Glowlight Tetra
Hemigrammus erythrozonus
A peaceful and exceptionally hardy shoaling fish, the Glowlight Tetra is famed for the luminous orange-red stripe that streaks across its translucent body, glowing brightly under dim aquarium lighting.
Ideal Conditions
- Temperature
- 22 – 28 °C
- pH range
- 5.5 – 7.5
- Hardness
- 2 – 15 dGH
- Adult size
- 3 – 4 cm
- Minimum footprint of 60x30 cm for a proper shoal
- 60 litres+
- Lifespan
- 3 – 5 years
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Water flow
- gentle to moderate
- Preferred setup
- Heavily planted with open swimming space, dark substrate, and floating plants to diffuse lighting.
About the Glowlight Tetra
First introduced to the aquarium hobby in 1933, the Glowlight Tetra has remained a beloved staple ever since. Hailing from the dark, tannin-rich waters of Guyana, this small characin is distinguished by its silvery-peach transparency and the striking neon-like line that runs from its snout to the base of its tail. Often overshadowed by the ubiquitous Neon Tetra, the Glowlight is arguably hardier, less prone to disease, and equally stunning when kept in proper conditions.
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Is it right for your tank?
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Where Glowlight Tetra comes from
Native range
Essequibo River Basin
Countries / regions
Guyana
Habitat
Slow-moving forest streams heavily shaded by dense canopy, often containing highly acidic, tannin-stained blackwater.
Most specimens in the modern aquarium trade are commercially bred in Eastern Europe or Asia, meaning they are quite adaptable to varying water conditions.
Similar species
Neon Tetra
Paracheirodon innesi
Black Neon Tetra
Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi
Cardinal Tetra
Paracheirodon axelrodi
We’re adding more full species guides as the catalogue grows.
Compatible tank mates
Reviewed guidance based on this species' recorded traits.
- Great
Bronze Corydoras
Corydoras aeneus
Peaceful bottom-dwellers that completely ignore the mid-water tetras.
- Great
Harlequin Rasbora
Trigonostigma heteromorpha
Shares similar size, temperament, and water parameters without directly competing for space.
- Great
Neon Tetra
Paracheirodon innesi
Another peaceful tetra of similar size; keeping multiple tetra species creates a beautiful, harmonious display.
- Compatible with caution
Angelfish
Pterophyllum scalare
Adult angelfish are predatory and may view smaller, younger tetras as a food source.
- Compatible with caution
Betta
Betta splendens
Glowlights are generally peaceful and fast enough to avoid a Betta, but their bright stripe can occasionally trigger aggression from highly territorial Betta males.
- Not recommended
Oscar
Astronotus ocellatus
Oscars will quickly eat any fish small enough to fit in their mouths, including glowlight tetras.
- Not recommended
Tiger Barb
Puntigrus tetrazona
Notoriously boisterous and prone to nipping, they can easily stress the peaceful glowlight tetra.
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