Cedricguppy - Loury Cédric, CC BY-SA 4.0
Ember Tetra
Hyphessobrycon amandae
Also known as Amanda's Tetra, Dwarf Red Tetra, Fire Tetra
Edited by Ivan F. · Reviewed
Beginner verdict
A tiny, glowing orange schooling fish that stays peaceful and suits small planted tanks with soft, slightly acidic water. Keep a proper group of at least eight, because lone embers hide and lose color. It needs gentle flow, small foods, and calm companions, making it a rewarding early choice.
Care at a glance
- Min tank size
- 11 US gal
- Footprint
- 18 x 12 in
- Temperature
- 68–82 °F
- pH
- 5–7
- Hardness
- 1–10 dGH
- Swim zone
- Mid-Water
- Min group
- 8 or more
- Lifespan
- 2–4 years
Ember Tetra tank mates and swim zone
Mid-Water
Spends most of its time in this part of the tank.
Corydoras aeneus
Corydoras pygmaeus
Boraras brigittae
Otocinclus macrospilus
Planorbella duryi
Trichogaster chuna
Betta splendens
Embers are small enough for some bettas to hunt. Only try this in a larger, heavily planted tank.
Neocaridina davidi
Adult shrimp are safe, but embers will pick off baby shrimp. Add moss so the young can hide.
Barbodes semifasciolatus
Gold Barb is much larger than Ember Tetra and may frighten or even eat it.
Poecilia reticulata
Their pH ranges barely overlap, so you will have little room for error.
Puntigrus tetrazona
Too boisterous. Embers do not compete well with fast, nippy tank mates and will hide.
Carinotetraodon travancoricus
Puffers are nippy hunters, and a fish this small is an easy target.
Pelvicachromis pulcher
A larger, territorial cichlid that can eat fish as small as an ember.
Xiphophorus hellerii
Swordtail is big enough to eat or bully a fish as small as Ember Tetra.
Ember Tetra feeding and care
How to feed
- Feed crushed flakes or micro pellets small enough for a very small mouth.
- Add tiny live or frozen foods, such as baby brine shrimp or daphnia, for the best color.
- Give small portions and watch that shy fish get their share when faster tank mates are present.
Telling males from females
Adult males are more intensely colored, especially when ready to spawn. Females are noticeably rounder in the body.
Ember Tetra care mistakes to avoid
- Do not buy just a few. Embers feel safe in numbers, and we recommend at least 8 fish.
- Avoid large or boisterous tank mates. Embers are outcompeted at feeding time and may stop coming out.
- Check your tap water first. Embers prefer soft, acidic to neutral water, up to pH 7.
- Add them only to a fully cycled tank. A fish this small has little tolerance for ammonia spikes.
- Choose foods small enough to fit their tiny mouths, because standard flakes and pellets are often too big.
Ember Tetra tank setup
The essentials for a small, gently filtered tank.
TankAt least 11 US gal (41 L), 45 x 30 cm
The smallest tank our sources give for Ember Tetra. We list only tanks that hold this volume (allowing 10%, so a standard size counts) and have at least this much floor.
Aqueon Standard Glass Aquarium 20 Long US
Eheim clearTank 73 Spain
Why we chose these (Best 10-Gallon Fish Tank: What to Look For). Nobody here has used or tested them.
Starter kitA kit with the tank, filter and light in one box
We list only kits whose tank fits Ember Tetra, up to twice its minimum volume. A kit whose heater has a fixed setting shows only when that setting is inside Ember Tetra's temperature range.
Tetra Complete LED Aquarium Kit 20 Gallon US
Check the heater's setting
Tetra Starter Line LED Aquarium 54 L Spain
Heater preset to 25 °C
Tetra Starter Line LED Aquarium 80 L Spain
Heater preset to 25 °C
Why we chose these (Best Aquarium Starter Kit: What to Look For). Nobody here has used or tested them.
FilterAir-driven sponge filter
Gentle flow that small fish and long fins can handle, plus a safe home for good bacteria.
Aquarium Co-Op Coarse Sponge Filter (Small) US
Fluval AquaClear 20 Power Filter US
Tetra Brillant Filter Spain
Fluval AquaClear 20 Power Filter Spain
Why we chose these (Best Filter for a 10-Gallon Tank). Nobody here has used or tested them.
HeaterKeep it at 68–82 °F (20–28 °C)
Adjustable heater, about 5 W per gallon: 25 W at 5 gallons, 50 W at 10. Keeps a small tank stable. Adjustable models let you set the temperature your species needs. Size up for a cold room.
Fluval T50 Fully Electronic Aquarium Heater US
Aqueon Pro Adjustable Heater 50 W US
Fluval T50 Fully Electronic Aquarium Heater Spain
Eheim Thermocontrol e 50 Heater Spain
Why we chose these (Best Heater for a 10-Gallon Aquarium). Nobody here has used or tested them.
Water conditionerDechlorinator such as Seachem Prime
Tap water contains chlorine or chloramine that harms fish.
Seachem Prime US
Fritz Complete Water Conditioner US
API Betta Water Conditioner US
sera aquatan Spain
Tetra AquaSafe Spain
Sold at Kiwoko · Sold at Tiendanimal · Sold at zooplus.es · Maker's details
Why we chose these (Best Water Conditioner for Betta Fish). Nobody here has used or tested them.
Test kitLiquid kit such as API Freshwater Master
Tracks ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH while the tank cycles.
API Freshwater Master Test Kit US
API General & Carbonate Hardness Test Kit US
See it at The Shrimp Farm (a retailer; affiliate link) · Sold at Bulk Reef Supply · Maker's details
sera aqua-test box (Cl) Spain
JBL PROAQUATEST COMBISET Plus NH4 Spain
Why we chose these (Best Test Kit for a Freshwater Aquarium). Nobody here has used or tested them.
SubstrateNo special substrate is named; a dark one is preferred.
We are still choosing products for this.
Hiding places and decorHeavy planting, floating plants, driftwood branches and dried leaves are suggested.
We are still choosing products for this.
PlantsSafe with live plants
Cycle the tank before adding animals. See our guide on how to cycle a fish tank.
Where to buy Ember Tetra
Stores that list it under the same scientific name as this page. Links marked as affiliate links may earn us a commission. We have not bought from them, so check each store's own terms.
See it at The Shrimp Farm (a retailer; affiliate link)
We have not found a store that sells Ember Tetra under its scientific name yet. We add stores as we confirm them.
Live animals and plants travel by courier. Check the store's live-arrival guarantee, and only buy once your tank has cycled (see how to cycle a fish tank).
Some US states restrict certain species. Check our US state aquarium rules table and your state's own rules before you buy.
Ember Tetra FAQ
What size tank do ember tetras need?
Seriously Fish suggests a base of at least 45 x 30 cm, which is about 11 US gallons (41 liters). Choose a longer tank if you can, because schooling fish benefit from swimming room.
How many ember tetras should I keep together?
Keep at least 8. Seriously Fish recommends a minimum purchase of 8-10, and larger groups look better and behave more confidently.
Are ember tetras safe with shrimp?
Adult shrimp are generally safe. Baby shrimp may be eaten, so dense moss gives the young somewhere to hide if you want the colony to grow.
Will ember tetras live in my tap water?
They do best in soft water from pH 5 to 7, up to about 10 dGH. Test your tap water first. If it runs much harder, choose a species suited to it instead of chasing the numbers with chemicals.
Ember Tetra facts and sources
- Family
- Characidae
- Native to
- Araguaia River basin, Brazil
- Adult size
- 0.8 in (2 cm)
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social needs
- Schooling/Shoaling (6+)
- Diet
- Micro-Predator
- Water flow
- Gentle
- Substrate
- Any
- Live plants
- Yes - Loves Plants
- Shrimp
- Adult Shrimp Only
- Fin nipping
- None
- Vulnerable to nippers
- No
- Breeding
- Easy Egg-Scatterer
Sources
- Seriously Fish: Tank size, water ranges and behavior
- FishBase: Cross-check of water ranges and size
Lifespans are approximate and come from aquarium care guides, because these databases rarely publish them.
Where sources differ, we show the Seriously Fish aquarium figures.
Spotted something wrong? Report a parameter correction. For a sick fish, see our veterinary disclaimer.