Cardinal tetras are popular freshwater fish. These small, lively fish are easy to care for and readily available. They are also beautiful specimens, with bright red and iridescent blue colors. However, if you fail to keep them in the right environment, they will lose their bright colors. But what do you think allows Cardinal tetras to glow?
Cardinal tetras can produce light by using their cells called chromatophores. The genetic and physical makeup of the cardinal tetra allows it to glow in a process called bioluminescence. The bioluminescence mainly attracts mates or warns away predators, so they must keep these lights running well.
Bioluminescence is simply the production and emission of light by a living organism. You can use the light for different purposes, such as attracting mates, camouflage, or communication.
Learn about the biology behind the cardinal tetra glow in this article.
Do Cardinal Tetras Glow?
Yes, Cardinal tetras are very vibrant fish that glows. However, the fish does not have a natural ability to glow. Instead, the cardinal tetra can produce a bioluminescent chemical that emits light from its body. It allows it to communicate with other members of its species and find food and predators in dark water.
What Allows Cardinal Tetras To Glow?
Cardinal tetras are trendy aquarium fish. They have a variety of attractive characteristics, including the ability to glow under ultraviolet light. So what is it about the physiology that allows them to do this?
One theory is that they use fluorescent proteins as pigments for UV rays from the sun to enter their bodies and cause a reaction that makes them glow. It would allow them to attract mates, avoid predators, and communicate with other cardinal tetras.
Another theory is that bioluminescence causes glowing. For example, when certain chemicals in the fish’s body react with oxygen, it produces bioluminescence. This reaction causes light to emit, and it is this light that causes the cardinal tetras to glow.
Which of these theories is correct remains anonymous, but either way, it’s an exciting and unique ability that makes these fish stand out from the rest. So if you’re looking for an aquarium fish that will catch people’s attention, the cardinal tetra is a good choice.
How Do Chromatophores Produce The Characteristic Glow Of Cardinal Tetra Fish?
The cardinal tetra fish is famous for its bright red and blue coloration with silver stripes that run along its body’s length. This specific feature results from special cells -chromatophores, which can change color in response to various stimuli. But what makes these cells glow in the first place?
Chromatophores produce light through a chemical process known as bioluminescence. An enzyme called luciferase generates bioluminescence. This enzyme acts upon another molecule called luciferin – the same one that gives fireflies their glow – and produces light in the presence of oxygen.
The light produced by chromatophores is relatively weak, but it’s more than enough to make cardinal tetras stand out in the dark. The fish can adjust the intensity of their glow, depending on what environment they’re in and how bright they need to be.
What Are The Factors That Influence The Glow Of Cardinal Tetras?
The cardinal tetra is a small fish native to the Amazon River basin. These fish are popular in the aquarium trade because of their bright colors and interesting behavior. However, one of the most intriguing features of these fish is their ability to glow in the dark.
Several factors influence the glow of cardinal tetras. Such as:
Environment
The light level in their environment affects the glow of the cardinal tetra. In general, these fishes have a bright color and have a stronger glow when exposed to brighter light.
Food
The type of food that the cardinal tetra eats can also affect their ability to glow. Foods high in carotenoids (such as zucchini and green peas) will cause the fish to glow more brightly.
Age
The glow of cardinal tetras usually becomes weaker as they age. So, you will notice the color of your tetras diminishing over time.
Amount Of Light Available
The amount of light available in the aquarium will also affect how brightly your cardinal tetras glow—the brighter the light, the more visible their color and brightness.
Temperature
Temperature affects both the way a fish looks and its ability to produce melanin (which makes them glow). A temperature increase of only two or three degrees can cause a substantial change in color and brightness.
How To Enhance And Preserve The Glow Of Cardinal Tetras?
The best way to ensure that your cardinals maintain their luminescence is simple. It would help if you needed to care about the following things:
To enhance and preserve the glowing of your cardinals, you need to care about heating and lighting. The best way is not to use any special equipment or devices. You have to keep a suitable temperature for them–between 75°F ( 24 °C ) and 82°F ( 28 °C ). You must also have good light. Natural light is the best, but you can use some artificial lights too.
The other thing that you need to do is not overcrowd your tank. If there are too many fish in the tank, they will compete for food and oxygen, which could lead to stress, making them lose their glow.
Besides this, the food is also essential. You must not overfeed Cardinal tetra and be careful with the food you give to your fish. If you do everything right, they will live a long time and their glowing will last for years.
Conclusion
Overall, the cardinal tetra is an interesting and unique fish with several features that set it apart from other fish. In addition to its beautiful coloring, the ability to glow in the dark makes it a popular choice for aquariums. While the exact mechanism behind this ability is still under study, scientists believe that it may have something to do with the fish’s diet.
Hopefully, the scientists will continue discovering more information about the unique cardinal tetra with continued research.
