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
Egg scatterer · Medium
Rarity
Common
Family
Characidae
Origin
The Guianas, Peru, Brazil

Overview

The head-and-taillight tetra is a small, peaceful characin that schools through the middle of a community tank. It is easy to keep, and a good first fish.

Did you know

The head-and-taillight tetra carries two glowing spots, one behind the gill and one at the base of the tail. A resting fish looks a bit like it has a headlight and a taillight switched on.

Caring for the head-and-taillight tetra

Keep head-and-taillight tetras in a group of six or more, in a tank of 17 gal (65 L) or larger. A tight group keeps them confident. Give them a sand floor and some shade from plants or floating cover.

Keep the water soft and slightly acidic, at 75 to 82°F (24 to 28°C) and a pH of 5.5 to 7.5. Feed a mix of quality flake and small pellets, with the occasional frozen brine shrimp or bloodworm.

They are peaceful and active, and they fit well in a soft-water community with other small, calm fish. They are egg scatterers with no parental care. The eggs hatch in roughly a day to a day and a half, and breeding them is a moderate challenge.

Good to know

Hemigrammus ocellifer is a characin in the family Characidae. Its common name comes from its two glowing spots, and some shops write it as the head and tail light tetra. It is listed as Least Concern.

In the wild

The head-and-taillight tetra lives in slow rivers and floodplains across the Guianas, Peru and Brazil. The water there is shaded and runs from clear to a bit tea-stained. The bottom is usually sand or mud, with plenty of plant cover and submerged wood.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The 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.

What does a head-and-taillight tetra eat?

A head-and-taillight tetra eats a mix of quality flake and small pellets. Offer the occasional frozen brine shrimp or bloodworm as well.

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.

How does a head-and-taillight tetra breed?

Head-and-taillight tetras scatter their eggs and give them no parental care. The eggs hatch in about a day to a day and a half, and spawning them is a moderate challenge.

Related species