# Glowlight Tetra (*Hemigrammus erythrozonus*)

Glowlight Tetras are tiny fish that shimmer in the light! They are very colorful and love to swim in groups.

- **Category:** [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/fish)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 2/5 · Low
- **Habitat:** Freshwater rivers
- **Also known as:** Red-eye Tetra, Red-eyed Tetra

![Glowlight Tetra](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426625/objects/4733.jpg)

## Appearance

The Glowlight Tetra has a slender, translucent body with a striking iridescent orange-red stripe running horizontally from its snout to its tail. Its fins are mostly clear, making the vibrant stripe the most distinctive feature against its silvery-pinkish hue.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Chordata
- **Class:** Actinopterygii
- **Order:** Characiformes
- **Family:** Characidae
- **Genus:** Hemigrammus

## Interesting facts

- A school of Glowlight Tetras looks like a living, glowing river of fish.
- Their 'glow' is actually reflected light, not light they make themselves!
- These tiny fish can easily be scared by loud noises or sudden movements!
- They come from the winding rivers and streams of Guyana in South America.

## Special abilities

- **Luminous Leader:** Glowlight Tetra has a glowing stripe that helps them stick together in dark water, keeping their school safe.
- **Quick Dart:** Glowlight Tetra can make swift, darting movements to escape predators because of their agile, torpedo-shaped body.
- **Schooling Shield:** Glowlight Tetra can hide from bigger fish by swimming in large groups, confusing predators with many moving targets.

## Measurements & details

- **Length:** 3-4 cm
- **Weight:** 0.001-0.002 kg
- **Lifespan:** 2-4 years
- **Swim Speed:** 0.2 km/h
- **Maximum Depth:** 2 m
- **Water Type:** Freshwater

## Diet & Feeding

Glowlight Tetras are tiny omnivores, nibbling on small bugs, algae, and bits of plant matter.

- **Primary Foods:** insect larvae, zooplankton, algae, small crustaceans, detritus
- **Foraging Method:** Foraging

## Ecological connections

- **Eats:** water flea (*Daphnia pulex*) — A primary food source for young and adult tetras.
- **Eats:** bloodworm (*Chironomus plumosus*) — Larval form is a common food for tetras in the wild.
- **Eaten by:** Wolf fish (*Hoplias malabaricus*) — A larger predatory fish sharing the same river systems.
- **Shelter:** Bristlenose Pleco (*Ancistrus temminckii*) — Juveniles may hide among structures created by larger fish.

## Traits

- [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats.
- [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring.
- [Omnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/omnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet includes both plant and animal matter.
- [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
- [Freshwater](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/freshwater): Freshwater habitats include non-saline aquatic environments such as rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands, vital for numerous species.
- [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands.
- [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day.

## Collections

- [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/fish)

## Safety

**Danger:** 2/5 · Low

Watch quietly from a distance and never try to feed or chase wild animals.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Glowlight Tetra?

Look at body shape, where the fins sit and their outline, mouth position, stripes and spots. Young fish and breeding adults can wear different patterns, and aquarium color varieties can look nothing like wild fish. Fish Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How long is Glowlight Tetra?

3-4 cm

### How much does Glowlight Tetra weigh?

0.001-0.002 kg

### How long does Glowlight Tetra live?

2-4 years

### What does Glowlight Tetra eat?

Glowlight Tetras are tiny omnivores, nibbling on small bugs, algae, and bits of plant matter.

### How fast can Glowlight Tetra swim?

0.2 km/h

### Where is Glowlight Tetra usually found?

Freshwater rivers

### How does Glowlight Tetra hunt?

Foraging

## More Fish

- [Rainbow Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rainbow-trout) (*Oncorhynchus mykiss*)
- [Brown Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-trout) (*Salmo trutta*)
- [Brook Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brook-trout) (*Salvelinus fontinalis*)
- [Lake Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/lake-trout) (*Salvelinus namaycush*)

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Source: [Glowlight Tetra: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/glowlight-tetra)