CheckMyFishTank

Glowlight Tetra care

Hemigrammus erythrozonus · Freshwater · Beginner level care

Glowlight Tetra, painted illustration

A peaceful schooling tetra with a glowing orange stripe.

Smallest tank20 gallons
Adult size1.5 inches
Temperature75 to 82°F
pH5.5 to 7.5
GroupA group of 6 or more
TemperamentPeaceful
SwimsMiddle of the tank
Lives3 to 5 years
Watch for: Keep them away from big or fast tankmates that stress them.

Feeding

Twice a day. A small pinch they finish in about 2 minutes. Small flakes or micro pellets, frozen daphnia.

Good tank mates

Fish that pass every check with Glowlight Tetra in a 40 gallon tank: same water, overlapping temperature, nobody gets eaten and no bullies.

Do not mix with

  • Silver Dollar: Silver Dollar grows big enough to eat Glowlight Tetra.
  • Tinfoil Barb: Tinfoil Barb grows big enough to eat Glowlight Tetra.
  • White Cloud Mountain Minnow: White Cloud Mountain Minnow and Glowlight Tetra need different water temperatures.
  • Angelfish: Angelfish grows big enough to eat Glowlight Tetra.
  • Convict Cichlid: Convict Cichlid grows big enough to eat Glowlight Tetra.
  • Oscar: Oscar grows big enough to eat Glowlight Tetra.
  • Jack Dempsey: Jack Dempsey grows big enough to eat Glowlight Tetra.
  • Firemouth Cichlid: Firemouth Cichlid grows big enough to eat Glowlight Tetra.

Questions

What size tank does a Glowlight Tetra need?

At least 20 gallons for a group of 6. Adults grow to about 1.5 inches, so plan for the adult size, not the size at the store.

What temperature does a Glowlight Tetra like?

75 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit, with a pH of about 5.5 to 7.5. A steady temperature matters more than hitting one exact number.

How many Glowlight Tetra should I keep together?

Keep 6 or more. They feel safe in a group and show better color and behavior.

What do Glowlight Tetra eat?

Small flakes or micro pellets, frozen daphnia. Feed twice a day: a small pinch they finish in about 2 minutes.

Sources

Checked against these sources on 2026-11-10. When sources disagree we use the safer number.