Glowlight tetra
Hemigrammus erythrozonus
Glowlight tetra (Hemigrammus erythrozonus) is a freshwater species with an adult-size reference of about 4 cm. It needs at least 60 litres and 8 individuals, with its social and territorial profile taken into account.
Température de l’eau
22 - 28 °C
Valeur du pH
5.5 - 7.5
Type d'eau
Eau douce
Niveau dans le bac
Milieu
Taille adulte
4 cm
Volume minimal du bac
>= 60 L
Groupe minimal
>= 8
GH
1 - 15 dGH
KH
1 - 7 dKH
TDS
25 - 295 ppm
Conductivité
39 - 461 uS/cm
Description de l'espèce
Geographical Origin and Habitat: A freshwater species; the enclosure should provide stability, oxygenation, space and shelter consistent with its behaviour without turning one habitat description into a mandatory recipe.
Taxonomy and Morphology: The accepted scientific name is Hemigrammus erythrozonus; the verified classification records genus Hemigrammus, family Acestrorhamphidae, subfamily Pristellinae, order Characiformes. Historical names remain searchable as synonyms rather than separate species.
Social Behavior: Glowlight tetra is gregarious and should be kept in a school. The minimum reference is 8 individuals; sex, maturity and available space can require a more conservative composition. Observe access to food, resting behaviour, chasing and use of shelter. Isolation, persistent competition or aggression means the number, composition or environment needs to be corrected.
Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Colour and shape can vary with age, sex, physiological state and environmental conditions. Identification and sexing require recognized species-level characters; one appearance or photograph is not enough.
Soins, reproduction et cohabitation
Aquarium Setup: Glowlight tetra needs an aquarium of at least 60 litres, sized for adult body size and a minimum group of 8 individuals. Filtration, shelter and swimming room must match the species and the actual number kept. Volume alone does not make an enclosure suitable: tank shape and length, usable area, oxygenation and the ability to separate territories must reflect adult behaviour.
Diet and Feeding: The recorded diet is omnivorous. Offer appropriately sized foods varied within that category, and adjust quantity and frequency from actual intake, body condition and leftovers. One food or a fixed schedule is not suitable for every age and situation.
Water Quality: Maintain stable, well-oxygenated water appropriate to a freshwater species; the card's reference values are 22–28 °C, pH 5.5–7.5. Verify conditions with reliable tests and size maintenance and filtration to the actual load. Ranges are not automatic thresholds for treatment or rapid chemical correction.
Compatibility and Cohabitation: The cohabitation profile is suitable for a compatible community, with a generally peaceful temperament. Keep at least 8 individuals; tankmates, stocking density and decor must allow escape, rest and feeding without excessive competition. Watch interactions especially during feeding, maturity and breeding. Persistent chasing, injury or exclusion from food requires a change in stocking or layout, or separation of the animals.
Aquarium Breeding: The recorded reproductive profile is “oviparity”. Breeding should be attempted only with healthy adults, separation capacity and a plan for eggs or young. Do not treat unverified triggers, sex ratios or hatch times as universal for this species.
Risks and Diseases: Prevent problems through quarantine of new arrivals, stable water, appropriate feeding and daily observation. Similar signs can have different causes, so check parameters, history and diagnosis before medication. Follow the product label and qualified aquatic-veterinary advice; there is no universal reduced dose for a species or family.
Origine et répartition géographiques
A freshwater species; the enclosure should provide stability, oxygenation, space and shelter consistent with its behaviour without turning one habitat description into a mandatory recipe.
Origine
Amazonie, Orénoque et Guyanes
Profil de poisson
- Tempérament
- Peaceful
- Glowlight tetra has a generally peaceful temperament. Insufficient space, an unsuitable social ratio or incompatible tankmates can substantially change observed behaviour.
- Régime alimentaire
- Omnivore
- In the wild, they are micro-predators feeding on small insects, worms, and crustaceans. In the aquarium, they readily accept high-quality crushed flakes, micro-pellets, and freeze-dried foods. Supplementing their diet with live or frozen foods like daphnia, baby brine shrimp, and bloodworms will enhance their coloration and vitality.
- Espérance de vie
- 2-5 years
- Taille adulte
- 4 cm
- Ratio des sexes
- School
- Glowlight tetra is gregarious and should be kept in a school. The reference minimum is 8 individuals and must not be read as permission to overcrowd the aquarium.
- Fréquence d'alimentation
- Twice daily
- It is highly recommended to feed them two to three small meals a day rather than one large one. Offering only what they can consume within a couple of minutes ensures minimal food waste and prevents water quality degradation. Frequent, small feedings closely mimic their natural foraging behavior in the wild.
- Charge biologique
- Low
- These small tetras produce a minimal bioload, making them excellent candidates for smaller or heavily planted aquariums. They do not generate significant amounts of waste compared to larger species, reducing the burden on the filtration system. However, keeping them in large schools will naturally increase the overall waste output, requiring adequate biological filtration.
- Courant
- Strong
- They prefer a moderate to low water flow that simulates the slow-moving tributaries and flooded forest regions of their natural habitat. Strong currents can exhaust these small fish and cause them significant stress over time. Providing areas of still water, particularly near dense vegetation, allows them places to rest comfortably.
- Risque de saut
- No
- Reproduction
- Oviparous
- Breeding these tetras can be challenging as they are egg-scatterers that provide no parental care. They require soft, acidic water and dim lighting to trigger spawning behavior successfully. A separate breeding tank with fine-leaved plants or a spawning mop is necessary, and parents must be removed immediately after laying eggs to prevent predation.
- Compatibilité et compagnons
- Community
- The cohabitation profile is suitable for a compatible community, with a generally peaceful temperament. Keep at least 8 individuals; tankmates, stocking density and decor must allow escape, rest and feeding without excessive competition. Watch interactions especially during feeding, maturity and breeding. Persistent chasing, injury or exclusion from food requires a change in stocking or layout, or separation of the animals.
- Niveau dans le bac
- Middle
- These fish primarily occupy the middle to upper levels of the water column in the aquarium. They are active swimmers that appreciate ample open swimming space combined with areas of dense planting. While they occasionally dart to the surface for food or explore the bottom, they will spend most of their time cruising the midwater.
Modèles et paramètres scientifiques
FishBase
Fenêtre sur les données scientifiques officielles de l’espèce
FishBase v25.04Données synchronisées le : 15/06/2026
- Niveau trophique
- 2,9 ± 0,32 se
- Résilience
- Élevée (moins de 15 mois)
- Singularité phylogénétique (PD50)
- 0.5
- Relation bayésienne longueur-poids
- a = 0.01259, b = 3.05
- VulnérabilitéVulnérabilité faible (10 / 100)
Galerie d'images
Images sous licence liées à l'espèce ou, lorsqu'elles sont indiquées, au taxon représentatif le plus proche.
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