Ember Tetra
Hyphessobrycon amandae
Min Tank Size
30L
Adult Size
2 cm
Lifespan
3 years
School Size
8+
About
Native to the Araguaia River basin in Brazil, ember tetras come from slow-moving, heavily vegetated blackwater streams where tannins stain the water amber and light filters through dense canopy. In an aquarium, they're one of those fish that looks almost unbelievably vivid under good lighting. That orange-to-red coloration intensifies dramatically in soft, slightly acidic water against a dark substrate, which is why you see them constantly featured in Dutch and Nature aquascapes.
They max out around 2 cm, making them a true nano fish. A group of 15 or 20 in a well-planted 40-liter tank creates a swirling cloud of color that's hard to beat at any price point. They're active mid-water swimmers and spend most of their time darting between plant stems and open swimming space, especially when kept in a proper school.
Water parameters matter more than most beginner resources suggest. These fish do okay in neutral water but genuinely thrive in soft, slightly acidic conditions closer to their natural habitat. Aim for pH between 5.8 and 6.8, GH under 8, and temperatures around 26 to 28 Celsius for the best coloration and behavior.
Diet is simple as long as you account for their tiny mouths. Standard tropical flakes are often too large. Powdered foods, micro pellets, and live or frozen baby brine shrimp are ideal. They're enthusiastic feeders and not fussy.
Ember tetras are completely peaceful, never nip fins, and coexist with practically anything their own size or smaller. They're one of the genuinely great beginner fish, not because they're bulletproof, but because they reward good water conditions so visibly. Browse real community builds featuring these fish to see what a thriving colony actually looks like.
Water Parameters
Temperature
°CpH
GH
dGHKH
dKHSwimming Level
Flow Preference
Keeping multiple Ember Tetra together
Ember Tetra are shoaling fish and need company of their own kind. Keep a group of at least 8. Smaller groups leave them stressed, washed-out in color, and prone to hiding.
Compatibility
Embers work best with other small, peaceful species in similar water conditions. Pygmy corydoras, celestial pearl danios, chili rasboras, otocinclus, and small rasbora species are all proven combinations. They do well with dwarf shrimp species like neocaridina, though very small shrimplets may occasionally be eaten. Avoid anything large enough to view them as food, and avoid fin-nipping species like tiger barbs entirely since embers will be bullied relentlessly. In a well-planted nano setup, a single-species colony of 15 to 20 embers is an excellent display in itself. Bettas are sometimes kept with them successfully, but it depends heavily on the individual betta's temperament.
Commonly kept with
Species this one is most often paired withCommonly tried but avoid
Often paired, but shouldn't beCare Notes
The most common mistake is underfeeding or feeding the wrong size food. Most flakes won't fit in their mouths and they'll spit them out. Use micro pellets, crushed flakes, or live and frozen foods like baby brine shrimp. The second mistake is keeping too few, six fish will huddle and hide, while twelve or more will school confidently across the tank. Soft, slightly acidic water dramatically improves their color and general vitality. High flow stresses them, so aim for gentle filtration with a sponge or baffled output.
Behavior & Aggression
Ember tetras have essentially no aggressive behavior to speak of. There's no fin nipping, no territory defense, no posturing toward tankmates. Within the school you'll occasionally see brief chasing during feeding or spawning, but it never escalates and causes no harm. The only concern runs the other direction: they're so small and timid that boisterous or nippy tankmates will stress them into hiding. Keeping them with fish that respect their size is more important than worrying about anything embers themselves will do.
Things to Know
- Must be kept in a school of 8 or more.
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