Glowlight Tetra - In Store Pick Up
Glowlight Tetra
The Glowlight Tetra (Hemigrammus erythrozonus) is a popular and peaceful freshwater fish known for its distinctive iridescent orange to red stripe running along its body. These beautiful fish originate from the Essequibo Basin in Guyana, South America, inhabiting tropical streams, rivers, and floodplains.
Key Characteristics and Care:
Size: They are small, typically reaching an adult size of about 1.5 to 2 inches (4-5 cm) in length.
Lifespan: With proper care, Glowlight Tetras can live for 2 to 4 years, though some anecdotal reports suggest they can live significantly longer.
Social Behaviour: They are schooling fish and thrive in groups. It's recommended to keep a minimum of six individuals to promote their natural schooling behavior, reduce stress, and allow them to display their vibrant colors.
Tank Size: A minimum tank size of 10-16 gallons (approximately 45-60 litres) is recommended for a small school, though larger tanks are always better, especially for more active schooling.
Habitat Setup:
Substrate: Fine gravel or sand is suitable.
Lighting: They prefer subdued lighting, which can be achieved with floating plants or by choosing a dark substrate.
Decor: Provide plenty of plants (fine-leaved plants like Java Moss are appreciated), driftwood, and rock formations to offer hiding places and mimic their natural environment. Leave some open swimming space in the center of the tank.
Water Flow: A gentle to moderate water flow is sufficient.
Water Parameters: Glowlight Tetras are relatively hardy but prefer stable conditions.
Temperature: 22−28 ∘C
pH: 5.5−7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
GH (General Hardness):1−15 dGH (soft to slightly hard water)
KH (Carbonate Hardness): 1−8 dKH
Diet: They are omnivores and should be fed a varied diet.
High-quality flake or small pellet food for tropical fish.
Supplement with occasional live or frozen foods such as brine shrimp, bloodworms, and daphnia.
They may also graze on microorganisms and biofilm in the tank.
Feed small quantities multiple times a day rather than one large feeding.
Tankmates: Glowlight Tetras are peaceful community fish and are compatible with other small, peaceful species. Good tankmates include:
Other small tetras (e.g., Neon Tetras, Cardinal Tetras)
Rasboras
Small Gouramis
Peaceful catfish (e.g., Corydoras)
Small barbs, danios, and peaceful loaches.
Avoid larger or aggressive fish that may intimidate or prey on them (e.g., Angelfish).
While schooling fish, they generally won't school with other species, even similar-sized ones like Neon Tetras.
Breeding: Breeding Glowlight Tetras in a home aquarium can be challenging. They are egg scatterers, and their eggs are light-sensitive. A separate breeding tank with very soft, acidic water, low lighting, and fine-leaved plants or a spawning mop is typically required. Parents will eat the eggs, so they should be removed after spawning.
Overall, Glowlight Tetras are a beautiful and relatively easy-to-care-for fish, making them a popular choice for community aquariums.
