How many Ember Tetras should I keep together?

You should keep an absolute minimum of 8 to 10 individuals, though larger groups of 15 or more are highly recommended. A substantial shoal makes them feel secure, significantly improves their colouration, and encourages natural social behaviours.

Will Ember Tetras eat my cherry shrimp?

Ember Tetras are generally considered completely safe with adult dwarf shrimp like Cherry Shrimp. Their mouths are very small. However, as micropredators, they may occasionally pick off a freshly hatched, microscopic shrimplet if it crosses their path in open water.

Why are my Ember Tetras pale?

Pale colouration is almost always a sign of stress. This can be caused by poor water parameters, a lack of hiding spots (such as plants), keeping them in numbers too small for a secure shoal, or a poor-quality diet. Dark substrates and tannin-stained water naturally help them display their brightest orange.

Do Ember Tetras need a heater?

Yes. They are tropical fish originating from South America and require a stable water temperature between 24°C and 28°C to thrive. A reliable aquarium heater and thermometer are essential.

Where in the tank do they swim?

Ember Tetras predominantly occupy the middle of the water column. They love to weave in and out of tall plant stems and will frequently hover together in open spaces just above the vegetation.

FreshwaterTropicalBeginner

Ember Tetra

Hyphessobrycon amandae

The Ember Tetra is a vivid, peaceful nano fish that brings a fiery splash of orange to densely planted freshwater aquariums.

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Ideal Conditions

Temperature: 24 – 28 °C
pH range: 5.5 – 7
Hardness: 1 – 10 dGH
Adult size: 1.5 – 2 cm
Standard nano aquarium: 45 litres+
Lifespan: 2 – 4 years
Diet: Omnivore / Micropredator
Water flow: gentle to moderate
Preferred setup: Dense planting, dark substrate, floating plants, and dried leaf litter.

About the Ember Tetra

Discovered in the late 1980s, the Ember Tetra has rapidly become a staple of the aquascaping and nano-aquarium hobby. Reaching a mere two centimetres in length, these diminutive characins pack a remarkable visual punch, with healthy specimens displaying a striking, translucent orange-red hue. Their small size makes them perfect for smaller aquaria, though they do best when kept in sizable, secure shoals that allow their natural behaviours to shine. They are an undemanding, visually rewarding species that serves as an excellent introduction to keeping small South American tetras.

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Is it right for your tank?

Check Ember Tetra against a habitat you already keep. We compare water type, temperature, pH, adult size, group needs and everything living there.

Where Ember Tetra comes from

Native range

Araguaia River Basin, Mato Grosso

Countries / regions

Brazil

Habitat

Slow-moving, heavily vegetated tributaries and oxbows, often featuring soft, acidic blackwater or clearwater.

They are predominantly found in the central-western region of Brazil, within the sprawling Araguaia river basin.

Similar species

Ruby Tetra
Axelrodia riesei
Chili Rasbora
Boraras brigittae
Glowlight Tetra
Hemigrammus erythrozonus

We’re adding more full species guides as the catalogue grows.

Compatible tank mates

Reviewed guidance based on this species' recorded traits.

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Pygmy Corydoras
Corydoras pygmaeus
Both are exceedingly peaceful, share a preference for planted setups, and occupy complementary water column zones.
Great
Cherry Shrimp
Neocaridina davidi
Ember Tetras are too small to pose a serious threat to adult shrimp, though occasionally a freshly hatched shrimplet may be eaten.
Great
Otocinclus
Otocinclus spp.
An ideal, completely non-aggressive algae eater that will not bother the tiny tetras.
Great
Angelfish
Pterophyllum scalare
Adult Angelfish are natural predators of small tetras and are highly likely to eat Ember Tetras once large enough.
Compatible with caution
Tiger Barb
Puntigrus tetrazona
Tiger Barbs are far too boisterous and prone to nipping, which will heavily stress the timid Ember Tetra.
Not recommended

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