GloFish Tetra

Looks how to spot one

scales

The GloFish Tetra has the same tall, diamond-shaped body as the Black Skirt Tetra, but its muscle tissue expresses fluorescent proteins that glow brightly under blue or ultraviolet light. The colour is inherited and does not fade.31

Personality what they are like

Generally peaceful and lively when kept in a school of at least 6 to 12 fish. They can show fin-nipping behaviour towards slower or long-finned tank mates, but this is usually reduced when they are in a proper group.12

Daily activity how busy a day looks

Active swimmers that need plenty of open swimming space. Provide a tank at least 20 gallons (75 litres) for a small school, with some planted areas and floating vegetation to create shaded spots.12

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

Standard aquarium maintenance: regular partial water changes, a good filter, and stable water parameters. No special grooming needed.1

Home where they are happiest

Tropical freshwater aquarium with temperature 20-26°C (68-79°F), pH 6.0-8.0, and soft to moderately hard water. A minimum tank size of 20 gallons (75 litres) is recommended for a small school. Provide open swimming areas and some hiding places among plants or decor.125

Food basics what goes in the bowl

Omnivorous. Feed a high-quality tropical flake or micro-pellet as a staple, and supplement two or three times a week with frozen or live foods such as brine shrimp, daphnia or bloodworms.12

Company who they like around

A schooling fish that must be kept in groups of at least 6, ideally 12 or more, to feel secure and reduce fin-nipping. Compatible with other peaceful community fish such as danios, rasboras, other tetras, livebearers and peaceful bottom dwellers like Corydoras. Avoid slow-moving or long-finned tank mates.12

The story where it all began

The GloFish Tetra is a genetically modified variety of the Black Skirt Tetra (Gymnocorymbus ternetzi). It was created by inserting a fluorescent protein gene from a jellyfish (Aequorea victoria) or sea anemone into the fish's embryos, so that the fish glows brightly under blue or ultraviolet light. The first GloFish were developed in the early 2000s by Yorktown Technologies (later GloFish LLC, owned by Spectrum Brands) and were originally intended for use in detecting environmental pollutants. The GloFish Tetra line was launched around 2013. Unlike dyed fish, the colour is inherited and stable. After studies confirmed that these fish cannot survive in the wild, they were approved for sale in California in 2015. The GloFish Tetra differs from the plain Black Skirt Tetra only in its fluorescent colouration; its care, size, lifespan and temperament are identical.3167

Recognised by the official bits

California Department of Fish and Wildlife

Approved for sale in California in 2015 after studies showed GloFish Tetras cannot survive in the wild.6