Glowlight Tetra: Care, Lifespan, Feeding, Algae Eating, Size..

The Glowlight tetra or Hemigrammus Erythrozonus is the fish that explodes in its colours in murky waters. Let’s see the characteristics, habitat and nutrition. The Glowlight tetra fish is a species very present in most retailers and new Appassionata the aquariums because it turns out to be the best choice to make; being a species is resistant to both economic. In short, very suitable for those who approach this hobby for the first time.

Characteristics of the Glowlight tetra fish

The Glowlight tetra fish, whose scientific name is Hemigrammus Erythrozonus, can reach an approximate length of 3.3 cm. It has a characteristic silver-grey body and tends to transparent, is compressed at the sides and has a small horizontally oriented mouth.

Since its body is transparent, it is possible to see the internal organs, but a red-orange stripe that runs through the entire body is highlighted, from the caudal peduncle including the eye, up to the head. On the dorsal fin, they have a spot of the same colour as the stripe, while the fins’ tips are white.

Precisely the intensity of the red colour present on its body and the area above the eye, are indicators of the state of health: a healthy fish of this species will show bright colours, except when stressed, perhaps from too strong lights or an aquarium devoid of hiding places.

The Glowlight tetra male is slightly more tapered and coloured both on the body (red) and the fins’ white ends. On the other hand, the female is more stocky with a rounded and swollen belly; the colours are slightly duller.

The Glowlight tetra fish or Hemigrammus Erythrozonus is very resistant in terms of chemical water parameters. They are a popular fish species among aquarium enthusiasts, due to their beauty and good temperament, and they don’t require too much care. It is not very difficult to raise it, and it is a lively fish, quite colourful and calm.

It is a good companion bath for most bearing fish, zebrafish, rasboras, Tetra, and other peaceful inhabitants, like catfish or small catfish. Better just not keep it with larger species that might see it as food, like scalars. Experts’ advice is to buy it in groups of at least six specimens, preferably ten or more.

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It is a species that thrives best in packs by nature and is much better off when in the company of its species, this is how it exhibits its best colours and most natural behaviours. It turns out to be able to adapt to different environments and will do well in most aquariums, especially those very full of plants.

To be able to shine in its brightness it needs to be offered a habitat very similar to the natural one, with quite dim light, perhaps shielded by floating plants, this fish will reveal all its splendour.

Furthermore, using a substrate of river sand and adding a few branches and a few handfuls of dry leaves will release the typical colour of the tea but must be carefully replaced every few weeks so that they do not rot and pollute the water.

Glowlight tetra fish can live in an aquarium of around 50 litres for up to 3 years, and the water must be very soft and acidic and the ideal temperature between 23 ° or 24 ° C.

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Habitat and reproduction of the Glowlight tetra

The Glowlight tetra fish lives in murky and dark waters produced by the maceration of large masses of plant remain, which settle on the bottom, generally composed of sand. It is found mainly in wooded areas, in the tributaries off the main river channel.

Originally from Guyana in the Essequibo River to be precise, the South American river. The Glowlight tetra fish reaches sexual maturity after approximately six months of life. To encourage mating, it is necessary to increase the acidity of the water, the temperature and provide more protein-rich feed.

Courtship among these fish consists of chasing each other madly among the aquarium vegetation. Until the male blocks the female with a fin, the deposition should take place within 24-48 hours of the start of the courtship.

A female of Hemigrammus erythrozonus lays 120 to 150 eggs in normal conditions. Once spawning and fertilization have taken place, the adults are moved to the breeding aquarium.

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After hatching, the fry comes to free-swimming within 3-4 days; at this point, they should be fed with infusoria or other microscopic foods, until they are large enough to accept newly hatched brine shrimp or other food.

Feeding of Glowlight tetra fish

The Glowlight tetra fish is an omnivorous but tendentially carnivorous species that in nature eats worms, eggs and micro invertebrates. This species is provided with a varied and protein-rich diet in captivity, including live, frozen and freeze-dried foods. This fish prefers to eat several times a day.

Which is why it is recommended to dose the food several times a day in small quantities, to ensure that everyone eats a similar amount.

Often, to highlight the colours, even more, they are given foods such as Tubifex, Chironomus, Artemia salina, Daphnia or the most common flake or granular foods for aquarium fish, obviously adapted to the size of their mouth.

Common name

Hemigrammus erythrozonus is known as luminous tetra , in English Glowlight tetra, Fire neon.

Biotype

It is a characid with a spindle-shaped and rounded body.

It can reach an approximate length of 4 cm., If it is kept in optimal conditions.

Shape – Morphology

Rounded fusiform body, and has the remarkable characteristic of an adipose fin. And mouth in central arrangement.

Coloration Glowlight tetra

It is transparent with silver and shiny tones. It has a characteristic reddish stripe, which runs from the base of the tail fin to the upper jaw. On the dorsal fin they have a spot with the same color as the stripe. The tips of the fins are white.

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Behavior Glowlight tetra

Peaceful, harmless and calm. It should be kept in a school of 6 to 10 specimens. It is a very resistant fish in terms of chemical parameters of the water. They are a popular fish species among aquarium enthusiasts for their beauty and good temperament, and they do not require too much care.

Sociability

Suitable for the community aquarium, included in disk aquariums, it has been proven that it is not affected by high temperatures. They should not be joined with fish with an aggressive or dominant character, because they could be damaged or even die, due to not being used to fights and confrontations.

Compatibility with other fish

It is a fish that does not show aggressive qualities so it can be kept in community aquariums, however, it should be noted that they are also shoaling fish so they must live in groups with members of the same species (6 to 6 individuals).

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Life expectancy

Their life expectancy is between 2 and 3 years.

Sex Differences – Sexual Dimorphism

The main sexual difference between males and females is that they have a larger and plump morphology, whose belly is rounded. On the contrary, the male is much smaller and his belly is flat.

Aquarium Maintenance Glowlight tetra

50 liter aquarium to place a small shoal. It prefers a well planted aquarium, with logs, roots, but with free space to swim. Filtering with peat is recommended. The lighting has to be filtered.