How to Identify GloFish

To identify GloFish (Gymnocorymbus ternetzi / Puntigrus tetrazona / Danio rerio), look at these key features.

Physical Characteristics

Body shape

elongated

Coloration

Artificially vibrant fluorescent colors (e.g., Starfire Red, Electric Green, Sunburst Orange, Cosmic Blue, Galactic Purple, Moonrise Pink) due to genetically engineered fluorescent proteins. The base coloration of the original species is obscured by the fluorescent pigment.

Scale type

cycloid

Mouth position

terminal

Distinctive features

Intense, unnatural fluorescent coloration, Glow brightly under blue or UV light, Identical morphology to their wild-type counterparts, aside from color

Dorsal fin

Single, typically short-based (Danio rerio, Gymnocorymbus ternetzi) or moderately sized (Puntigrus tetrazona).

Tail fin

Forked (Danio rerio, Gymnocorymbus ternetzi) or slightly forked (Puntigrus tetrazona).

Pectoral fin

Paired, typically small to moderate in size.

Distinctive fins

Fin shapes and sizes are characteristic of the original species from which they were derived.

Identification Tips

1. 1

   Coloration

   The most obvious identifier is their intense, uniform fluorescent color (red, green, orange, blue, purple, pink) which is not found in any naturally occurring freshwater fish species.

2. 2

   Species Morphology

   Observe the underlying body shape and fin structure to identify the base species (e.g., the vertical stripes of a Zebra Danio, the deep body of a Black Skirt Tetra, or the vertical bars of a Tiger Barb, though these may be obscured by the fluorescent color).

3. 3

   Glow under UV/Blue Light

   Under appropriate lighting, GloFish will exhibit a strong, unmistakable bioluminescent glow.

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