All fish / Characidae

Glowlight Tetra

Hemigrammus erythrozonus

Also known as glowlight tetra, glow light tetra, glolight tetra, albino glowlight tetra, fire neon tetra, glowlite tetra, ปลาเรืองแสง, ปลาไฟแดง, ikan glowlight tetra, グローライトテトラ, glolight, 红光管

A small, slim, semi-transparent tetra with a glowing orange-red stripe running from the snout to the tail and white tips on the fins. It is hardy, peaceful and looks best in a large group over dark substrate with plants, making it a staple of community tanks.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

3.5 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

5.5 to 7.5

Smallest tank

60 litres

Keep as

Shoal of 8 or more

Diet

Omnivore: quality flakes and micro pellets with live or frozen daphnia, brine shrimp and bloodworm

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

3 to 5 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Essequibo River basin, Guyana

Breeding

An egg scatterer that spawns among fine-leaved plants or mops in soft, acidic water, often with the pair performing barrel rolls. Breeding is fairly easy in a separate tank, but the adults eat the eggs, which also need dim light to hatch.

Good to know

Nearly all fish in the trade are farm-bred. Keep in a proper group, as lone or paired fish become shy and pale.