Head and tail light tetra (Hemigrammus ocellifer) care guide

Group
Freshwater fish
Other names
Hemigrammus ocellifer, Beacon tetra, Head-and-taillight tetra, Beacon fish
Family
Acestrorhamphidae (American tetras; formerly Characidae)
Origin
Slow-moving rivers, tributaries and floodplain lakes in Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana and the Amazon basin of Brazil and Peru.
Water
freshwater
Maximum size
4.5 cm
Temperature
24–28°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Hardness
Soft to fairly hard, 5–20 dGH
Minimum tank
68 litres
Care level
beginner
Temperament
peaceful

Care

One of the best tetras for a general community tank, and a fixture in most shops. It is a shoaling fish, so keep at least 6–10 together; a bigger group looks better and the fish are bolder for it. A tank with a base of about 60 × 38 cm (roughly 70 litres) suits a small group. It adapts to most set-ups but shows off best in a well-planted tank. For a more natural look, use a sandy substrate, driftwood and roots, a scattering of dried leaves and fairly dim lighting; peat-filtered or lightly tannin-stained water suits it well. Keep it warm, around 24–28°C, in soft to moderately hard water with a pH of about 5.5–7.5. It copes with harder water, but the colours, particularly the gold 'headlight' and red tail spot, are best in softer, slightly acidic conditions. Nearly all fish in the trade are commercially bred, mainly in Eastern Europe, and an albino form is also available with identical needs. Most head-and-tail-light tetras sold in Europe are captive bred, typically in Eastern Europe. Sources: Seriously Fish (seriouslyfish.com/species/hemigrammus-ocellifer/); FishBase (fishbase.se/summary/Hemigrammus-ocellifer.html); Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Head-and-taillighttetra). Checked October 2026.

Diet

Very easy to feed and will take just about anything offered. Give a good-quality flake or small granule as the staple, with regular small live or frozen foods such as bloodworm, Daphnia and brine shrimp for the best condition and colour.

Breeding

Spawns readily, either in a group or as a pair. Use a separate, dimly lit tank of around 45 × 25 × 25 cm with fine-leaved plants or spawning mops, and soft, acidic water (pH 5.5–6.5, 1–5 dGH) at about 26.5–29°C. It is an egg scatterer with no parental care, so remove the adults after spawning. Eggs hatch in 24–36 hours and the fry are free-swimming 3–4 days later. Males can be told apart by a swim bladder that tapers to a point; females have a rounded swim bladder and a fuller body.

Compatibility and tank mates

A model community fish. Good with livebearers, danios, rasboras, other small peaceful tetras, Corydoras and other peaceful bottom dwellers, and most gouramis. Avoid fish large enough to swallow it.

Last updated 4 October 2026. Community-edited care guide on Aquatic-Auctions.

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