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Glowlight Tetra

By The Aquarium Calculators Editorial Team ·

Hemigrammus erythrozonus

Complete Glowlight Tetra care guide covering omnivore diet requirements, peaceful temperament, minimum 10 Gallons tank setup, and compatible freshwater tankmates. Difficulty: Easy.

Glowlight Tetra

Quick Answer

Glowlight Tetra (Hemigrammus erythrozonus) has a nearly transparent body with a vivid neon orange stripe from nose to tail. It requires a minimum 10 Gallons aquarium with a pH of 6.0 - 7.5 and temperature range of 22-26°C. This omnivore occupies the middle zone and makes an excellent addition to community setups.

Intro

Glowlight Tetra (Hemigrammus erythrozonus) has a nearly transparent body with a vivid neon orange stripe from nose to tail. It is a delicate-looking but hardy fish.

Setup

A 10-gallon or larger tank with dark substrate, plants, and dim lighting. They prefer soft, slightly acidic water. Good filtration with gentle flow.

Feeding

Omnivorous; accepts micro flakes, crushed pellets, baby brine shrimp, and daphnia. Feed small amounts.

Compatibility

Very peaceful. Keep in schools of 8+. Excellent for nano tanks. Good with other small tetras, rasboras, Corydoras, and shrimp.

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Tank Position
Middle
Water Temp
22-26°C
Adult Size
See profile
Water pH
6.0 - 7.5

Species Characteristics

Adult Size
Lifespan
Growth Rate
moderate
Tank Compatibility
Community compatible
Indoor Aquarium
Yes

Water Parameters

Water Temperature
Humidity
Water pH

Tank Lighting

Tank Lighting
Standard lighting
Light Hours
N/A
Intensity
moderate

Feeding & Diet

Diet Type
Diet: Omnivore
Feeding Schedule
N/A
Live Food Options
N/A

Continue Learning

Recommended Tools

Fish Compatibility Calculator fish compatibility

Health & Disease

Ich (White Spot Disease) common disease • all fish

Related Guides

Understanding pH in Aquariums water parameters • ph

Similar Species

African Red Eyed Tetra Care Guide: Schooling & Tank Size semanticSimilarity Apistogramma Care Guide: Temperament & Diet semanticSimilarity Banded Corydoras Care Guide: Substrate & Diet semanticSimilarity

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Glowlight Tetras should be kept together?
Maintain a minimum school of 8 to 12 individuals in a tank of at least 15 gallons (57 liters) with a footprint of 24x12 inches (60x30 cm). Glowlight tetras (Hemigrammus erythrozonus) display a glowing neon-orange line down their bodies only in groups over 10. Groups under 6 cause faded colors, fin-nipping, and chronic hiding. A school of 15+ creates natural shoaling dynamics. Provide dark substrate, dim lighting, and floating plants to enhance iridescence. Tank length must exceed 24 inches (60 cm) for their active swimming. Avoid large tank mates (angelfish, discus) that may prey on them.
What are the exact water parameters for Glowlight Tetras?
Target pH 6.0 - 7.5, General Hardness 3 - 10 dGH, Carbonate Hardness 2 - 8 dKH, Total Dissolved Solids 80 - 250 ppm, Electrical Conductivity 160 - 500 μS/cm, and temperature 72°F - 80°F (22°C - 27°C). They are hardy and do well in standard neutral water parameters across most home aquariums. Maintain nitrates below 15 ppm with weekly 20% water changes. Use a sponge or HOB filter with moderate flow. Add driftwood and Indian almond leaves to boost color. Hardness below 3 dGH causes clamped fins. Avoid sudden pH shifts >0.3.
What is the dietary and medication protocol for Glowlight Tetras?
They are omnivores requiring 35% protein, 10% fat, 55% plant matter. Feed high-quality tropical flakes, micro pellets, frozen daphnia, baby brine shrimp, and bloodworms twice daily. Offer spirulina flakes and blanched spinach weekly. Medication alert: Tolerate copper (0.2 mg/L) but sensitive to formalin. Praziquantel is safe. Salt baths up to 5 ppt treat external parasites. Quarantine with methylene blue for 7 days. They are susceptible to neon tetra disease; remove infected fish immediately. Treat ich with malachite green at half-dose (0.05 mg/L).
How to breed Glowlight Tetras in captivity?
Select 10-12 mature fish (1 year old) and condition with live blackworms and brine shrimp for 2 weeks. Set up a 10-gallon (38 liter) breeding tank with 4 inches (10 cm) of water (pH 6.5, dGH 4, 78°F/25.5°C), a spawning mop, and dim light. Simulate dawn over 30 minutes. Spawning occurs in the morning; female lays 200-300 adhesive eggs. Remove parents after 4 hours. Eggs hatch in 24-30 hours at 75°F (24°C). Fry feed on infusoria for 3 days, then microworms, then baby brine shrimp after day 7. Keep tank dark for first 5 days.

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