Glofish

Glofish danios were first created by genetically modifying zebra danios indigenous to rivers in India and Bangladesh. 

There are two glofish tetras variants – standard and long-finned variants. Both varieties were made by genetically modifying black skirt tetras that originally come from Paraguay and Guapore Basins in South America.

There was even a petition with thousands of followers to ban their sale. As a result, the International Betta Congress had to come up with an exclusive Glofish Betta Policy. 

You can keep about 12-15 glofish tetras, 14-15 glofish danios, 4-6 glofish bettas, and 9-10 glofish barbs in a 30-gallon tank – Not together, of course! But unfortunately, a 30-gallon tank is still not big enough for feisty glofish sharks that need about 50 gallons each to thrive comfortably. 

Baby glofish look just like the babies of their original species. However, like their parents, they glow under the blue LED light. They don’t have much coloration when first ‘hatched’ and during the first few days of their lives when they’re in the wiggler stage. However, they develop pretty colors taking after their parents as they grow. 

There are five different glofish species. And luckily, none of them have an appetite for each other. Although glofish sharks, bettas, and barbs are aggressive fish, they still don’t eat each other or any other fish. And glofish danios and tetras are petite fish that can barely fit any other fish into their mouths. 

Glofish tetras, danios, and barbs are schooling/shoaling fish. While they are sociable most of the time, they become aggressive when kept in numbers less than 5-6. Glofish bettas, especially males, are extremely territorial and aggressive. However, the ‘most aggressive glofish’ titleholders are glofish sharks. 

The most prevalent reason behind glofish swimming sideways is swim bladder disease. A swim bladder is a gas-filled internal organ that helps bony fish like glofish maintain buoyancy. And when this bladder is impacted due to illness, injury, or any other abnormality, the fish will have a hard time maintaining its buoyancy – resorting to swimming erratically like sideways. 

The temperature for glofish should fall between 60-81°F (15-27°C). So far, there are 5 glofish species, and they’re all tropical fish. Therefore, they prefer warmer water and need a heater. Ideal temperature range for glofish tetras is 60-80°F, for glofish barbs is 74-80°F, for glofish danios is 65-77°F, for glofish bettas is 78-80°F, and for glofish sharks is 75-81°F. 

No, glofish cannot get pregnant because they aren’t livebearers. All five glofish species are egg-layers. So, a female carrying eggs is called gravid. Females will have to lay eggs, and males will have to externally fertilize them. Only then will the eggs yield fry.