Photo: Pascal Wolterman (CC BY-SA 3.0) — via Wikimedia Commons
Ember Tetra (Hyphessobrycon amandae)
A tiny coal of living flame — glowing orange schoolers that turn a planted nano tank into a moving painting.
Will it live with a Ember Tetra?
We compare each fish against your ember tetra on temperament, size, water parameters and swimming zone. Set your tank size and filter the results.
- Assassin Snail✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 3 cm · Easy care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Keep Ember Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Celestial Pearl Danio✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 2 cm · Medium care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Ember Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Celestial Pearl Danio in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Cherry Shrimp✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 3 cm · Easy care · 18–28 °C (64–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 24–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Keep Ember Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Cherry Shrimp in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Chili Rasbora✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 2 cm · Medium care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 24–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Ember Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Chili Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Crystal Red Shrimp✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 2.5 cm · Hard care · 20–24 °C (68–75 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Keep Ember Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Crystal Red Shrimp in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Dawn Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 2.5 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Ember Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Dawn Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Dwarf Spotted Rasbora✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 2.5 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 24–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Ember Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Dwarf Spotted Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Emerald Dwarf Danio✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 2 cm · Medium care · 20–24 °C (68–75 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–24 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Ember Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Emerald Dwarf Danio in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Endler's Livebearer✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 3 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Keep Ember Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Endler's Livebearer in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Exclamation Point Rasbora✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 2 cm · Medium care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Ember Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Exclamation Point Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Glowlight Danio✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 3 cm · Easy care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Ember Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Glowlight Danio in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Gold Ring Danio✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 3 cm · Easy care · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Ember Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Gold Ring Danio in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Green Neon Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 2.5 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 24–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Ember Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Green Neon Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Hummingbird Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 1.8 cm · Hard care · 22–27 °C (72–81 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Ember Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Hummingbird Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Lambchop Rasbora✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 3 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Ember Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Lambchop Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Malaysian Trumpet Snail✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 3 cm · Easy care · 21–27 °C (70–81 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Keep Ember Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Neon Blue Rasbora✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 2.5 cm · Medium care · 23–26 °C (73–79 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Ember Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Neon Blue Rasbora in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Neon Green Rasbora✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 2 cm · Easy care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Ember Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Neon Green Rasbora in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Nerite Snail✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 2.5 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Keep Ember Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Ramshorn Snail✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 2 cm · Easy care · 20–28 °C (68–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Keep Ember Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Red Lip Nerite Snail✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 2 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Keep Ember Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Ruby Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 2 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Ember Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Ruby Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Strawberry Rasbora✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 2 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Ember Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Strawberry Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Tucano Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 1.7 cm · Hard care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 24–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Ember Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Tucano Tetra in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Black Darter Tetra⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 4 cm · Hard care · 21–28 °C (70–82 °F)
- Expect Black Darter Tetra to harass Ember Tetra at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Watch for Black Darter Tetra picking off any ember tetra small enough to fit in its mouth.
- Keep Ember Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Black Ruby Barb⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 6 cm · Easy care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
- Black Ruby Barb is semi-aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Ember Tetra — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Ember Tetra is small enough to tempt Black Ruby Barb; only risk it in a densely planted setup with hiding spots.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~100 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Ember Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Black Ruby Barb in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Black Skirt Tetra⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 6 cm · Easy care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
- Black Skirt Tetra is semi-aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Ember Tetra — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Watch for Black Skirt Tetra picking off any ember tetra small enough to fit in its mouth.
- Keep Ember Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Black Skirt Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Blue Turbo Snail⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 5 cm · Medium care · 25–30 °C (77–86 °F)
- pH preferences only just meet (Ember Tetra 5.5–7 vs Blue Turbo Snail 7.5–8.5) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
- Keep Ember Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Colombian Tetra⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 6.5 cm · Easy care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Colombian Tetra clearly outsizes Ember Tetra and is semi-aggressive; risky unless the tank is big and well-planted.
- Watch for Colombian Tetra picking off any ember tetra small enough to fit in its mouth.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~114 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Ember Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Colombian Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Desert Goby⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 6 cm · Easy care · 18–28 °C (64–82 °F)
- Desert Goby is semi-aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Ember Tetra — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Desert Goby may hunt Ember Tetra, fry or shrimplets — safest in a heavily planted tank.
- Keep Ember Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Dwarf Chain Loach⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 6 cm · Medium care · 24–29 °C (75–84 °F)
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Ember Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Dwarf Chain Loach in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- GloFish Tetra⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 6 cm · Easy care · 21–28 °C (70–82 °F)
- GloFish Tetra is semi-aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Ember Tetra — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- GloFish Tetra may hunt Ember Tetra, fry or shrimplets — safest in a heavily planted tank.
- Keep Ember Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep GloFish Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Morse Code Corydoras⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 5 cm · Medium care · 23–26 °C (73–79 °F)
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Ember Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Morse Code Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Odessa Barb⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 6 cm · Easy care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
- Odessa Barb is semi-aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Ember Tetra — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Odessa Barb may hunt Ember Tetra, fry or shrimplets — safest in a heavily planted tank.
- Keep Ember Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Odessa Barb in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Pea Puffer⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 2.5 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Pea Puffer is semi-aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Ember Tetra — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Keep Ember Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Rainbow Emperor Tetra⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 3.6 cm · Medium care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Rainbow Emperor Tetra is semi-aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Ember Tetra — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Ember Tetra is small enough to tempt Rainbow Emperor Tetra; only risk it in a densely planted setup with hiding spots.
- Keep Ember Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Rainbow Emperor Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Scarlet Badis⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 2 cm · Medium care · 22–27 °C (72–81 °F)
- Expect Scarlet Badis to harass Ember Tetra at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Keep Ember Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Serpae Tetra⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 4 cm · Easy care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Expect Serpae Tetra to harass Ember Tetra at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Watch for Serpae Tetra picking off any ember tetra small enough to fit in its mouth.
- Keep Ember Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Serpae Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Silvertip Tetra⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 5 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Expect Silvertip Tetra to harass Ember Tetra at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Ember Tetra is small enough to tempt Silvertip Tetra; only risk it in a densely planted setup with hiding spots.
- Keep Ember Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Silvertip Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Tiger Badis⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 4 cm · Medium care · 22–24 °C (72–75 °F)
- Tiger Badis clearly outsizes Ember Tetra and is semi-aggressive; risky unless the tank is big and well-planted.
- Ember Tetra is small enough to tempt Tiger Badis; only risk it in a densely planted setup with hiding spots.
- Keep Ember Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Alligator Gar⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 250 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Size gap is too large (250 vs 2 cm): Alligator Gar will treat Ember Tetra as food.
- Alligator Gar clearly outsizes Ember Tetra and is aggressive; risky unless the tank is big and well-planted.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~3785 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Ember Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Clown Knifefish⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 90 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Ember Tetra is bite-sized to a 90 cm predatory clown knifefish — it will be eaten.
- Clown Knifefish is aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Ember Tetra — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~750 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Ember Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Fire Eel⛔ Not recommendedSemi-aggressive · 100 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Size gap is too large (100 vs 2 cm): Fire Eel will treat Ember Tetra as food.
- Expect Fire Eel to harass Ember Tetra at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~380 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Ember Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Koi⛔ Not recommendedPeaceful · 90 cm · Medium care · 4–28 °C (39–82 °F)
- Ember Tetra is bite-sized to a 90 cm koi — it will be eaten.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~3800 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Ember Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Redtail Catfish⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 120 cm · Hard care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Size gap is too large (120 vs 2 cm): Redtail Catfish will treat Ember Tetra as food.
- Redtail Catfish clearly outsizes Ember Tetra and is aggressive; risky unless the tank is big and well-planted.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~5700 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Ember Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Spotted Gar⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 90 cm · Hard care · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
- Ember Tetra is bite-sized to a 90 cm predatory spotted gar — it will be eaten.
- Spotted Gar clearly outsizes Ember Tetra and is aggressive; risky unless the tank is big and well-planted.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~600 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Ember Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Wels Catfish⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 300 cm · Hard care · 15–25 °C (59–77 °F)
- Wels Catfish (300 cm) is big enough to swallow the 2 cm Ember Tetra whole.
- Wels Catfish is aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Ember Tetra — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~20000 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Ember Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Wolf Cichlid⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 72 cm · Hard care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
- Wolf Cichlid (72 cm) is big enough to swallow the 2 cm Ember Tetra whole.
- Wolf Cichlid is aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Ember Tetra — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~760 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Ember Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
Compatibility is computed from each species' care data — a strong starting point, not a guarantee. Individual temperament varies, so always introduce new fish slowly and watch them.
Ember Tetra care specs
- Care level
- Easy
- Breeding
- Medium
- Max size
- 2 cm (0.8 in)
- Min tank size
- 40 L (10.6 gal)
- Temperature
- 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- pH
- 5.5–7
- Hardness
- 1–10 dGH
- Lifespan
- 2–4 years
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Swim level
- Middle
- Group size
- 8+ (shoaling)
- Family
- Characidae
- Origin
- South America — Araguaia River basin, Brazil
What is an Ember Tetra?
The ember tetra (Hyphessobrycon amandae) is a miniature characid native to Brazil that punches well above its weight in visual impact. Adults reach just 2 cm (about ¾ in), yet the body glows a saturated orange-red that makes a dense shoal look like embers drifting through green plants. The species was described by Géry and Junk in 1987 and named for Amanda Bleher, the mother of renowned fish explorer Heiko Bleher — giving the scientific name amandae its personal origin.
As a member of the Characidae family, the ember tetra shares the characteristic small adipose fin behind the dorsal, and its compact, torpedo-shaped body is well suited to navigating the dense marginal vegetation of its native blackwater streams. Despite its delicate appearance it is a genuinely easy species: hardy once settled, undemanding in diet, and peaceful with virtually every fish that cannot fit it in its mouth. For nano and planted-tank enthusiasts, it is close to an ideal fish.
Where do Ember Tetras come from?
Ember tetras originate from the Araguaia River basin in Brazil — a vast, slow-moving lowland river system that drains into the Tocantins and eventually the Amazon estuary. Their natural habitat consists of shallow, heavily vegetated side channels, flooded forest margins and blackwater streams where tannins leaching from decaying leaves stain the water the colour of dark tea.
That blackwater environment has distinct character: very soft (hardness 1–10 dGH), slightly to moderately acidic (pH 5.5–7.0), warm (24–28 °C / 75–82 °F), low in minerals and dim with diffuse light filtered through the forest canopy. Replicating these conditions in the aquarium — or at least not straying too far from them — keeps ember tetras healthy and in full colour. Captive-bred stock, which is the vast majority of what reaches the trade, adapts to a wider range than wild fish, including moderately hard tap water, but they will always look their best in soft, slightly acidic conditions.
What size tank does an Ember Tetra need?
The minimum tank size is 40 litres (about 10 gallons), and that figure already assumes a modest school. Because ember tetras are genuinely tiny — 2 cm fully grown — they produce little waste, which means a 40 L aquarium stays easier to manage than the same volume does with larger species.
That said, the species is a mid-water shoaler, and a wider footprint serves them better than a tall column. A tank measuring 60 cm or more in length gives a school room to move and creates the flowing, synchronised group movement that makes ember tetras worth keeping. Taller tanks can work but tend to leave the middle layer looking sparse.
Plants are not optional — they are the point of the setup. Dense stem plants in the background, floating plants to dim the light, and patches of open mid-water for swimming produce the blackwater aesthetic these fish evolved in and show their colour at its richest. Dark substrate and a handful of dried Indian almond leaves or alder cones further replicate the natural environment. A lid is advisable; like most small tetras they can jump when startled.
What water parameters do Ember Tetras need?
- Temperature: 24–28 °C (75–82 °F). A reliable heater is essential; ember tetras are tropical fish and should not be kept in unheated tanks.
- pH: 5.5–7.0. A slightly acidic reading of 6.0–6.8 suits them well and is where colour is typically best.
- Hardness: 1–10 dGH. Soft to very soft water is ideal; the species tolerates moderate hardness but thrives in genuinely soft conditions.
As with all small fish, stability is more important than hitting an exact number. Sudden swings in temperature or pH stress them faster than gradual out-of-range readings. Cycle the tank fully before adding fish, perform weekly partial water changes of around 20–25%, and test regularly. Avoid strong surface agitation — low-oxygen, tannin-rich water with gentle flow is what they evolved in, so a sponge filter or a spray-bar set below the surface keeps flow calm.
What do Ember Tetras eat?
Ember tetras are omnivores with a small mouth that limits what they can take. In the wild they pick at tiny invertebrates, zooplankton and algae in the water column. In the aquarium they readily accept:
- Micro pellets or finely crushed quality flake — a reliable staple.
- Baby brine shrimp (live or frozen) — excellent for conditioning and colour.
- Micro worm and vinegar eels — live foods that trigger natural foraging behaviour.
- Daphnia and cyclops (frozen) — add nutritional variety.
- Powdered or micro-size spirulina flake — covers the plant-based part of their omnivore diet.
Feed small amounts once or twice a day. A fish 2 cm long needs correspondingly tiny portions — if food hits the substrate uneaten after two minutes, you are overfeeding. Their small bioload is an advantage, but uneaten food in a planted tank still degrades water quality.
Are Ember Tetras aggressive — and what fish can live with them?
Ember tetras are fully peaceful and rank among the safest community fish available. They show no aggression toward tank-mates and are generally too small and fast to be bullied by species of sensible size. The only tank-mate risks run in one direction: anything large enough to view a 2 cm fish as food.
Good companions include other small, peaceful characins, nano rasboras, pygmy corydoras, otocinclus, small livebearers and dwarf shrimp (amano shrimp and neocaridina generally leave ember tetras alone, and vice versa). They are a popular choice alongside bettas — their quick movement and unassuming profile tends to defuse betta attention. Avoid large cichlids, large gouramis, tiger barbs and any confirmed fin-nipper.
The key to seeing ember tetras at their best is keeping them in a group. The minimum is 8, but 10 or more reveals genuine shoaling cohesion and intensifies colour. Lone or small-group ember tetras often fade, hide and lose their orange depth. For a full guide to compatible species, see Ember Tetra tank mates.
How do you tell male and female Ember Tetras apart?
Sexing ember tetras is possible but requires a relaxed, well-lit look at a settled school. Males are slimmer in body profile and show the deeper, more saturated orange-red colouration the species is named for. Females are slightly fuller-bodied — noticeably rounder in the belly when in breeding condition — and typically display a paler, slightly washed-out orange compared to males.
The differences are subtle at 2 cm, and colour can shift with diet, stress and water quality, so judge across several fish rather than individual comparisons. In a mixed-sex school of ten or more the distinction becomes clearer once you know what you are looking for.
How do Ember Tetras breed?
Breeding is achievable in a home aquarium but requires some preparation, which is why it is rated medium difficulty. Ember tetras are egg-scatterers that offer no parental care — they will readily eat their own eggs if given the opportunity.
Set up a dedicated breeding tank (10–20 L works) with very soft, slightly acidic water (pH around 6.0–6.5, hardness below 5 dGH) at 26–28 °C (79–82 °F). Use a sponge filter only — fry are tiny and will be sucked into any other filter type. Cover the bottom with java moss or a fine spawning mop to catch and protect the eggs from the adults. A dim light setup reduces stress.
Condition a pair or small group of adults with live or frozen foods for one to two weeks, then move them to the breeding tank in the evening. Spawning typically happens in the morning, with the female scattering small, adhesive eggs among the plants. Remove the adults immediately after spawning. Eggs hatch in 24–36 hours; fry become free-swimming within a few days and need infusoria or commercially prepared fry food at first, graduating to baby brine shrimp nauplii as they grow.
What are common Ember Tetra diseases?
Ember tetras are hardy when water quality is maintained, but small fish have a lower tolerance for errors. Common health concerns include:
- Ich (white spot disease): Tiny white spots across the body and fins, caused by Ichthyophthirius multifiliis. Most outbreaks trace to chilled or stressed fish. Gradually raising temperature to the upper end of the range (28 °C) and improving water quality are the first responses.
- Velvet (Oodinium): A fine gold or rust-coloured dusty sheen, easier to see under a torch light. Highly contagious; quarantine affected fish promptly.
- Fin rot: Ragged or receding fin edges, almost always a water-quality problem. Fix the root cause (water change, reduce bioload) before any other intervention.
- Internal parasites: Wasting, white stringy faeces or loss of colour in newly imported fish may indicate internal parasites. Quarantine all new stock for two to four weeks before adding to a display tank.
- Neon tetra disease: Though named for a different species, the pathogen Pleistophora hyphessobryconis can affect other small tetras. It causes loss of colour in irregular patches and has no effective treatment — affected fish should be removed to prevent spread.
Prevention is straightforward: stable, soft, warm water with regular partial changes; quarantine all new arrivals; avoid overfeeding; and do not mix fish from different sources directly into a display tank.
Health note: disease diagnosis and medication selection are beyond the scope of a care profile. If your ember tetras show symptoms, confirm the diagnosis against a reputable veterinary or fish-health reference before treating — many symptoms overlap between conditions, and incorrect medication can stress small fish further.
How long do Ember Tetras live?
With good care, ember tetras live 2–4 years. That is a shorter ceiling than larger tetras, reflecting the general pattern in nano fish where smaller size correlates with faster metabolism and shorter lifespan. However, two to four years of a thriving, richly coloured school in a planted tank represents real return on investment — and a well-maintained aquarium with stable parameters and consistent feeding tends toward the longer end of that range.
Because captive-bred fish often reach stores as young juveniles, you typically get the full span from purchase. Buy from a supplier that stocks healthy, active fish with good colour from the outset; pale, listless ember tetras at the point of sale are a warning sign, and stressed fish have shorter prospects regardless of species.
Frequently asked questions
Are ember tetras good tank mates for bettas?
Often yes — their small size, peaceful nature and preference for soft warm water matches a betta's needs well. The main risk is a betta with strong fin-nipping tendencies, but the ember's quick movement and small profile usually keeps conflict low. A heavily planted tank gives both species cover and reduces tension.
How many ember tetras should I keep together?
At least 8, ideally 10 or more. A large school brings out their natural shoaling behaviour and intensifies their colour. In a small group they can look washed-out and stay hidden; a bigger school makes them bolder and more visible against your plants.
What you need to keep a ember tetra
The baseline is a heated, filtered 40 L+ tank: a reliable heater to hold 24–28 °C (75–82 °F), a gentle filter that won't batter a ember tetra in the current, and a tight-fitting lid. Cycle the tank fully before adding any fish.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases — buying through these links costs you nothing extra.
