All fish / Characidae

Glass Tetra

Moenkhausia oligolepis

Also known as glass tetra, glass tetras, red-eye tetra, moenkhausia glass tetra, glas tetra, グラス・テトラ, 玻璃灯

A fairly large silvery tetra with big scales outlined in dark edging, a black spot at the base of the tail and a bright red upper eye. It is hardy and lively, which makes it a good choice for a planted community tank with fish of similar size.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

8 cm

Temperature

23 to 28 °C

pH

5.5 to 7.5

Smallest tank

110 litres

Keep as

Shoal of 6 or more

Diet

Omnivore: flakes, small pellets, frozen bloodworm and brine shrimp, some plant matter

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 8 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Amazon basin, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, Venezuela

Breeding

An egg scatterer that spawns among fine-leaved plants and gives no parental care. Breeding is quite achievable in a separate tank with soft, slightly acidic water, but the adults must be removed as they eat the eggs.

Good to know

It often gets mixed up with the similar red-eye tetra (Moenkhausia sanctaefilomenae), which is smaller. It may nip long fins and will eat soft plants, so avoid keeping it with slow fish that have flowing fins.