Glowlight tetra
Hemigrammus erythrozonus
A small, translucent tetra with a glowing orange stripe along its body; peaceful, hardy and at its best in a densely planted tank.
Key facts
- Body length
- 1.6 in without fins
- Minimum tank
- 22 gallons
- Group
- 6+
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Care level
- 1 / 5
- Lifespan
- Not well documented
- Diet
- Flakes, micro pellets, frozen daphnia and brine shrimp
- Origin
- Essequibo basin, Guyana
- Hardier than67%
- Bigger than21%
- Calmer than68%
Water: their range vs yours
Glowlight tetra tank mates
- Neon tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Harlequin rasboraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Fancy guppyGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Panda corydorasGets along in shared water.Good mates
- OtocinclusGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Cherry shrimpGets along in shared water.Good mates
- BettaGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Tiger barbGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Amano shrimpGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Black neon tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Black widow tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Blood parrot cichlidGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Chinese algae eaterChinese algae eater attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Glowlight tetra.Risky
- Clown loachClown loach attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Glowlight tetra.Risky
- DemasoniDemasoni attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Glowlight tetra.Risky
- Golden mbunaGolden mbuna attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Glowlight tetra.Risky
- Peacock cichlidMalawi butterfly peacock attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Glowlight tetra.Risky
- Rainbow sharkRainbow shark attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Glowlight tetra.Risky
- AngelfishAngelfish can eat Glowlight tetra: prey body depth 0.9 cm ≤ mouth 2.3 cm.Avoid
- Blue dolphin cichlidBlue dolphin cichlid can eat Glowlight tetra: prey body depth 0.9 cm ≤ mouth 6.3 cm.Avoid
- Convict cichlidConvict cichlid can eat Glowlight tetra: prey body depth 0.9 cm ≤ mouth 3.8 cm.Avoid
- Firemouth cichlidFiremouth cichlid can eat Glowlight tetra: prey body depth 0.9 cm ≤ mouth 3.0 cm.Avoid
- GoldfishGoldfish can eat Glowlight tetra: prey body depth 0.9 cm ≤ mouth 3.0 cm.Avoid
- Iridescent sharkIridescent shark can eat Glowlight tetra: prey body depth 0.9 cm ≤ mouth 32.5 cm.Avoid
How we check
The numbers the tank model uses for glowlight tetras: water as ideal and tolerated ranges, bioload from adult mass, space, flow and how they act on other species.
- Standard length
- 4 cm (SL)
- Adult mass
- 1.71 g
- Bioload at 25 °C
- 1.58 BU
- Min. water
- 68 L net
- Min. footprint
- 60 × 38 cm per group
- Group
- 6+ (best 10)
- Swims in
- middle
- Flow
- low
- Body / fins
- fusiform, normal fins
- Diet type
- omnivore
- Fin nipper
- none
- Sensitive to
- —
Sources: Seriously Fish: Hemigrammus erythrozonus · FishBase: Hemigrammus erythrozonus
Care notes
Glowlight tetras come from blackwater forest tributaries of the Essequibo in Guyana. The orange-red line from nose to tail shows best over dark substrate, and an albino form is also sold.
Keep six or more, ideally ten, in a 20 gallon tank or larger at 75–82°F. They get along with almost everything, but large fish such as angelfish may eat them.
Questions
What size tank does a glowlight tetra need?
At least 22 gallons (68 litres of water after decor). Adults reach about 1.6 inches without fins.
How many glowlight tetras should be kept together?
Keep at least 6, ideally 10 or more: fewer feel exposed and hide or turn nippy.
What water do glowlight tetras need?
75–82 °F, pH 6–7.5 and 2–15 dGH. Glowlight tetras come from Essequibo basin, Guyana.
How long do glowlight tetras live?
Not well documented with good care.
What fish can live with glowlight tetras?
Good tank mates include Neon tetra, Harlequin rasbora, Fancy guppy, Panda corydoras and Otocinclus. Each is checked both ways for size, fin nipping, temperament, territory and shared water.