Glowlight Tetra

About

The glowlight tetra (Hemigrammus erythrozonus) takes its name from the vivid copper-orange stripe that runs the length of its body, catching light in a way that almost seems lit from within. It hails from the Essequibo River in Guyana, South America, where it inhabits slow-moving, soft, darkly-stained waters. In the aquarium it tends to occupy the lower to middle levels of the water column, and you'll notice the school tighten up when the fish feel unsettled, then spread out and explore more freely once they're comfortable. A reliable indicator of how at home they feel in their tank. This is one of those species that genuinely earns its reputation as a great beginner fish. It's hardy, widely available, inexpensive, and tolerant of a broad range of water conditions, though like most small tetras it doesn't appreciate sudden swings in parameters. A peaceful species through and through, it fits into almost any community setup alongside livebearers, danios, rasboras, Corydoras, and most gouramis. Avoid keeping it with anything large enough to view it as a meal. As a shoaling fish, it really should be kept in groups of at least six, and ideally ten or more. Both for the fish's wellbeing and because a proper school shows off that glowing stripe far more effectively than a lone individual ever could.