All fish / Characidae

Head and Tail Light Tetra

Hemigrammus ocellifer

Also known as head and tail light tetra, beacon tetra, head-and-tail-light tetra, headlight tetra, ocellifer tetra, head & tail light tetra, ปลาไฟท้าย, テトラ・オセラファー, オセラファー, lampu senter, head and tail light, 头尾灯鱼

A small silvery tetra with a black spot at the base of the tail, a bright red-gold patch above it and a glowing orange-red mark by the eye, which gives it its common name. It is hardy, peaceful and lively in a shoal, so it is a popular choice for community tanks.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

4 cm

Temperature

22 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 frozen or live bloodworm, daphnia and brine shrimp

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

4 to 6 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Amazon basin and rivers of the Guianas (Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana)

Breeding

An egg scatterer that spawns among fine-leaved plants or spawning mops in soft, slightly acidic water and gives no parental care. It is fairly easy to breed if the adults are removed after spawning and the tiny fry are given infusoria at first.

Good to know

Kept in small numbers it can become shy or nip fins, so keep a proper shoal. Avoid housing with very large fish that could swallow it.