Photo: Wikimedia Commons contributor (CC BY 2.5) — via Wikimedia Commons
Flame Tetra (Hyphessobrycon flammeus)
A compact, flame-coloured classic that has earned its place in the community tank for nearly a century.
Will it live with a Flame Tetra?
We compare each fish against your flame tetra on temperament, size, water parameters and swimming zone. Set your tank size and filter the results.
- African Dwarf Frog✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 cm · Medium care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Keep Flame Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Amapá Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 cm · Medium care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °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 Flame Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Amapá Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Black Phantom Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4.5 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–28 °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 Flame Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Black Phantom Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Blue Danio✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 cm · Easy care · 21–26 °C (70–79 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–26 °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 Flame Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Blue Danio in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Blue Emperor Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 cm · Medium care · 23–27 °C (73–81 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 23–27 °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 Flame Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Blue Emperor Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Cardinal Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 cm · Medium care · 23–27 °C (73–81 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 23–27 °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 Flame Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Cardinal Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Emperor Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 cm · Easy care · 23–27 °C (73–81 °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 Flame Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Emperor Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Glowlight Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–28 °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 Flame Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Glowlight Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Gold Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4.5 cm · Easy care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 23–28 °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 Flame Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Gold Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Golden Dwarf Barb✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 cm · Easy care · 18–24 °C (64–75 °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 Flame Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Golden Dwarf Barb in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Jelly Bean Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 cm · Medium care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °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 Flame Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Jelly Bean Tetra in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Marbled Hatchetfish✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 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.
- Keep Flame Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Marbled Hatchetfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Otocinclus✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 cm · Medium care · 21–26 °C (70–79 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Keep Flame Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Otocinclus in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Phoenix Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 cm · Easy 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 Flame Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Phoenix Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Purple Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 cm · Medium care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–26 °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 Flame Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Purple Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Rainbow Emperor Tetra✅ CompatibleSemi-aggressive · 3.6 cm · Medium care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–28 °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 Flame Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Rainbow Emperor Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Red Phantom Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 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.
- Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Flame Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Red Phantom Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Rosy Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–28 °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 Flame Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Rosy Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Rummy Nose Rasbora✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 cm · Medium care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–26 °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 Flame Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Rummy Nose Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Sparkling Gourami✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 24–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Keep Flame Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Strawberry Betta✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 cm · Medium care · 22–27 °C (72–81 °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 Flame Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Threadfin Rainbowfish✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Keep Flame Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Threadfin Rainbowfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Tiger Otocinclus✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 cm · Medium care · 22–27 °C (72–81 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Keep Flame Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Tiger Otocinclus in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Yellow Phantom Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 cm · Easy care · 23–27 °C (73–81 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 23–27 °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 Flame Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Yellow Phantom Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Black Darter Tetra⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 4 cm · Hard care · 21–28 °C (70–82 °F)
- Black Darter Tetra and Flame Tetra are close in size, but the semi-aggressive one tends to dominate — add flame tetra in a group to spread the pressure.
- Keep Flame Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Black Ruby Barb⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 6 cm · Easy care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
- Expect Black Ruby Barb to harass Flame Tetra at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~100 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Flame Tetra in a shoal of 6+ 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)
- Expect Black Skirt Tetra to harass Flame Tetra at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Keep Flame Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Black Skirt Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Cherry Shrimp⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 3 cm · Easy care · 18–28 °C (64–82 °F)
- Flame Tetra may eat Cherry Shrimp or pick off its shrimplets — a densely planted tank with moss gives them a fighting chance.
- Keep Flame Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Cherry Shrimp in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Desert Goby⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 6 cm · Easy care · 18–28 °C (64–82 °F)
- Expect Desert Goby to harass Flame Tetra at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Keep Flame Tetra in a shoal of 6+ 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 Flame Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Dwarf Chain Loach in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Ghost Shrimp⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 4 cm · Easy care · 18–28 °C (64–82 °F)
- Flame Tetra may eat Ghost Shrimp or pick off its shrimplets — a densely planted tank with moss gives them a fighting chance.
- Keep Flame Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Ghost Shrimp in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Humpbacked Tetra⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 5 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Humpbacked Tetra is semi-aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Flame Tetra — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Flame Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Humpbacked Tetra in a shoal of 8+ 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 Flame Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Morse Code Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Serpae Tetra⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 4 cm · Easy care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Serpae Tetra and Flame Tetra are close in size, but the semi-aggressive one tends to dominate — add flame tetra in a group to spread the pressure.
- Keep Flame Tetra in a shoal of 6+ 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 Flame Tetra at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Keep Flame Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Silvertip Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Spotfin Betta⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 5 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Expect Spotfin Betta to harass Flame Tetra at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Keep Flame Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Striped Red-Eye Puffer⚠️ With cautionAggressive · 5 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Striped Red-Eye Puffer is aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Flame Tetra — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Keep Flame 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 is semi-aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Flame Tetra — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Keep Flame Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Tiger Shrimp⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 3 cm · Hard care · 20–25 °C (68–77 °F)
- Flame Tetra may eat Tiger Shrimp or pick off its shrimplets — a densely planted tank with moss gives them a fighting chance.
- Keep Flame Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Tiger Shrimp in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Wine Red Betta⚠️ With cautionAggressive · 5 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Wine Red Betta and Flame Tetra are close in size, but the aggressive one tends to dominate — add flame tetra in a group to spread the pressure.
- Keep Flame Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Alligator Gar⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 250 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Alligator Gar (250 cm) is big enough to swallow the 4 cm Flame Tetra whole.
- Alligator Gar is aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Flame Tetra — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~3785 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Flame Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Clown Knifefish⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 90 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Clown Knifefish (90 cm) is big enough to swallow the 4 cm Flame Tetra whole.
- Clown Knifefish is aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Flame 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 Flame Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Fire Eel⛔ Not recommendedSemi-aggressive · 100 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Flame Tetra is bite-sized to a 100 cm predatory fire eel — it will be eaten.
- Fire Eel is semi-aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Flame Tetra — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~380 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Flame Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Koi⛔ Not recommendedPeaceful · 90 cm · Medium care · 4–28 °C (39–82 °F)
- Size gap is too large (90 vs 4 cm): Koi will treat Flame Tetra as food.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~3800 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Flame Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Redtail Catfish⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 120 cm · Hard care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Redtail Catfish (120 cm) is big enough to swallow the 4 cm Flame Tetra whole.
- Redtail Catfish clearly outsizes Flame 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 Flame Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Spotted Gar⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 90 cm · Hard care · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
- Size gap is too large (90 vs 4 cm): Spotted Gar will treat Flame Tetra as food.
- Spotted Gar is aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Flame Tetra — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~600 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Flame Tetra in a shoal of 6+ 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 4 cm Flame Tetra whole.
- Wels Catfish is aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Flame 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 Flame Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Wolf Cichlid⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 72 cm · Hard care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
- Size gap is too large (72 vs 4 cm): Wolf Cichlid will treat Flame Tetra as food.
- Expect Wolf Cichlid to harass Flame Tetra at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~760 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Flame Tetra in a shoal of 6+ 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.
Flame Tetra care specs
- Care level
- Easy
- Breeding
- Easy
- Max size
- 4 cm (1.6 in)
- Min tank size
- 40 L (10.6 gal)
- Temperature
- 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- pH
- 5.5–7.5
- Hardness
- 2–15 dGH
- Lifespan
- 3–5 years
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Swim level
- Middle
- Group size
- 6+ (shoaling)
- Family
- Characidae
- Origin
- South America — coastal rivers near Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
What is a Flame Tetra?
The flame tetra (Hyphessobrycon flammeus) is a small South American characin that has occupied a quiet but respected corner of the hobby since the 1920s — one of the earliest tropical fish to be exported and bred in captivity. Growing to just 4 cm (1.6 in), it more than makes up for modest size with colour: the rear half of the body flushes a deep red-orange, like a live ember, set against a silvery-grey front half and fins trimmed in black. Under the right conditions — soft, dark-water setup, dark substrate, diffuse light — a school of six or more is genuinely striking.
Also sold as the Von Rio tetra, Rio tetra, or Fire tetra, H. flammeus is routinely overlooked in favour of flashier relations. That is the keeper’s gain: it is hardier than the neon or cardinal tetra, tolerates a wider range of water conditions, and breeds readily in captivity. For a first foray into schooling fish, or as a reliable mid-tank resident in a community, it is hard to beat.
Where do Flame Tetras come from?
Wild flame tetras are native to the coastal river systems draining into the Atlantic near Rio de Janeiro, Brazil — drainage basins that are relatively cool for tropical fish, slow-moving, and heavily shaded by riparian vegetation. The water tends to be soft and acidic, tinted brown by leaf litter and organic decay.
This origin matters for care. The species can adapt to a wider pH and hardness range than its wild habitat (it has been captive-bred for a century), but it shows its best colour and feels most at home when the tank echoes those conditions: soft water, gentle flow, plenty of cover, and subdued lighting. Tank-bred specimens are more robust than wild-caught relatives, which makes them beginner-friendly without diluting the appeal.
What size tank do Flame Tetras need, and how should it be set up?
A group of six — the minimum that keeps them settled and confident — needs at least 40 litres (10 gal). A standard 60 cm (24 in) tank at that volume is workable; larger is always better for water stability and swimming room. Because flame tetras are active schooling fish that occupy the middle level of the water column, length matters more than depth.
Replicate the coastal-stream aesthetic:
- Substrate: dark fine sand or dark gravel to intensify colour contrast and settle the fish.
- Plants: dense planting along the back and sides (Java fern, Vallisneria, Cryptocoryne), with open swimming space in the centre. Floating plants like frogbit soften overhead light beautifully.
- Lighting: moderate to subdued — bright overhead light washes out the red pigment and makes the fish skittish. If the tank is brightly lit, floating plants are the quick fix.
- Flow: gentle. A sponge filter or a spray bar turned toward the glass keeps the current low. These fish come from quiet water and prefer calm conditions.
- Cover: driftwood and leaf litter (Indian almond leaves, oak leaves) acidify the water slightly and darken it, recreating the blackwater aesthetic that suits this species well.
What water parameters do Flame Tetras need?
- Temperature: 22–28 °C (72–82 °F). The lower end of this range is notable — this species tolerates cooler water better than many tropical tetras, a reflection of its coastal Brazilian origin.
- pH: 5.5–7.5. The sweet spot for colour and comfort is 6.0–7.0.
- Hardness: 2–15 dGH — soft to moderately hard. Genuinely soft water (under 8 dGH) produces the deepest reds.
- Ammonia / Nitrite: zero, always. Cycle the tank fully before adding fish.
Stability is more important than chasing exact numbers. Weekly water changes of 25–30 % keep parameters steady and dilute nitrates. If your tap water is hard or alkaline, reverse-osmosis blending or rainwater can bring it into the softer range; for most community setups, however, conditioned tap water at a neutral pH is perfectly adequate.
What do Flame Tetras eat?
Flame tetras are omnivores with small mouths — diet variety matters more than large portions. A quality micro-pellet or fine flake makes a sensible daily staple, but the best colour and conditioning come from regular supplements:
- Frozen or live foods: daphnia, baby brine shrimp, micro-worms, and small bloodworms two to three times a week.
- Spirulina-based flake occasionally supports colour alongside protein-rich foods.
Feed what the school consumes in two minutes, twice a day. Overfeeding is the fastest route to poor water quality and bloat in small fish. Because they are middle-level swimmers, sinking wafers are largely ignored — stick to foods that float or sink slowly through the water column.
Are Flame Tetras peaceful — and what fish can live with them?
Flame tetras are peaceful schooling fish with one minor caveat: kept in groups of fewer than six, or in a sparse tank without adequate visual break-up, they can become mildly nippy toward long-finned tank-mates. In a group of six or more with plenty of planting, that tendency largely disappears.
Ideal companions share similar water parameters and a calm temperament:
- Other small tetras (ember tetras, rummy-nose tetras, black neons)
- Corydoras catfish (bottom level, peaceful, same temperature range)
- Dwarf cichlids such as Apistogramma in a large enough tank
- Otocinclus and small plecos
- Peaceful livebearers in the right pH range
Avoid: bettas and fancy guppies (fin-nipping risk), large or aggressive cichlids, and any fish small enough to be eaten. The flame tetra itself maxes out at 4 cm, so it can also become prey to larger boisterous species.
For a full list of tested pairings, see Flame Tetra tank mates.
How do you tell male from female Flame Tetras?
Sexing adults is straightforward once the fish are mature. Females are noticeably fuller-bodied — the belly becomes distinctly rounded when they are carrying eggs — and the dorsal fin shows a characteristic white tip. Males are slimmer with a more pointed body profile and typically display deeper, richer red colouration, especially in the rear half of the body.
In a healthy, well-fed group, the contrast between sexes becomes quite clear. Colour is a reliable but not definitive guide on its own; body shape is the more consistent indicator, particularly in younger fish where pigment is still developing.
How do Flame Tetras breed?
Flame tetras are among the easiest egg-scattering tetras to breed, which partly explains their longevity in the hobby. The basic process:
- Conditioning: separate a pair or small group and feed them heavily on live and frozen foods for one to two weeks.
- Breeding tank: a dedicated 20–30 L (5–8 gal) tank with soft, slightly acidic water (pH 6.0–6.5, temperature around 26 °C / 79 °F), a fine-leaved plant or spawning mop, and dim lighting. A mesh or pebble layer on the bottom protects eggs from being eaten.
- Spawning: the male displays to the female and the pair scatter eggs among plants, typically in the morning. Several dozen to a couple of hundred eggs are deposited.
- Remove the adults after spawning — they will eat the eggs.
- Fry: eggs hatch in 24–36 hours; fry are free-swimming within three to four days. First foods are infusoria or commercial fry powder, progressing to baby brine shrimp as they grow.
No parental care is provided. Breeding difficulty is rated Easy — a good entry point for fishkeepers wanting their first spawn.
What diseases are common in Flame Tetras, and how are they prevented?
Flame tetras are hardy but susceptible to the same pathogens that affect most small characins:
- Ich (white spot): tiny white spots across the body and fins, caused by Ichthyophthirius multifiliis. The primary trigger is temperature stress or introduction of infected fish. Quarantine all new arrivals for two weeks before adding them to the main tank.
- Velvet: a finer, dusty gold sheen, often more visible in raking light. Like ich, it enters with new fish or equipment.
- Fin rot: fraying or receding fin edges, almost always linked to poor water quality or physical injury from overcrowding or nipping.
- Neon tetra disease: less common in flame tetras than in neons, but present in the Characidae family; faded patches and progressive wasting. No reliable cure — isolation and prevention are the only options.
The consistent theme is that good husbandry prevents most outbreaks. A cycled, stable tank, weekly water changes, sensible stocking, and a quarantine protocol for new fish eliminate the vast majority of disease risk.
Health note: medication dosing and specific disease diagnosis are beyond the scope of a care profile. For sick fish, confirm symptoms against a reputable veterinary or fish-health source before medicating, and treat the water quality problem alongside any medication.
How long do Flame Tetras live?
Well-kept flame tetras live 3–5 years. In stable, soft water with varied feeding and a settled social group, fish at the top of that range are common. The species is captive-bred many generations deep, which makes it more robust than many wild-caught tetras — but the basics still apply: clean water, appropriate temperature, and a proper school. A flame tetra kept singly or in poor conditions will rarely reach its potential lifespan; one in a thriving planted community tank often surprises with its longevity.
Frequently asked questions
Are flame tetras fin nippers?
They can be mildly nippy when kept in small numbers or in sparse tanks, but in a group of six or more with plenty of space and tank-mates of similar size, fin nipping is rarely a problem. Avoid pairing them with long-finned species like bettas or fancy guppies just to be safe.
How do I bring out the best red colour in flame tetras?
Soft, slightly acidic water (pH 6.0–7.0), a dark substrate, and a varied diet including small live or frozen foods all help deepen the red pigment. Strong overhead lighting washes colour out, so floating plants or gentle diffuse light makes a noticeable difference.
What you need to keep a flame tetra
The baseline is a heated, filtered 40 L+ tank: a reliable heater to hold 22–28 °C (72–82 °F), a gentle filter that won't batter a flame tetra in the current, and a tight-fitting lid. Cycle the tank fully before adding any fish.
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