Breeding Glowlight Tetra (Hemigrammus Erythrozonus) In The Aquarium

Location

This freshwater species lives in Essequibo River with dark water in tropical forests.

Body description

Colour of the body is silvery-olive. There is an opalescent orange-red stripe along the lateral line. First rays of the dorsal fin are orange-red. Female is a bit larger and thicker than male but you can recognize sex of the fish when it is sexually matured.

Temperament and behaviour

This is peaceful, a bit timid and shoal species. Fish prefers to live in a group of 8 minimum. It is more active and it has bigger sense of security then. The fish prefer to swim in the middle and at the bottom water level. This species is strong and adjust quickly to new environment .

Aquarium decoration

This species prefers a spacious aquarium with plants at the back, a lot of hiding-places and space to swim. The tank should be longer than higher. The aquarium should have dark substrate and dimmed light. Water should be clean with gentle but effective filtration system and systematic partial water changes. You may also keep these fish in Amazon biotope tank which should have roots, plants, floating plants, dry leaves of oak or beech which should be replaced every few weeks, dimmed light and sandy substrate. Colour of the water should be like 'light tea'. You may add some peat to the filtration system or you may put the peat in a net and immerse in the water. You can let the fish to chemically stable water only – all water parameters must be stable.

Breeding

This is an oviparous species. You should breed these fish in a separate aquarium. Breeding tank should have very soft water, slightly acidic pH and 26-28°C temperature, dimmed light or no light, fine-leaved floating plants or fish hatchery, without substrate, gentle but effective filtration system. You may add some peat to the filtration system. You should separate males from females before spawning and you should feed them with plenty of live food. You transfer to the breeding tank the most colourful male and the thickest female in the evening. The fish should spawn next day in the morning after intense courtships. Male swims around female. Both set up themselves almost upside down. Female lays hundreds of eggs which male immediately fertilizes. You must immediately remove the parents after spawning. The eggs hatch after 1 day. The fry starts to swim and feed 4-5 days later. The roe and fry are sensitive to light and water quality – you should cover the aquarium and do systematic partial water changes (the best through the filter).