Head and Tail Light Tetra (Hemigrammus ocellifer) Care Guide
Named for the bright copper-gold spots at the base of the tail and behind the eye that glow like headlights under aquarium lighting.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Hemigrammus ocellifer is a species in the family Characidae. Named for the bright copper-gold spots at the base of the tail and behind the eye that glow like headlights under aquarium lighting. A hardy, undemanding species that does well in most community setups.
Taxonomy
- Family: Characidae
- Genus: Hemigrammus
- Scientific name: Hemigrammus ocellifer
- Other names: Beacon Fish
- Origin: South America, Amazon Basin, Guyana
Habitat
Widely distributed across the Amazon basin and the Guianas. Inhabits clear and blackwater streams and floodplain lakes. Named for the reflective gold patches at the base of the tail and over the eye that appear to glow.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 60 L
- Temperature: 22-28 °C
- pH: 6-7.5
- GH: 3-15 °dGH
- Water flow: low
- Adult size: 3-5 cm
- Lifespan: 3-5 years
- Recommended group size: ≥ 6
- Difficulty: beginner
Diet
Classified as omnivore. Recommended feeding frequency: 2x daily. In captivity, offer a varied diet appropriate to the species — quality prepared foods supplemented with frozen or live items of suitable size.
Compatibility
- Temperament: peaceful
- Swimming level: middle
- Compatible tank mates: Neon Tetra, Corydoras, Cherry Barb, Harlequin Rasbora
- Avoid with: Oscar, Large Cichlids, Betta
Breeding
- Breeding strategy: egg-scatterer
- Breeding difficulty: intermediate
Head and Tail Light Tetra Breeding Guide
Overview
Hemigrammus ocellifer is a characid from the Amazon basin and Guyana, named for the glowing copper-gold markings near the eye and tail base. It is an egg scatterer with no parental care and spawns in soft, acidic water.
Sexing
The swim bladder, visible through the translucent body, tapers to a point in males but is rounded in females. Adult females are also slightly larger and more heavy-bodied.
Conditioning
Condition the fish with plenty of small live foods. They can be spawned in a group of about half a dozen of each sex, or in pairs after conditioning the sexes separately.
Breeding Setup
Use a very dimly lit tank of about 18 x 10 x 10 inches with soft, acidic water in the range pH 5.5-6.5 and gH 1-5, at around 80-84 °F (27-29 °C). Provide clumps of fine-leaved plants such as java moss or spawning mops, or a mesh covering the base, plus a gently bubbling air-powered sponge filter.
Egg & Fry Care
The adults will eat the eggs given the chance and should be removed as soon as eggs are noticed. Keep the tank in darkness if possible. Eggs hatch in 24-36 hours and the fry become free-swimming 3-4 days later. Offer infusoria-type food for the first few days, until the fry are large enough to accept microworm or brine shrimp nauplii.