GloFish® Starfire Red® Tetra

The GloFish® Starfire Red® Tetra is a colorful freshwater schooling fish with vivid fluorescent red coloration. It combines the active personality and deep-bodied shape of a skirt tetra with the bright Starfire Red® appearance of the GloFish line.

Starfire Red® Tetras look colorful under standard white aquarium lighting and become especially vibrant under blue LED lighting. GloFish® fluorescent fish are not painted, injected, or dyed. Their coloration is inherited and remains with them throughout their lives.

Key Features

• Bright Starfire Red® fluorescent coloration
• Freshwater schooling community fish
• Active midwater swimmer
• Color is visible under white light and especially vivid under blue LEDs
• Not painted, injected, or artificially dyed
• Best kept in a group of compatible skirt tetras
• Suitable for established tropical community aquariums
• Can school with other GloFish® tetra colors and standard skirt tetras

Fish Information

• Common Name: GloFish® Starfire Red® Tetra
• Fish Type: Fluorescent skirt tetra
• Water Type: Freshwater
• Temperament: Generally peaceful and active
• Adult Size: Approximately 2–2.5 inches
• Recommended Group Size: At least 6 compatible skirt tetras
• Recommended Minimum Tank Size: 20 gallons for a group
• Swimming Level: Middle of the aquarium
• Diet: Omnivore

Recommended Water Parameters

• Temperature: Approximately 72–80°F
• pH: Approximately 6.5–7.5
• Water Hardness: Soft to moderately hard
• Ammonia: 0 ppm
• Nitrite: 0 ppm
• Nitrate: Kept as low as practical through routine maintenance

Stable water quality is more important than reaching one exact pH or hardness value. Avoid rapid changes in water temperature or chemistry.

Schooling and Behavior

Starfire Red® Tetras are schooling fish and should not be kept alone. Maintain a group of at least six compatible skirt tetras, with a larger school preferred when aquarium space allows.

Different fluorescent colors of GloFish® skirt tetras can generally be combined in the same school. Standard black skirt and white skirt tetras may also be compatible because they are closely related varieties of the same general fish type.

Skirt tetras may occasionally chase or nip, especially when kept in groups that are too small. A larger school, adequate swimming space, and planted areas can help distribute attention and encourage more natural social behavior.

Aquarium Setup

Provide a fully cycled, heated, and filtered freshwater aquarium with open swimming space through the center. Plants and aquarium-safe décor can be placed around the sides and back to provide shelter without restricting movement.

• Use a properly cycled aquarium
• Provide dependable filtration and good oxygenation
• Leave open space for schooling and swimming
• Add live or artificial plants for cover
• Use a secure aquarium lid
• Perform routine partial water changes
• Maintain a regular day-and-night lighting schedule

Lighting

Starfire Red® Tetras remain colorful under normal white aquarium lighting. Blue LED lighting can make their fluorescent red coloration appear especially bright.

Do not leave aquarium lights on continuously. Provide a regular period of darkness each day so the fish can rest.

Compatible Tankmates

Choose peaceful, similarly sized community fish that prefer comparable tropical water conditions.

• Other GloFish® skirt tetras
• Standard black or white skirt tetras
• Peaceful rasboras
• Danios
• Corydoras catfish
• Small to medium peaceful barbs
• Peaceful livebearers
• Appropriately sized peaceful gouramis
• Other non-aggressive community fish

Avoid highly aggressive fish, species large enough to eat them, and very timid or long-finned tankmates that may be stressed or nipped.

Feeding

GloFish® Starfire Red® Tetras are omnivores and should receive a varied diet of appropriately sized foods.

• Quality tropical flakes
• Small floating or slow-sinking pellets
• Frozen brine shrimp
• Frozen daphnia
• Frozen or freeze-dried bloodworms as an occasional food

Feed a small amount once or twice daily. Offer only what the fish can consume within a few minutes and remove uneaten food when practical.

Acclimation

1. Turn off the aquarium lights before introducing the fish.
2. Float the unopened transport bag for approximately 15 minutes to equalize temperature.
3. Open the bag and gradually add small amounts of aquarium water.
4. Wait several minutes between additions.
5. Carefully net the fish into the aquarium.
6. Avoid adding transport water to the display aquarium when practical.
7. Leave the aquarium lights off for several hours while the fish settle.

Quarantine new fish before adding them to an established aquarium whenever a suitable quarantine system is available.

Important Care Notes

• Keep in a school rather than as a single fish.
• Do not add to an uncycled aquarium.
• Maintain stable temperature and water quality.
• Avoid overcrowding and incompatible tankmates.
• Provide a normal light-and-dark cycle.
• Never release aquarium fish into local waterways.
• Commercial reproduction of GloFish® fluorescent fish is restricted by the manufacturer’s license terms.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Starfire Red® Tetras dyed?
No. GloFish® fluorescent fish are not painted, injected, or dyed. Their bright coloration is inherited.

Do they need special water or food?
No. Their general care is the same as compatible non-fluorescent skirt tetras. Feed a varied, high-quality freshwater community diet.

Do they glow in complete darkness?
No. Their fluorescent coloration becomes visible when illuminated and looks especially bright under blue LED aquarium lighting.

Can different GloFish® tetra colors live together?
Yes. Different colors of GloFish® skirt tetras can generally be kept together and count toward the same school.

Can I keep one Starfire Red® Tetra by itself?
Keeping one alone is not recommended. Maintain at least six compatible skirt tetras together.

Are they suitable for a five-gallon aquarium?
No. These are active schooling fish. A 20-gallon aquarium is a more appropriate starting size for a group.

Will the red color fade?
The inherited coloration remains with the fish, although its appearance can vary with lighting, health, stress, diet, and aquarium conditions.

Available at Tropical Treasures Wyo

GloFish® Starfire Red® Tetras are available at Tropical Treasures Wyo in Cheyenne, Wyoming, when in stock. Live fish are available for in-store purchase or local pickup only and are not available for shipping.

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