Profile of Hemigrammus erythrozonus

The Hemigrammus erythrozonus or bright tetra is a small freshwater tropical fish that belongs to the true tetra family. Particularly evident is the longitudinal band of dark to copper red colour, which in the anterior area can only be hinted at, but appears much more contrasting towards the base of the tail. It is precisely to this characteristic that the Hemigrammus erythrozonus owes its German name – in English it is also known as Fire Neon, which underlines its fiery appearance even more clearly in your underwater landscape. When light enters an otherwise dark environment, such as black water, and hits the luminous tetra, the copper red glows clearly.

This is an important visual cue for swarm cohesion, because this is how animals come together to form a swarm after they have been driven away by an external event.

The calm and easy to care for schooling fish can be socialized with other peace-loving and not too large conspecifics and can prove to be an easy fish to keep even for beginners.

You can find all important information about Hemigrammus erythrozonus or bright tetra in our profile.

Origin

The native habitats of phosphorescent tetras are found in northern South America, in Guyana, where they are found in the catchment area of ​​the Republic’s largest river, the Essequibo. There they are preferably found in shady, slow-moving waters with water temperatures between 24 and 28 °C.

Today Hemigrammus erythrozonus is no longer imported for commercial reasons, but the specimens offered come from captive breeding.

Behave

Glowlight tetras are schooling fish and therefore rely on the company of other members of their species to provide them with security. Therefore, a group of at least six, preferably more, bright tetras should always move around your underwater world. If the group is too small, this not only contradicts the social behavior of the Hemigrammus erythrozonus, but also means that the colorful splendor of the small tetras cannot fully develop.

Hemigrammus erythrozonus is not a solitary animal, so a group of at least six, preferably ten or more, small tetras should always move around your underwater world.

Even though bright tetras are sociable fish, you should of course still make sure that the aquarium is not too cramped and avoid overstocking. If your tetras don’t have enough space to avoid each other, fights can break out between the males and the fighting fish can even bite each other’s dorsal fins. The females do not become aggressive with each other, but obviously still want enough space.

Glowlight tetras prefer dark waters with only light currents and therefore tend to stay in the middle and lower water layers. There they form small territories led by the dominant animal of the group. This is often easy to spot because it is located in the darkest region.

When there is potential danger, the swarm gathers to appear as imposing as possible; when the danger seems to have been averted, the group splits up again. Long-term swarm formation only occurs if there is constant pressure from predators in nature.

Fish-friendly accommodation and assistance

Hemigrammus erythrozonus prefers dark waters with only light currents, so the setup of your underwater landscape should definitely match these preferences. To ensure sufficient shading in your aquarium, it is advisable to have a sufficient number of plants. Here you should make sure that the plants you use not only provide enough shade, but also cope with little light, for example: B. different Echinodorus species, floating plants or small-eared swimming ferns. However, these plants are not all easy to care for, so it may make sense to supplement your aquarium plants with fast-growing plants. A substrate that is as dark as possible complements the soft atmosphere of your bright tetras and highlights their bright colors as best as possible. Of course your Hemigrammus erythrozonus are also happy with roots which can serve as interesting hiding places. Your aquarium should also have a peat filter.

Because bright tetras are schooling fish and rely on companionship, there should always be a group of at least six, but preferably ten or more, small tetras in your aquarium. Due to their small body size, a small aquarium with an edge length of 60 cm or a volume of at least 54 liters is suitable for the graceful fish, so that the tetras can also be used as a reserve for a larger nano aquarium. Males reach a maximum size of 4.5 cm, while the slightly more voluptuous females remain a little smaller with a length of around 3.5 cm.

Being a peaceful companion, Hemigrammus erythrozonus is believed to get along well with other calm and not too large fish and can therefore easily be kept in a community aquarium. Glowlight tetras need a water temperature between 24 and 28°C and a pH value between 6 and 8. The overall hardness should be between 0 and 15°.

Nutrition

As far as diet is concerned, fluorescent tetras have no particular needs and are rather frugal. The menu should not be missing mosquito larvae, water fleas, but also high-quality frozen and flaked foods, as well as a varied mix of plant and animal foods.

Reproduction and breeding

Breeding bright tetras is certainly possible, but it is often not that simple and requires a breeding tank with very soft water. You should also feed your bright tetras vigorously to increase their willingness to lay eggs. Black mosquito larvae are suitable for this purpose, although it must be borne in mind that fish do not like to rise to the upper layers of water, so the water level in the breeding tank should not exceed a maximum height of 15 cm. The water should also be nice and warm and have a temperature of 28°C.

Breeding bright tetras is possible, but often proves quite challenging.

Questions and answers about Hemigrammus erythrozonus

1. How many Glowlight tetras do they store?

Since fluorescent tetras are sociable and therefore only feel comfortable in the company of other species, a larger group of at least six or more fluorescent tetras should always move into your aquarium. In Austria, animal husbandry regulations even stipulate that Hemigrammus erythrozonus, as a so-called sociable fish, can only be kept in a group of at least five animals in an aquarium with a minimum size of 60 x 30 x 30 cm and a volume of 54 litres.

2. What suits bright tetras?

The sociable and peaceful bright tetras are easy to socialize and therefore feel comfortable in a community aquarium with other fish – often even small shrimps and dwarf crayfish can enter. Examples of good housemates for your bright tetras are: cichlids, plecos or zebrafish.

3. How big do Glowlight tetras get?

With a maximum body length of around 4.5 cm, the males tower over their companions by a good centimeter, as the females are a little shorter at 3.5 cm, but have a somewhat rounder build.

4. What do Glowlight tetras eat?

Glowlight tetras are omnivorous and are not very demanding when it comes to food. They eat, so to speak, whatever you offer them and whatever enters their mouth. A balanced diet for your bright tetras should include: B. mosquito larvae, water fleas, small invertebrates, but also frozen and flake food and offer a mixture of plant and animal food.