Description
The ember tetra is one of the smallest fish in the trade: it does not pass 2 cm. And one of the most rewarding in a planted tank, because its ember-orange glows right against the green of the plants.
It reached the hobby only a few decades ago and became popular with nano tanks: it is one of the few shoaling fish that genuinely fits in 30 or 40 litres. That does not mean keeping two or three; it needs a group to show itself.
It is peaceful, sturdy once settled and leaves even adult shrimp alone. What it appreciates most is stability: soft to medium water, fine plants and subdued light.
Behavior
Peaceful and loosely shoaling: ten or more is what works. In a large group it swims at mid-height and stays in view; in a small one it hides.
It lives well with other tiny, calm fish: galaxy and harlequin rasboras, otocinclus, small corydoras, apistogrammas and shrimp.
Avoid housing it with anything big enough to swallow it: angelfish, large gouramis, medium cichlids. And with fast, greedy fish that take all the food.
Habitat
Hyphessobrycon amandae lives in the Araguaia basin in central Brazil: tributaries and lagoons of slow, warm, acidic water with plenty of submerged vegetation and leaf litter on the bottom.
In the aquarium it is recreated with fine plants, some wood, dried leaves and floating plants to diffuse the light. Against a dark background the orange gains a lot.
Tetra ember is a schooling species, which means that in the wild it lives and moves in large, coordinated groups.
Keep at least 8 individuals so they feel comfortable and their stress level stays low.
Details
🌊 Water parameters
🐠 Minimum tank size
Breeding
An egg scatterer: it releases eggs among moss and fine plants without tending them. In a heavily planted tank with no other fish, fry turn up spontaneously now and then.
To breed it on purpose, use a small separate tank with moss and soft water, and remove the parents after spawning. The fry are minute and need infusoria for days.
Diet
A micropredator: in the wild it eats zooplankton and tiny larvae.
- Staple: crushed flake or very fine micropellets.
- Supplement: brine shrimp nauplii, cyclops or small daphnia, frozen or live.
Mouth size is the limit: food that suits other tetras will not fit in its mouth.
What about your tank?
Enter your tank's values to see only the compatible species that fit them. Litres apply to fish.
Compatible fish
General guidance based on water parameters, behaviour and known exceptions; always review the individual animals' and aquarium's specific needs.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 23–27 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 23–27 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 23–27 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7 and 23–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 23–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 23–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7 and 23–24 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7 and 27–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7 and 23–28 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 6.5–7 and 23–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 25–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 23–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 23–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–27 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7 and 23–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7 and 23–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 23–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7 and 23–24 °C.
They share water: pH 7 and 23–27 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 5.5–7 and 26–28 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7 and 23–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7 and 23–26 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–6.5 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7 and 23–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 23–26 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7 and 23–27 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7 and 23–27 °C.
They share water: pH 7 and 23–28 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
Compatible invertebrates
General guidance based on water parameters, behaviour and known exceptions; always review the individual animals' and aquarium's specific needs.
They share water: pH 7 and 23–28 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 5.5–6.5 and 23–24 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7 and 23–27 °C.
They share water: pH 7 and 23–25 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 7 and 23–28 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 7 and 23–28 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 6.5–7 and 23–26 °C.
They share water: pH 5.8–6.8 and 23–24 °C.
They share water: pH 5.8–6.8 and 23–24 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7 and 23–27 °C.
They share water: pH 7 and 23–28 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 6.5–7 and 23–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7 and 23–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7 and 23–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7 and 23–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7 and 23–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7 and 23–28 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 6.5–7 and 23–28 °C.
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They share water: pH 7 and 23–28 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
Sources
- FishBaseFroese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2026. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication.
- Seriously FishSeriously Fish. Hyphessobrycon amandae. Ficha de especie; consultada 2026-08.
Plan your next aquarium
Is this fish right for you? Plan a suitable aquarium before setting it up.