Glowlight Tetra

Overview

The Glowlight Tetra is a small, shimmering fish from the clear and blackwater streams of Guyana, in northern South America. Its body is almost see-through silver, and running along each side is a bright orange-red stripe that seems to glow, which is exactly how the fish got its name. Swimming in a group, they look like a cloud of tiny neon lights.

Glowlight Tetras are peaceful, hardy, and happiest in a school of six or more. When they feel safe together, they swim out in the open and show off their glowing stripes. A tank with dark substrate and some live plants makes their colors pop even more, and their gentle nature makes them wonderful members of a community aquarium.

The glowing stripe

The bright orange-red line down each side is what gives the Glowlight Tetra its name. Against its clear silver body, the stripe really does look like it is lit up.

Safety in numbers

These fish are schoolers. A group of six or more feels safe, swims out in the open, and shows the brightest colors. A lonely tetra hides and looks dull.

Blackwater home

In the wild they live in soft, tea-colored streams stained by fallen leaves. A tank with dark sand and gentle lighting helps them feel at home.

A calm community fish

Glowlight Tetras never bully other fish. They make peaceful, easygoing tankmates for other small, gentle species.

Fun facts

• The Glowlight Tetra comes from the Essequibo River area of Guyana in South America.
• Its glowing stripe is created by pigment cells that reflect light, not by actual light.
• In a big group, the fish swim together in loose schools for safety.
• They are egg scatterers, dropping eggs among plants rather than caring for their babies.
• Their see-through bodies help them blend in and hide from predators in the wild.

Frequently asked questions