Edit Hemigrammus erythrozonus

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Name

Scientific name

Hemigrammus erythrozonus

Described by

Not recorded

Family

Characidae

Common names

Glowlight Tetra

Photograph credits

All 2 credited

Summary

The glowlight tetra, Hemigrammus erythrozonus, is a small characin known only from the Rio Essequibo in Guyana. Hardy and inexpensive, it i…

Size and aquarium

Maximum size

40mm, standard length

Aquarium size

Minimum length 60 cm, Minimum depth 38 cm, Minimum height 30 cm

Water

Water conditions

Temperature 24–28°C, pH 5.5–7.5

Hardness

2–15dGH

Conductivity

Not recorded

Behaviour

Temperament

Not recorded

Community suitability

Not recorded

Where it lives

Countries, regions, rivers and lakes

Guyana

Writing

Etymology

Not written yet

Distribution

Known only from the Rio Essequibo, Guyana. Don't expect to see any wild specimens for sale, though. All fish entering the trade are mass bred on commercial far…

Habitat

The Essequibo is the longest river in Guyana, and flows through a variety of biotopes. H. erythrozonus is found primarily in forested areas, in tributaries off…

Aquarium size

A 60 ∗ 38 ∗ 30 cm - ~68 litres tank could house a small group of these comfortably.

Maintenance

As it's commercially bred in such huge numbers, it is adaptable and will do well in most tanks. It does look particularly effective in a heavily-planted arrang…

Water conditions

Temperature: 24 – 28 °C pH: 5.5-7.5. Although it will survive in slightly alkaline water, it tends to be more colourful when kept in acidic conditions. Hardnes…

Diet

Easy to feed. It will readily accept just about anything offered. For the best condition and colours, offer regular meals of small live and frozen foods such a…

Behaviour and compatibility

One of the best tetras for the 'general' community setup. It is lively, quite colourful and peaceful. It's a good tankmate for most livebearers, danios, rasbor…

Sexual dimorphism

Mature females are more rounded in the belly than males, and tend to grow a little larger.

Reproduction

Quite easily bred, although you'll need to set up a separate tank in which to do so if you want to raise any numbers of fry. Something around 18" x 10" x 10" i…

Quite easily bred, although you'll need to set up a separate tank in which to do so if you want to raise any numbers of fry. Something around 18" x 10" x 10" in size is fine. This should be very dimly lit and contain clumps of fine-leaved plants such as java moss or spawning mops, to give the fish somewhere to deposit their eggs. Alternatively you could cover the base of the tank with some kind of mesh. This should be of a large enough grade so that the eggs can fall through it, but small enough so that the adults cannot reach them. The water should be soft and acidic in the range pH 5.5-6.5, gH 1-5, with a temperature of around 26.5 – 29 °C80 – 84 °F. Filtering the water through peat is useful, as is the use of RO water. A small air-powered sponge filter bubbling away very gently is all that is needed in terms of filtration.

It can be spawned in a group, with half a dozen specimens of each sex being a good number. Condition these with plenty of small live foods and spawning should not present too many problems.

Alternatively, it can be spawned in pairs. Under this technique the fish are conditioned in male and female groups in separate tanks. When the females are noticeably full of eggs and the males are displaying their best colours, select the fattest female and best-coloured male and transfer them to the spawning tank in the evening. They should spawn the following morning. Interestingly, during the act itself the pair often turn completely upside down.

In either situation, the adults will eat the eggs given the chance and should be removed as soon as eggs are noticed. These will hatch in 24-36 hours, with the fry becoming free swimming a 3-4 days later. They should be fed on an infusoria-type food for the first few days, until they are large enough to accept microworm or brine shrimp nauplii. The eggs and fry are light sensitive in the early stages of life and the tank should be kept in darkness if possible. Average brood size per female is 120-150.

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Where does this come from?

My own experienceFor example, I've kept twelve in a planted 60 cm tank since March 2024.A website I sawFor example, an IUCN Red List assessment, a museum catalogue or a FishBase page.A paperFor example, Marshall et al. (2011), Water temperature differences in interfluvial palm swamp habitats of Paracheirodon axelrodi and P. simulans.A book, or something not onlineFor example, Tappin (2010), Rainbowfishes: their care and keeping in captivity.Something already on the pageFor example, the Behaviour and compatibility section already says this.

Web address

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DOI

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Title

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Authors

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Year

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Pages

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Anything worth adding

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Notes

This species is ubiquitous in most dealers' tanks and is one of the best choices for the newcomer to fishkeeping, being both hardy and inexpensive. There is a …

References

No references

Name

Scientific name

Described by

Family

Common names

Photograph credits

Summary

Size and aquarium

Maximum size

Aquarium size

Water

Water conditions

Hardness

Conductivity

Behaviour

Temperament

Social needs

Community suitability

Where it lives

Countries, regions, rivers and lakes

Writing

Etymology

Distribution

Habitat

Aquarium size

Maintenance

Water conditions

Diet

Behaviour and compatibility

Sexual dimorphism

Reproduction

Notes

References

References