Meet the Ember Tetra
Hyphessobrycon amandae, the ember tetra, was discovered relatively recently — first described in 1987 from the Araguaia River basin in central Brazil. The species name "amandae" was given in honor of Amanda Bleher, the daughter of the famous fish collector Heiko Bleher. Despite being a relatively new introduction to the hobby, ember tetras have become one of the most popular nano tetras in the world.
Emberkind stay tiny — reaching only 0.75 inches (2 cm) at full size, making them one of the smallest aquarium tetras. This small size makes them perfect for nano and small tanks, and their solid orange-red coloration glows under full-spectrum aquarium lighting. They are schooling fish that thrive in groups of 10 or more.
Tank Size and Setup
Because embers are so small, they can thrive in tanks as small as 10 gallons (for a school of 8 to 10), or even 5 gallons in exceptional cases (for a school of 6 to 7, though this is tight). A 15 to 20-gallon tank is ideal and allows for a proper school of 12 to 20 fish plus compatible tank mates.
Embers absolutely shine in heavily planted tanks with dark substrate and tannin-stained water. Live plants — especially Java moss, Java fern, Amazon sword, and floating plants like frogbit — provide cover, reduce stress, and encourage natural behavior. A few pieces of driftwood and some Indian almond leaves complete the authentic blackwater look.
- ✦10-gallon minimum for a proper school
- ✦15-20 gallons is ideal
- ✦Dark substrate makes their orange color pop
- ✦Live plants are essential for natural behavior
- ✦Floating plants reduce stress and dim the light for nano tanks
Water Parameters
Ember tetras are hardy and adapt to a wide range of parameters, but they shine in slightly acidic, soft water. Target temperature is 73 to 82°F (23 to 28°C). Target pH is 5.5 to 7.5, ideal 6.5. Target hardness is 3 to 10 dGH. Like most tetras, they benefit from tannins from Indian almond leaves or driftwood.
Ammonia and nitrite must always be 0. Nitrate should stay below 20 ppm through regular water changes. Because they are so small, embers are especially sensitive to ammonia spikes — never add them to an uncycled tank or a tank with an overfeeding problem.
Feeding Ember Tetras
Embers have extremely small mouths. Standard flake food must be crushed to dust, or better yet, use micro-pellets and powder foods designed for tiny fish. A good daily staple is Hikari First Bites, Bug Bites Micro, or a high-quality nano-fish pellet.
Supplement with frozen or live foods 2 to 3 times per week: baby brine shrimp, newly hatched daphnia, micro-worms, or live vinegar eels are all excellent choices. Embers go wild for live foods and their color intensifies noticeably within days of consistent live food supplementation.
Tank Mates
Ember tetras are among the most peaceful tetras. They thrive with other small, peaceful species: pygmy corydoras, otocinclus, chili rasboras, neocaridina shrimp, nerite snails, small rasboras, and other nano tetras. Dwarf gouramis can work in larger setups.
Avoid any fish larger than 3 inches, any aggressive or nipping species, and any substrate-digging fish that disturb planted tanks. Embers are too small to defend themselves against even moderately aggressive tank mates.
Breeding Ember Tetras
Embers are relatively easy to breed compared to other tetras. Set up a small 5-gallon breeding tank with soft, acidic water, dim lighting, and a spawning mop or clump of Java moss. Condition a pair or group with live foods for a week.
Embers scatter eggs among fine-leaved plants. After spawning, remove the adults — they will eat the eggs if left. Eggs hatch in 24 to 36 hours, and fry are extremely tiny. Feed infusoria or liquid fry food for the first week, then transition to baby brine shrimp. Survival rates improve with experience; aim for soft, pristine water and minimal disturbance.