Quick Overview The Glowlight Tetra (Hemigrammus erythrozonus), native to the clear, slow-flowing forest rivers of Guyana, is a timeless favorite in the freshwater aquarium hobby. They feature a unique, semi-transparent body through which a stunning, iridescent reddish-orange line radiates like an internal filament of a lightbulb. This “glow” is echoed beautifully by matching fiery highlights on the front edges of their dorsal and anal fins. Highly peaceful and naturally social, these schooling fish stay compact—maxing out around 1.5 inches—making them an absolute dream for community aquariums and planted nano setups.
Tank Requirements & Local Care Tips
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Care Level: Beginner (Incredibly resilient, low-maintenance, and highly adaptable)
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Minimum Tank Size: 10 to 15 Gallons (Must be kept in schools of 6 or more; keeping them in larger groups of 10+ encourages tight, confident schooling behavior)
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Water Temperature: 22°C to 28°C (Perfectly acclimated to our local tropical climate)
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Temperament: Peaceful (An ideal community resident that gets along perfectly with Rasboras, Guppies, Corydoras, Neon Tetras, and Dwarf Shrimp)
Bacolod Hobbyist Tip: In heavily lit aquariums with bare glass or pale gravel, Glowlight Tetras can feel overexposed, causing their brilliant orange stripes to appear washed out. To really make their internal “neon” striping pop, place them in an aquarium with a dark background, dark aquasoil or sand, and plenty of live plants like Java Fern, Anubias, or floating water lettuce.
They are eager mid-water feeders that thrive on high-quality crushed micro-flakes, baby brine shrimp, and small pellets. Drop by our Bacolod pet shop today to check out our premium color-enhancing fish feeds, dark aquasoils, and a healthy, vibrant school of Glowlight Tetras!
