7 GloFish® Species to Brighten Up Your Aquarium
Want to add a dazzling splash of color to your tank? GloFish® fluorescent fish are one of our personal favorites. They’re eye-catching, easy to care for, and come in bright, fluorescent shades like Electric Green®, Cosmic Blue®, and Moonrise Pink®. But these aren’t just fish with a fancy paint job — their vibrant colors come from naturally occurring genes found in corals and anemones that are passed down from generation to generation. Other than their striking looks, GloFish® fish have the same personalities and care requirements as their nonfluorescent counterparts. Keep reading for a quick guide to all seven GloFish® fish varieties and find out which one is the perfect fit for your aquarium!
1. GloFish® Danio: The Speedster
The zebra danio or zebrafish (Danio rerio) is a fun, hyperactive fish that brings nonstop action to your aquarium. Originally from South Asia, this 2-inch, torpedo-shaped fish is known for its zippy swimming style and bold, horizontal stripes. It was also the first fish to receive fluorescent protein DNA to help detect environmental pollutants, giving it that signature brilliant glow. Despite their size, they need a decent amount of room to dart around, so a 15- to 20-gallon aquarium is ideal.
Most GloFish® fish prefer tropical temperatures between 75–80°F (24–27°C), but zebra danios are a cooler water species that can go down to 65°F (18°C). These energetic little guys do best in schools of five or more of their own kind and will eagerly gobble up flakes, tiny pellets, and other bite-sized foods. Just make sure to pair them with tank mates that can keep up, like peaceful cory catfish, and not slow-moving or long-finned fish that might get stressed by all the commotion.
The GloFish® Quick Collection
- Liven up your tank with 10 GloFish® Danios full of fast-paced energy.
- Keep the aquarium tidy with 3 GloFish® Cory Catfish cleaning up leftovers.
Recommended for 15-gallon aquariums or larger
2. GloFish® Tetra and Long Fin Tetra: The Social Butterfly
Also known as the black skirt tetra (Gymnocorymbus ternetzi), this medium-sized, South American fish is a classic choice for community aquariums due to its peaceful nature and adaptability to a wide range of water conditions. Growing to 2.5–3 inches (6–7.5 cm), it features a wide “skirt” or sail-like anal fin that stretches from mid-body to tail. The GloFish® tetra and GloFish® long fin tetra are both the same species, but the latter has extended, flowy fins and tail.
These active swimmers prefer be in schools of 5–6 or more and thrive in tanks of at least 15 gallons with open space to swim and some decor to hide behind. Keep your fish healthy by feeding a diverse menu of fish foods like small pellets and freeze-dried brine shrimp. Similar to the zebra danio, avoid slow-moving, long-finned tank mates like bettas. Instead, pair them with similarly-sized, lively fish such as danios, corydoras, plecos, or platies.
The GloFish® Finned Collection
- Create a serene, elegant display with 8 GloFish® Long Fin Tetras and 4 White Long Fin Skirt Tetras.
- Keep algae in check with 1 Wild-Type Brown Bristlenose Pleco.
Recommended for 30-gallon aquariums or larger
3. GloFish® Barb: The Mischief Maker
If you love watching a frenzy of fish go crazy for food during mealtime, tiger barbs (Puntigrus tetrazona) are a must-have! This Southeast Asian species has a striking, diamond-shaped body with large, prominent scales and four bold vertical stripes (which is how it got the common name “tiger”). The GloFish® tiger barbs usually stay around 2–2.5 inches (5–6 cm) and can live in a 15-gallon tank or larger, but consider upgrading to 30 gallons or more if they grow to 3 inches. As semi-aggressive schoolers, tiger barbs should be kept in groups of at least 6-7 to help diffuse any squabbles while they establish their pecking order.
Due to their inquisitive nature, they may bother shy or delicate species, so avoid long-finned or tiny fish that fit in their mouths. They’ll do well with active tank mates like medium-sized loaches, rainbowfish, cichlids, and plecos. Tiger barbs are quick eaters and will devour a variety of foods, including fish flakes, frozen foods, and live foods. As omnivores, they also enjoy a balanced diet supplemented with blanched vegetables like zucchini, spinach, and peas.
The GloFish® Scarlet Collection
- Enjoy the excitement as 6 GloFish® Starfire Red® Tiger Barbs rush to greet you at feeding time.
- Brighten up the tank with a lovely school of 8 GloFish® Starfire Red® Pristella Tetras.
- Keep algae in check with 1 Rusty Red Bristlenose Pleco.
Recommended for 30-gallon aquariums or larger
4. GloFish® Shark: The Lone Patrol
With its sleek, torpedo-shaped body and fiery red-orange fins, the rainbow shark (Epalzeorhynchos frenatum) brings both attitude and action to a freshwater tank. Although it’s not a real shark, the nickname comes from its pointed fins and swimming behavior — cruising back and forth as it constantly searches for food at the middle to bottom levels of the tank. Juveniles measuring 2–4 inches (5–10 cm) are typically peaceful and friendly and can live in a 30-gallon tank or bigger. However, adults can reach 5–6 inches and become territorial toward other sharks and similarly shaped species, so we recommend only getting one shark for a 55-gallon or 4-foot-long tank to prevent conflicts.
While the juveniles are often purchased as algae eaters, the ever-hungry adults much prefer regular fish food, such as flakes, wafers, and blanched vegetables. Choose similarly sized, fast-moving roommates such as barbs, rainbowfish, and other medium-sized schooling fish, or calm, low-maintenance species like plecos.
The GloFish® Large Community Collection
- Elevate your tank with 6 GloFish® Skirt Tetras gliding through the water.
- Brighten up your day with a lovely school of 10 GloFish® Pristella Tetras.
- Add 1 GloFish® Rainbow Shark to rule as the tank boss.
Recommended for 30-gallon aquariums or larger
5. GloFish® Pristella: The Team Player
The pristella tetra (Pristella maxillaris) is a peaceful, hardy South American fish that is perfect for 15-gallon tanks or more with lots of plants and decorations for hiding. Growing up to 1.75–2 inches (4.5–5 cm), these fish are easy to care for but can be a little shy, so they should be kept in groups of at least six to help them feel more secure. In fact, adding more outgoing dither fish like danios and barbs can help bring them out of their shells. They get along great with almost any peaceful community fish, and we’ve personally kept them with everything from ember tetras to corydoras catfish to African dwarf frogs. Keep them healthy by feeding a mixed assortment of small foods like flakes, pellets, and daphnia.
The GloFish® Flashy Collection
- Brighten up the tank with a lovely school of 7 GloFish® Pristella Tetras.
- Keep the aquarium tidy with 3 Albino Cory Catfish cleaning up leftovers.
Recommended for 15-gallon aquariums or larger
6. GloFish® Cory: The Busy Bee
Their bubbly personalities and adorable winking eyes make the bronze cory catfish (Corydoras aeneus) one of the most beloved bottom dwellers in the hobby. Like many popular corys in the pet trade, it has a 2.5- to 3-inch (6.5–7.5 cm) armored body, spiny pectoral fins, and whisker-like barbels around the mouth. Though they’re often seen scavenging in the substrate for morsels, make sure to feed them a dedicated diet of sinking foods like wafers, pellets, or frozen bloodworms. As a schooling fish, they do best in crews of at least 3–6, housed in a 15-gallon aquarium or larger. This South American species pairs well with other friendly tank mates like tetras, danios, rasboras, and algae eaters.
The GloFish® Striking Collection
- Enjoy the excitement as 5 GloFish® Barbs rush to greet you at feeding time.
- Keep the aquarium tidy with 3 GloFish® Cory Catfish cleaning up leftovers.
Recommended for 15-gallon aquariums or larger
7. GloFish® Angelfish: The Stunning Centerpiece
One of the most eye-catching aquarium fish is the majestic freshwater angelfish (Pterophyllum scalare), known for its long, flowing dorsal and anal fins that look like a pair of wings. While its body can grow to 6 inches (15 cm) long, its impressive “wingspan” can reach a vertical height of 8 inches (20 cm). Therefore, this South American species needs an aquarium that’s at least 29 gallons and is tall enough to accommodate its triangular shape. While they’re technically a schooling fish, this semi-aggressive cichlid can get feisty during breeding seasons, so a single angelfish is often easier to manage than a group. Although they can tolerate higher temperatures, we recommend keeping the water slightly on the cooler side around 76–78°F (24–26°C) to help tone down any territorial behavior.
Their ideal tank setup includes slower water flow, open swimming space, and soft-edged decorations that won’t tear their delicate fins. In fact, avoid any fin-nipping tank mates like tiger barbs, as well as small fish or shrimp that might end up as an expensive snack. Instead, choose medium-sized, peaceful companions like tetras, cory catfish, bristlenose plecos, and bottom-dwelling dwarf cichlids. They like all kinds of community fish foods, such as flakes, freeze-dried mysis shrimp, and frozen foods.
The GloFish® Angel Water Collection
- Showcase 1 GloFish® Angelfish as a majestic, elegant centerpiece.
- Brighten up the tank with a lovely school of 8 GloFish® Pristella Tetras.
- Keep algae in check with 1 Albino Bristlenose Pleco.
Recommended for 30-gallon aquariums or larger
With their dazzling fluorescence and robust health, GloFish® fish are a fantastic choice for both beginners and seasoned fishkeepers. With the right tank setup and compatible tank mates, you'll be able to enjoy their vibrant beauty for years to come. If you’re just getting started, explore our HelloReef GloFish® Aquarium Kit, which comes with everything you need to create the perfect home for your new GloFish® family.
HelloReef GloFish® Aquarium Kit
- Create a glowing underwater world with a new tank, light, heater, decorations, and more in our all-in-one aquarium kit.
- Bring out the vivid fluorescent colors of your GloFish® fish with the AquaIllumination Blade Smart LED Strip – GloFish® edition.
- Follow along with our free, step-by-step lessons — no experience required.
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