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''Hemigrammus erythrozonus'', commonly known as the glowlight tetra, is a small
tropical fish
Tropical fish are generally those fish found in aquatic tropical environments around the world. Fishkeepers often keep tropical fish in freshwater and saltwater aquariums. The term "tropical fish" is not a taxonomic group, but rather is a ge ...
from the
Essequibo River
The Essequibo River ( Spanish: ''Río Esequibo'' originally called by Alonso de Ojeda ''Río Dulce'') is the largest river in Guyana, and the largest river between the Orinoco and Amazon. Rising in the Acarai Mountains near the Brazil–Guyana b ...
,
Guyana,
South America
South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere at the northern tip of the continent. It can also be described as the sout ...
. It is silver in colour and a bright iridescent orange to red stripe extends from the snout to the base of its tail, the front of the dorsal fin being the same color as the stripe. Other fins are silver to transparent. The glowlight tetra is a peaceful,
shoaling
In biology, any group of fish that stay together for social reasons are shoaling, and if the group is swimming in the same direction in a coordinated manner, they are schooling. In common usage, the terms are sometimes used rather loosely. Ab ...
fish. It is larger than the
neon tetra
The neon tetra (''Paracheirodon innesi'') is a Freshwater fish of the characin family (family Characidae) of order Characiformes. The type species of its genus, it is native to blackwater and clearwater streams in the Amazon basin of Sout ...
, and its peaceful disposition makes it an ideal, and popular,
community tank
Community aquaria are tanks that are designed to contain more than one species of fish. Most commonly they include a variety of species that do not normally occur together in nature, for example angelfish from Brazil, swordtails from Mexico, and ...
fish. It should be kept with similar sized, non-aggressive species. ''Hemigrammus gracilis'' is a senior
synonym. The red-line
rasbora
''Rasbora'' is a genus of fish in the family Cyprinidae. They are native to freshwater habitats in South and akistan s_...
_(''Redstripe_rasbora.html" ;"title="outheast Asia, as well as southeast China. A single species, ''R. gerlachi'', is only known from an old Zoological specimen">s ...
(''
Rasbora_pauciperforata'')_of_
Rasbora_pauciperforata'')_of_Malaysia">Redstripe_rasbora">Rasbora_pauciperforata'')_of_Malaysia_and_Indonesia.html" ;"title="Malaysia.html" ;"title="Redstripe rasbora">Rasbora pauciperforata'') of Malaysia">Redstripe rasbora">Rasbora pauciperforata'') of Malaysia and Indonesia">Malaysia.html" ;"title="Redstripe rasbora">Rasbora pauciperforata'') of Malaysia">Redstripe rasbora">Rasbora pauciperforata'') of Malaysia and Indonesia has markings and coloring very similar to ''H. erythrozonus'', but is a member of family Cyprinidae, not a close relative.
''H. erythrozonus'' is a medium-sized tetra growing to , notably larger than both neon and
cardinal tetra
The cardinal tetra (''Paracheirodon axelrodi'') is a freshwater fish of the family (biology), family Characidae of order (biology), order Characiformes. It is native to the upper Orinoco and Rio Negro (Amazon), Negro Rivers in South America. Gro ...
s. It has a life span of two to four years when kept in good conditions.
In the wild, the fish eats aquatic insect larvae.
In the aquarium
''H. erythrozonus'' is readily available and usually inexpensive. Golden and
albino
Albinism is the congenital absence of melanin in an animal or plant resulting in white hair, feathers, scales and skin and pink or blue eyes. Individuals with the condition are referred to as albino.
Varied use and interpretation of the term ...
varieties are also sold. It is best seen in the
freshwater aquarium
A freshwater aquarium is a receptacle that holds one or more freshwater aquatic organisms for decorative, pet-keeping, or research purposes. Modern aquariums are most often made from transparent glass or acrylic glass. Typical inhabitants inclu ...
when kept in subdued lighting with a dark substrate.
Water conditions
The water should be soft to slightly hard, d°GH of 6° to 15°, with a slightly acidic
pH of 6.8, in the range 6.0 – 7.5. It prefers a temperature of 25 °C in the range 22° – 28° °C (72° – 82 °F).
The hardiness of this fish allows it easily to adapt to harder water, though soft water is essential for captive breeding.
Nutrition
''H. erythrozonus'' is an omnivore and in the aquarium eats small live, frozen and dry foods and flake foods. The feeding of vegetable matter is suggested to vary the diet.
Shoaling
Like all
tetra
Terrestrial Trunked Radio (TETRA; formerly known as Trans-European Trunked Radio), a European standard for a trunked radio system, is a professional mobile radio and two-way transceiver specification. TETRA was specifically designed for use by ...
s, ''H. erythrozonus'' is happiest, most active, and most aesthetically pleasing when in a
shoal. A minimum aquarium length of 60 cm will make them more comfortable when swimming. They prefer a well planted tank for hiding, but with some open water for free swimming. They should be a group of at least four with eight or more to make them feel secure. They tend to swim in tighter groups when a potential predator is present and swim freely when comfortable. They are often bought by aquarium owners to play a 'second fiddle' role to the
neon tetra
The neon tetra (''Paracheirodon innesi'') is a Freshwater fish of the characin family (family Characidae) of order Characiformes. The type species of its genus, it is native to blackwater and clearwater streams in the Amazon basin of Sout ...
. Although they generally shoal separately from neon and
cardinal tetra
The cardinal tetra (''Paracheirodon axelrodi'') is a freshwater fish of the family (biology), family Characidae of order (biology), order Characiformes. It is native to the upper Orinoco and Rio Negro (Amazon), Negro Rivers in South America. Gro ...
s, they will sometimes
shoal alongside the latter, making an arresting spectacle.
Gender identification
Like most tetras, females are larger and more fat bodied than the more slender male. It may be hard to tell male from female until the fish are fully mature and females fill with eggs.
Breeding
''H. erythrozonus'' breeds similarly to most egg-scattering small fish. It been bred in captivity with a moderate level of difficulty.
Breeding tank set-up: A small 40l all-glass tank with soft water (hardness up to 8°dGH and carbonate hardness not higher than 2°dCH). Water temperature should be kept between . Adding
peat
Peat (), also known as turf (), is an accumulation of partially decayed vegetation or organic matter. It is unique to natural areas called peatlands, bogs, mires, moors, or muskegs. The peatland ecosystem covers and is the most efficient ...
to the tank or filter will soften water and make it slightly acidic. The tank should have dim or no lighting. Spawning is over fine-leaved plants.
Java moss Java moss is a common name for several plants and may refer to:
*''Taxiphyllum barbieri''
*''Vesicularia dubyana
''Vesicularia dubyana'', known as Java moss or Singapore moss, is a species of moss native to Asia. It is common in the aquarium tr ...
(''Taxiphyllum barbieri'') or
Fontinalis are suggested but not mandatory, or a spawning mop made of woolen thread. Other commonly used plants include water wisteria and hornworts, as well as fox/coons tail. 1 cm glass beads or a spawning grate will help at the bottom to protect eggs from being eaten by adults, though they will have to spawn through the plants first, as the fine leaves act as a trigger. If spawned without fine leaved plants, the majority of eggs will result unfertilized.
Parents' conditioning: Feed the pair kept separately with a variety of live foods, frozen food or dry food for a few weeks. When the female is well rounded transfer the pair to the breeding tank in the late afternoon hours. The spawning will occur in the following morning or the next day; if no spawning behavior is shown after three days, conditioning of the pair should be restarted.
Spawning behavior: The male will swim around in a quick manner locking his fins when near the female. During the spawning act both fish roll over, when the female is in the upside down position she ejects the eggs while the male fertilises them. Usually 120-150 eggs are dropped on plants and on to the bottom. When the pair is done, they will start grazing for the eggs and should be removed.
Raising the fry: The eggs are light sensitive, so the breeding tank should be as dark as possible. Some believe light contributes greatly to the eggs succumbing to fungal infections, though this may have more to do with cleanliness of tank and water conditions. Methylene blue may be added to the water column to prevent fungi as well. The fry will hatch in 20 to 25 hours, looking like small slivers of glass. Fry can be fed with
infusoria
Infusoria are minute freshwater life forms including ciliates, euglenoids, protozoa, unicellular algae and small invertebrates. Some authors (e.g., Bütschli) used the term as a synonym for Ciliophora. In modern formal classifications, the term ...
,
paramecium
''
''Paramecium'' ( , ; also spelled ''Paramoecium'') is a genus of eukaryotic, unicellular ciliates, commonly studied as a representative of the ciliate group. ''Paramecia'' are widespread in freshwater, brackish, and marine environments and a ...
culture, crushed flakes, and
rotifers after they have used all the yolk sack. On the fourth day a very small portion of newly hatched
brine shrimp
''Artemia'' is a genus of aquatic crustaceans also known as brine shrimp. It is the only genus in the family Artemiidae. The first historical record of the existence of ''Artemia'' dates back to the first half of the 10th century AD from Urmia L ...
should be introduced. The young consume relatively large live foods such as
nauplii of brine shrimp. Later
microworms can be added to the diet.
Care of the breeding tank: Bottom sediment should always be removed and regular water changes done during the rearing period in order to avoid an accumulation of ammonium and nitrates which can be toxic to the fry. Although large quantities of fry will incubate in waters of low hardness, most of the fry may soon contract non-infectious, constitutional
dropsy
Edema, also spelled oedema, and also known as fluid retention, dropsy, hydropsy and swelling, is the build-up of fluid in the body's tissue. Most commonly, the legs or arms are affected. Symptoms may include skin which feels tight, the area ma ...
, and die within a short time. Those which survive will grow well. By the twelfth day, they will show signs of a silver coloring. At three weeks of age, the fry will start showing their characteristic orange line and will be a size of about 1 cm. By two months they will be about 2 cm.
See also
*
List of freshwater aquarium fish species
References
External links
Hemigrammus erythrozonusGlowlight tetra Fact Sheet
{{Taxonbar, from=Q844602
Taxa named by Marion Durbin Ellis
Fish described in 1909
Fish of South America
Tetras