Head-and-taillight tetra

Holopristis ocellifera

Reflective marks near the head and tail, with a dark tail-base spot

The silver body has reflective shoulder and tail-base markings. They catch the light; they do not produce it.

Adult length: Up to 4.5 cm (standard length, without the tail fin)
Water temperature: 24–28 °C
pH: 5.5–7.5
Hardness: 5–20 dGH

Natural habitat: Occurs in coastal river systems and other waters with little current.

Avoid companions large enough to swallow it. A translucent body does not remove its need for shelter.

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Appearance and identification

Compared with the red-eye tetra, look for the concentrated dark tail-base spot with a golden reflection rather than a broad black band. A reddish upper eye rim alone does not separate them.

Same-species behaviour

Keep at least six, preferably ten or more.

Space requirements

Use a 60 × 38 cm footprint for a small group. Reassess space as the group grows, and provide planted cover as well as swimming room.

Diet and feeding

Offer appropriately sized prepared foods with small frozen or live foods.

Compatibility limits

Check companion size and predation risk.

Aquarium environment

Plant cover and shaded areas help the fish settle. Bare, brightly lit surroundings can leave its colours subdued.

Sources

www.fishbase.se ↗ 2026-10-25

www.seriouslyfish.com ↗ 2026-10-22

fishdb.sinica.edu.tw ↗ 2026-10-22

researcharchive.calacademy.org ↗ 2026-10-22