Product Details

Glowlight Tetra – Hemigrammus erythrozonus

The Glowlight Tetra is a peaceful South American shoaling fish with a translucent body and a bright orange-red stripe running from the nose to the tail. Correctly named Hemigrammus erythrozonus, this attractive tetra is ideal for mature planted community aquariums where its glowing stripe stands out beautifully against darker décor and soft planting. It is hardy once settled, but still benefits from stable water, gentle tank mates and a proper group.

Key Identification:

Common Name: Glowlight Tetra
Other Names: Glolight Tetra, Fire Neon Tetra, Glowlight Fish
Scientific Name: Hemigrammus erythrozonus
Corrected Spelling: Hemigrammus erythrozonus
Fish Type: Tetra / Characin
Water Type: Freshwater

Natural Range & Habitat:

Hemigrammus erythrozonus is native to South America, where it is associated with the Essequibo River drainage. Natural habitats are typically warm, soft, acidic to neutral freshwater environments with plant cover, shaded areas and calmer margins.

In the aquarium, Glowlight Tetras do best in mature planted setups with clean water, open swimming space and shaded cover. Wood, leaf litter, floating plants and darker substrate can help create a more natural setting and make the orange-red stripe appear brighter.

Appearance & Adult Size:

Glowlight Tetras have a slim, semi-transparent body with a vivid orange, copper or red line running along the flank from the snout towards the tail. The front edge of the dorsal fin may also show warm red or orange colour, while the remaining fins are usually clear to lightly marked.

Adults usually reach around 3.5–4 cm. Females are often fuller-bodied than males, especially when mature, while males are usually slimmer.

Aquarium Suitability:

This is an excellent fish for peaceful community aquariums, planted nano-to-medium displays and mixed tetra setups. Glowlight Tetras are calm, attractive and usually less boisterous than many active tetras, making them suitable for carefully planned community aquariums.

They are not suitable for aggressive cichlid tanks, predator communities, very hard-water livebearer setups, tiny unfiltered aquariums or tanks with large fish that may eat them.

Recommended Aquarium Size:

A practical minimum is 60 litres for a small group, with a tank length of at least 60 cm recommended. Larger aquariums of 75–90 litres or more are better for bigger shoals and mixed communities.

Keep in a group of at least 6, with 8–10 or more preferred. Larger groups are more confident, show better colour and display more natural shoaling behaviour.

Water Conditions:

Temperature: 24–28°C
pH: 6.0–7.5
Hardness: Soft to moderately hard
Additional Notes: Glowlight Tetras prefer clean, stable water and should only be added to mature aquariums. Soft, slightly acidic water is ideal, but captive-bred fish can adapt to a wider range if changes are gradual. Avoid sudden swings in temperature, pH or hardness.

Temperament & Tank Mates:

Aquarium Category: Community Fish

Glowlight Tetras are peaceful community fish. Suitable tank mates include other peaceful tetras, rasboras, pencilfish, small Cory-type catfish, Otocinclus, small peaceful plecs, honey gouramis, dwarf cichlids with care and other calm community species.

Avoid large predators, aggressive cichlids, fin-nipping barbs and very boisterous fish that may outcompete or intimidate them. They should not be kept singly or in pairs, as group life is important for confidence and natural behaviour.

Feeding:

Glowlight Tetras are easy-feeding omnivores. Offer quality fine flakes, micro pellets or small soft granules as the staple diet. Supplement with frozen or live foods such as daphnia, cyclops, brineshrimp, mosquito larvae and finely chopped bloodworm.

A varied diet helps maintain condition, colour and natural activity. Feed small portions that are eaten quickly, as they are small midwater feeders.

Behaviour in the Aquarium:

This species usually swims through the middle levels of the aquarium, moving in a loose shoal through plants and open water. In subdued lighting, the orange-red stripe can appear especially bright, giving the fish its “glowlight” name.

Glowlight Tetras are egg scatterers and do not provide parental care. If spawning occurs in a community aquarium, eggs and fry are usually eaten unless a separate breeding setup is used.

Care Notes:

Add Glowlight Tetras only to a mature, fully cycled aquarium. Provide plants, shaded areas and open swimming space. Maintain regular water changes and stable water quality, and avoid rough or aggressive tank mates.

This species can look pale after transport or in bright bare tanks, but settled fish usually show stronger colour once they are in a calm planted aquarium with a good-sized group.

Recommended For:

Beginner to intermediate

Availability:

Common / Usually captive-bred or farmed

Image Disclaimer:

All images are a visual representation of the fish you will receive, made to be as accurate as possible. Natural variation in size, body transparency, orange-red stripe intensity, fin colour and markings can occur between individual fish.