye after the curved gill line, and leave a little space between them so the head looks clear.
Free neon tetra coloring page
Want to go straight to coloring? Open this neon tetra coloring page at full size and print it. It is the same drawing you just learned, with clean lines ready for crayons or markers.
How to color your neon tetra drawing
Color the body silver, add a bright blue stripe along the middle and a red patch near the tail, just like a real neon tetra. For a twist, make the bubbles rainbow colored or draw a whole school of tiny fish.
Neon tetra fun fact for kids
Neon tetras have a bright blue stripe along their sides that seems to glow. They come from the warm, shady streams of South America and swim in groups called schools.
Questions about drawing a neon tetra
What shapes do I need to draw a neon tetra?
You need a long oval for the body, a wavy tail, a half circle for the top fin, and a small rounded triangle for the side fin. A round dot makes the eye and two circles make the bubbles.
How do I make my fish look cuter?
Make the eye big and round, and keep the body a little chubby. Adding a few bubbles near the face also makes it look happy.
Why does my fish tail look uneven?
Try marking the top gap, the middle dip, and the bottom gap of the tail first. Then draw smooth curves between them so both sides match.
