Ever Wondered what makes neon tetras glow?

One of my all time favorite fish is the little Neon tetra fish. Along with the Kitty tetra read more by clicking the link. Back to our neon tetra, this tiny fish may be small but boy does it have color.

This brightly neon colored fish has immense personality and has become a firm favorite among us hobbyists.

Where does this neon color fish come from and how have they adapted these remarkable neon tetra colors?

We will reveal it all here in this very article but first a brief synopsis of what makes neon tetra glow.

How Do Neon Tetras Get Their Color

 

So what makes neon tetras glow

Neon tetras have layers of guanine crystals within their skin cells. When they move their scales it acts much like a mirror or Venetian blind. Neon tetras absorb light and reflect it making the stripe shine across the fish’s body.

Are Neon Tetras Genetically Modified

Let’s talk about this in more detail, shall we? The neon tetra comes in a few varieties and there may well be more out there.

We have discovered a blue and a green and a red neon tetra. There’s also a black version as I said there could be more.

These are all-natural and found in the amazon basin in south America. The water is very dark over in the amazon basin and some of the waters are even called blackwater.

Our buddy uses his neon tetra colors to navigate through the dark murky waters. Admittedly this amazing tetra color looks much better in clearer waters under the right setting.

Are Neon Tetras Dyed

Well, this brings us to the elephant in the room. Ok, the fish in the room then as there are other neon tetras out there.

Genetically Modified ones are called glow neon tetra. But how are glofish tetras made? They seem to be dyed with ink from jellyfish.

They have been made by a company named glofish which originally designed a zebrafish. They inserted the gene into a zebrafish embryo, allowing it to integrate into the zebrafish’s genome, which caused the fish to be brightly fluorescent under both natural white light and ultraviolet light.

They injected dye from jellyfish into an egg and allowed it to develop the original idea was to test for pollution in the waters.

check here for more on glofish  The company has gone on to create other fish including neon tetras this is where the confusion comes from.

Now people believe all neon tetra to be designed rather than developing naturally. As we can see this is far from accurate.

Glofish may have genetically modified neon tetras to become some sort of extra neon glowfish a glow neon tetra if you will.

But these little fish needed no help getting that tetra color. 

Are Glofish Tetras

Scientists got in the way to create a new species of tetra as well as other types of fish even though these fish don’t need help as they can do wonderous things themselves like regrowing fins and tails, check this article out. Our fish may have started as neon tetra eggs but they have been changed.

Because of the genetic material used I personally don’t believe them to be neon tetras these are classified as glowfish or glofish tetras.

Glowfish tetra has taken on a life of their own so it seems. As they are able to reproduce and the offspring have the same genetic material and can also glow in this way.

Back to the real neon tetra.

How Real Neon Tetras Glow

Neon tetra fish have layers of guanine crystals within their skin cells. When they move their scales these thousands of cells absorb the light.

Like blinds when they open they let in more light and then they shut closing the light. Neon tetras have the same ability to somewhat control light.

Our Neons use this to light the way in murky waters. But in clearer waters with enough light stored up, they will seem brighter.

This is especially true at night as we will see them shine even more. These neons are also almost transparent which in turn helps them seem even more colorful.

Can Neon Tetras Change Colors

Yes amazingly enough they seem able to change color depending on the pigments in the skin at the time. Think “Venetian blind” as mentioned earlier.

As the scales move and open and shut they act just like blinds. They let the natural light in white light only this process of white light is called Pearlescence.

While this white light is being absorbed another phenomenon is happening. Those guanine crystals are using white light and changing their color.

How? Well, this is done via Iridescence otherwise known as goniochromism basically the white is converted into other colors.

When the blinds ie the scales move they reflect slightly different amounts of both light and color. This coupled with the fact that the fish is almost transparent means we see a glow of color reflecting from the fish.

What’s more impressive is that the color can seem different depending on our viewing angle amazing really don’t you think?

Do Neon Tetras Need Light At Night

No as with most if not all fish neon tetras need to be in a rhythm and they will sleep for some of the night.

Leaving the light on for no more than twelve hours is fine. This fish is able to save or store light from the day and utilize this light for the night.

Dark Substrate

However, these little fish love a darker environment so a dark substrate will be needed no bright pink and blue gravel.

Some dark hiding places and ornaments will help too. Trust me if you treat these fish right they will not disappoint.

Blue Red And Black Light

Pro Tip

Also from time to time for a few hours, you could try changing the color of the light within the tank as these colors blue red, and black bring out some incredible color in neon tetras.

Neon Tetras How They Get Their Colors Conclusion

The color is completely natural in our neon tetra fish. Processes are in place that we have hopefully clearly demonstrated.

The neon tetra is able to draw light in and reflect light in a way that changes color within reason. That being said there are other imposters out there that have taken this to a new extreme.

I for one will be sticking with my all-natural neon tetra and leaving the juiced-up ones alone it’s only natty neon tetra for me.

As always hope you enjoyed the read and please feel free to check out some of our articles.

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