Glowlight Tetra

The glowlight tetra (Hemigrammus erythrozonus) is a small fish from the Essequibo river system in Guyana, and the name is a fair description. The body is nearly colourless, and running through it from the eye to the base of the tail is a single band of luminous orange-red that catches the light like a filament. Against a dark, planted background a shoal of them reads as a scatter of glowing lines rather than as individual fish.

Aquarium care

• Reaches roughly 4 cm.
• Peaceful, gentle and community safe.
• Keep eight or more; the effect depends entirely on numbers.
• Prefers soft, slightly acidic water and subdued lighting.
• Omnivorous: small flake, micro pellets, frozen daphnia and bloodworm.
• Mid-water swimmer.

Glowlights are a quieter alternative to neons and rather less demanding about water. Dark substrate, floating plants and dim light bring out the stripe; bright light over pale gravel washes it out completely. They mix well with corydoras, otocinclus, small rasboras and dwarf gouramis.

Stock rotates with each shipment, and livestock is sold for local pickup at our Lethbridge store. See the current tetras.