Glowlight Tetra - Hemigramus erythrozonus

Glowlight Tetra (Hemigrammus erythrozonus)

The Glowlight Tetra is a peaceful and attractive South American shoaling fish, loved for its translucent silver body and bright orange-red stripe that runs from the nose through to the tail. This glowing stripe gives the species its popular name and makes it especially effective in planted aquariums with darker substrate, wood and subdued lighting. Hardy, calm and colourful, the Glowlight Tetra is an excellent choice for mature peaceful community aquariums.

Common Name:
Glowlight Tetra. Also commonly referred to as the Glowlight, Fire Neon Tetra or Glowlight Characin.

Scientific Name (Latin):
Hemigrammus erythrozonus

Maximum Size:
Around 4 cm in captivity, making it a small and manageable shoaling tetra.

Water Type:
Freshwater

Origin / Natural Habitat:
Native to South America, especially the Essequibo River basin in Guyana. Some references also record the species from nearby Guiana-region drainages. In the wild, it is associated with slow-moving forest streams, shaded tributaries and soft, acidic waters with leaf litter, submerged roots and tannin staining.

Water Parameters:
Temperature: 24–28°C
pH Range: 5.5–7.5
Hardness: soft to moderately hard water, with soft, slightly acidic water preferred

Temperament:
Very peaceful and social. Glowlight Tetras are best kept with other small, calm community fish and should not be housed with large, aggressive or predatory species that may stress or eat them.

Diet:
Omnivorous micro-feeder. In nature, they feed on small worms, crustaceans and plant matter. In the aquarium they should be offered quality fine flake, micro pellets, crushed granules, frozen daphnia, cyclops, baby brineshrimp, bloodworm and occasional small live foods.

Minimum Tank Size:
A practical recommendation is at least 60 litres for a proper group, with a longer aquarium preferred for a larger shoal and more natural swimming behaviour.

Behaviour & Activity:
This is an active mid-water shoaling fish that should be kept in a group of at least 8, ideally 10 or more. In larger groups, Glowlight Tetras become more confident, colourful and natural in behaviour. They look especially good in planted aquariums with darker décor, floating plants, driftwood, leaf litter and open swimming space.

Aquarium Category:
Community Fish
This species is ideal for peaceful planted community aquariums with small tank mates such as rasboras, pencilfish, Neon Tetras, Cardinal Tetras, dwarf Corydoras, Otocinclus, small peaceful gouramis, dwarf cichlids and other calm tetras. Avoid large angelfish, predatory fish, aggressive cichlids, fin nippers and any fish large enough to swallow them.

Special Requirements or Care Notes:
Best kept in a mature, stable aquarium with gentle to moderate filtration, clean water and regular maintenance. Glowlight Tetras are generally hardy once settled, but they should not be added to brand-new or unstable aquariums. Their orange-red stripe is usually most vibrant in planted tanks with subdued lighting, darker backgrounds and a varied diet.

Suitable for:
Beginner to intermediate fishkeepers

Availability:
Common in trade, usually as captive-bred stock

All images are a visual representation of the fish you will receive, made to be as accurate as possible. Please note that Mother Nature is a wonderful thing, and variation in patterns and colours will occur — that is part of the unique beauty of these animals.