Ember tetra
Hyphessobrycon amandae · family Characidae
The ember tetra (Hyphessobrycon amandae) is a tiny, peaceful freshwater fish from the Araguaia River basin in Brazil. It's easy to care for, reaches only 0.9–1.0 inches, and does well in a tank of 10 gallons or more with soft to moderately hard water. The most important thing to know is that it must be kept in a group of at least 6, because a lone ember tetra becomes extremely stressed.
Edited by Marin Hale · last reviewed October 29, 2026 · How we check facts
Great for beginnersTropicalNano tank OKGroups of 6+
What can live with a ember tetra?
Verdicts against every species in our database, from our compatibility rules. How verdicts work
| Verdict | Species | Why | Tank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good match | Betta fish | No problems found: water, size, fins and temperament all check out. | 10 gal+ |
| Good match | Cherry shrimp | No problems found: water, size, fins and temperament all check out. | 10 gal+ |
| Good match | Another ember tetra | No problems found: water, size, fins and temperament all check out. | 10 gal+ |
| Good match | Neon tetra | No problems found: water, size, fins and temperament all check out. | 10 gal+ |
| Good match | Pygmy corydoras | No problems found: water, size, fins and temperament all check out. | 10 gal+ |
| Maybe | Guppy | pH ranges only just overlap (7.0–7.0), so one of them will be outside its comfort zone if your water drifts. | 10 gal+ |
| Maybe | Tiger barb | Tiger barbs can harass much smaller, peaceful ember tetras. | 30 gal+ |
| Maybe | Zebra nerite snail | pH ranges don't overlap (5.0–7.0 vs 7.2–8.4). | 10 gal+ |
| Avoid | Angelfish | Ember tetras are small enough for adult angelfish to eat. | — |
| Avoid | Common goldfish | Common goldfish need cool water; ember tetras need tropical water. | — |
| Avoid | Fancy goldfish | Fancy goldfish need cool water; ember tetras need tropical water. | — |
Setup and care
| Heater | Yes. Set an adjustable heater to 73–80°F (23–27°C); ember tetras tolerate 73–82°F, and most rooms are cooler than that. |
|---|---|
| Feeding | Flake, frozen, freeze dried; small live foods like worms and brine shrimp |
| Substrate | Darker substrate |
| Males vs females | Males more intensely coloured; females rounder-bodied |
| Male:female ratio | 1-2 males to several females (breeding group) |
| Breeding | Spawns often; fry may appear in a mature aquarium without intervention |
Watch out for
- May become stressed by significantly larger fish
- Will not compete well with boisterous or much larger tankmates
- Naturally shy, need plant cover
- Test water regularly; large groups affect water quality
- Avoid overfeeding
- Extreme stress if kept alone
Care tips
- Keep at least 6 ember tetras together, since they become extremely stressed when kept alone.
- Give them plenty of plant cover, dim lighting and calm water, as they are naturally shy and don't like strong currents.
- A darker substrate suits them well.
- Feed small portions and test your water regularly, because overfeeding and large groups can both hurt water quality.
Questions
Do ember tetras need a heater?
Ember tetras tolerate 73–82°F, and the ideal range is 73–80°F. If your room keeps the tank water within that range, you're fine. If not, you'll need a way to hold it there.
What do ember tetras eat?
Ember tetras are omnivores and accept flake, frozen and freeze-dried foods. They also enjoy small live foods like worms and brine shrimp. Avoid overfeeding.
What fish can live with ember tetras?
Betta fish, neon tetras, pygmy corydoras, cherry shrimp and other ember tetras all pair well with them. Use caution with guppies, because their pH range only just overlaps, and with tiger barbs, which can harass small, peaceful ember tetras. Zebra nerite snails also need caution because they prefer harder, higher-pH water than ember tetras do. Avoid angelfish, common goldfish and fancy goldfish, since they are big enough to eat ember tetras (and goldfish need cool water, not tropical).
How big do ember tetras get, and how many should I keep?
Adults reach about 0.9–1.0 inches and live around 2–4 years. Keep a group of at least 6 in a tank of 10 gallons or more. They also won't compete well with boisterous or much larger tankmates.
How can I tell male and female ember tetras apart, and will they breed?
Males are more intensely coloured, while females are rounder-bodied. Ember tetras are egg-scattering free spawners that spawn often. If you keep a breeding group of 1–2 males to several females, fry may appear in a mature aquarium without any intervention.
Sources
Each value is cross-checked across the references below. Where they disagreed, an editor chose a value and recorded why.
- Ember tetra (en.wikipedia.org)
- Hyphessobrycon amandae (Seriously Fish) (www.seriouslyfish.com)
- Ember Tetra: Fish Species Profile (www.thesprucepets.com)
- Ember Tetra 101: Care, Size, Breeding, Lifespan, & More (www.aquariumsource.com)
- Ember Tetra (Hyphessobrycon amandae) (www.petzonesd.com)
- GBIF taxonomy record
- Wikidata entry
Where each value comes from (21 facts)
| Fact | What each source says |
|---|---|
| Temperature editor decision | en.wikipedia.org: “The recommended temperature range is 23–29 °C (73–84 °F).” seriouslyfish.com: “20–28°C68–82°F” thesprucepets.com: “73 to 80 F (23 to 27 C)” aquariumsource.com: “Water temperature: Generous range of 73°F to 84°F” petzonesd.com: “temperatures ranging from 72°F to 82°F (22°C to 28°C)” |
| Adult size | en.wikipedia.org: “grows to a maximum overall length of approximately 2 cm (0.8 in) to 3 cm (1.2 in)” seriouslyfish.com: “it grows to around 20 mm SL” thesprucepets.com: “Adult Size: 1 inch” petzonesd.com: “They typically reach about 1 inch (2.5 cm) in length.” |
| Smallest tank | en.wikipedia.org: “The minimum tank size requirement for the Ember tetras is at least 10 gallons” seriouslyfish.com: “Volume ~41litres~11US gal” thesprucepets.com: “Minimum Tank Size 10 gallons” aquariumsource.com: “The ideal tank size for Ember Tetras is 10 gallons at a minimum.” petzonesd.com: “A minimum tank size of 10 gallons is recommended for a small school of Ember Tetras.” |
| Group size | en.wikipedia.org: “Ember tetras should be kept in groups of at least 6, though the recommended number is 9–10” seriouslyfish.com: “a minimum of 8-10 specimens is the recommended purchase” thesprucepets.com: “These fish should always be kept in a school of at least 5 individuals” aquariumsource.com: “We recommend that you keep at least 10-15 of these together” petzonesd.com: “should be kept in groups of at least six” |
| Swims | en.wikipedia.org: “These fish swim at the middle level of the aquarium” seriouslyfish.com: “it tends to inhabit the middle-to-upper regions of the tank” thesprucepets.com: “Tank Level All” aquariumsource.com: “These fish are committed middle-dwellers” |
| Water type | en.wikipedia.org: “is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish” thesprucepets.com: “addition to any freshwater community aquarium” aquariumsource.com: “The Ember Tetra is a cute and fun little freshwater fish” petzonesd.com: “a charming and colorful addition to any freshwater aquarium” |
| Native to | en.wikipedia.org: “This fish is found in the Araguaia River basin of Brazil.” seriouslyfish.com: “a tiny characid from the rio das Mortes, a tributary of the Araguaia in Mato Grosso, Brazil” thesprucepets.com: “The Ember Tetra originates from the Araguaia River Basin in South America.” aquariumsource.com: “found most heavily in Central Brazil in the Araguaia River basin” petzonesd.com: “native to the shallow waters of the Rio Araguaia basin in Brazil” |
| Hardness (GH) editor decision | en.wikipedia.org: “they have adapted quite well to a wide range of hardness (5–17 dGH)” seriouslyfish.com: “Hardness 1–10dGH” thesprucepets.com: “Hardness 5 to 17 dGH” aquariumsource.com: “Water hardness: 5-17 dGH” |
| Substrate | en.wikipedia.org: “Ideally their tank should contain live plants , a darker substrate, and open water for swimming.” seriouslyfish.com: “Should ideally be kept in a heavily-planted set-up, preferably with a dark substrate.” petzonesd.com: “A soft substrate will allow them to explore and forage naturally.” |
| Feeding | en.wikipedia.org: “including flake, frozen, and freeze dried food. Small live foods like worms and brine shrimp are also recommended” seriouslyfish.com: “should also be offered daily meals of small live and frozen fare such as Artemia nauplii, Moina, grindal worm, etc.” thesprucepets.com: “you should feed your fish once to twice a day” aquariumsource.com: “Aquarists have had success feeding Ember Tetras anywhere from 2-4 times a day.” petzonesd.com: “High-quality flake food, micro pellets, and frozen or live foods such as brine shrimp, daphnia, and bloodworms” |
| pH editor decision | seriouslyfish.com: “pH 5.0–7.0” thesprucepets.com: “pH 5.5 to 7.0” aquariumsource.com: “pH levels: 5-7 is the recommended range but we prefer keeping them closer to 6.5” petzonesd.com: “a pH level of 6.0 to 7.5” |
| Temperament | seriouslyfish.com: “Very peaceful and will not compete well with very boisterous or much larger tankmates.” thesprucepets.com: “Social Peaceful” aquariumsource.com: “They are very peaceful and can be compatible with a wide variety of tank mates.” petzonesd.com: “Ember Tetras are peaceful and non-aggressive” |
| Care level | seriouslyfish.com: “Difficulty6 of 8 measures Easy” thesprucepets.com: “Care Easy” aquariumsource.com: “Ember Tetra care is about as easy as it gets.” petzonesd.com: “Caring for Ember Tetras is relatively easy” |
| Breeding type | seriouslyfish.com: “An egg-scattering free spawner exhibiting no parental care.” thesprucepets.com: “The Ember Tetra is an egg-laying fish” |
| Telling males from females | seriouslyfish.com: “Adult males are more intensely-coloured, especially when in spawning condition, while females are noticeably rounder-bodied.” thesprucepets.com: “your female Ember Tetras will become a little rounder in the belly” |
| Male:female ratio | seriouslyfish.com: “a single pair or group comprising one or two males and several females” |
| Breeding | seriouslyfish.com: “in a mature aquarium it's possible that small numbers of fry may start to appear without intervention.” thesprucepets.com: “you can remove the parents, since Ember Tetras do not rear their young at all” aquariumsource.com: “Once spawning has occurred the parents will leave the fry to fend for themselves.” petzonesd.com: “the eggs will typically hatch within 24 to 36 hours” |
| Lifespan | thesprucepets.com: “Life Expectancy: 2 to 4 years” aquariumsource.com: “The typical Ember Tetra lifespan is between 2 and 4 years.” petzonesd.com: “Ember Tetras can live for 3 to 5 years.” |
| Diet | thesprucepets.com: “The Ember Tetra is an omnivore” aquariumsource.com: “Ember tetras are omnivores with tiny mouths.” petzonesd.com: “These tetras are omnivorous and enjoy a varied diet.” |
| Safe with plants | thesprucepets.com: “the Ember Tetra will not voraciously snack on your live plants” aquariumsource.com: “They won’t eat enough to damage the plant” |
| Eats shrimp/snails editor decision | aquariumsource.com: “We also like critters like the nerite snail and Cherry shrimp as Ember Tetra tank mates.” |
Editor decisions (4)
- Sources range 68–84°F; 73–82°F is supported by four of five sources.
- Seriously Fish gives 1–10 dGH; others up to 17. Embers prefer soft water.
- Seriously Fish and Aquarium Source: 5.0–7.0; embers prefer soft, slightly acidic water.
- Aquarium Source lists cherry shrimp and nerites as tank mates; embers are too small to eat adult shrimp.