TankBud

Head-and-taillight tetra

Hemigrammus ocellifer

Also known as Head and tail light tetra

FreshwaterFish

Head-and-taillight tetra (Hemigrammus ocellifer)
Axel Zarske · CC BY 4.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–82°F
24–28°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Adult size
1.8 in
4.5 cm
Minimum tank
17 gal
65 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Schooling
Swim level
Middle
Difficulty
Beginner
Breeding
Medium
Rarity
Common
Family
Characidae
Origin
The Guianas, Peru, Brazil

Overview

Keep a group of six or more in a tank of about 65 liters and they will school in the middle of the tank. They are peaceful and active, and a tight group keeps them confident. Feed a mix of quality flake, small pellets, and the occasional frozen brine shrimp or bloodworm. They fit well in a soft-water community with other small, calm fish.

In the wild

This tetra lives in slow rivers and floodplains across the Guianas, Peru, and Brazil, in shaded water that runs from clear to a bit tea-stained. The bottom is usually sand or mud with plenty of plant cover and submerged wood. Set the tank up the same way: soft, slightly acidic water, a sand floor, and some shade from plants or floating cover. A pH anywhere from the mid 5s to mid 7s works.

Good to know

Hemigrammus ocellifer is a characin (family Characidae) that reaches about 4.5 cm. The common name comes from the two glowing spots, one behind the gill and one at the tail base. It is an egg scatterer with no parental care, and eggs hatch in roughly a day to a day and a half. It is listed as Least Concern.

Did you know

The two bright spots are what earn the name. The front one sits near the head and the back one near the tail, so a resting fish looks a bit like it has a headlight and a taillight switched on.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

Head-and-taillight tetra is a peaceful, schooling species that keeps to the middle. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does a Head-and-taillight tetra need?

A Head-and-taillight tetra needs at least 17 gal (65 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a Head-and-taillight tetra need?

A Head-and-taillight tetra is comfortable at 75–82°F (24–28°C) with a pH of 5.5–7.5.

How big does a Head-and-taillight tetra get?

An adult Head-and-taillight tetra reaches about 1.8 in (4.5 cm).

Does a Head-and-taillight tetra need a group?

Yes. A Head-and-taillight tetra is a schooling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.

Related species