Easy

Ember Tetra

By The Aquarium Calculators Editorial Team ·

Hyphessobrycon amandae

Complete Ember Tetra care guide covering omnivore diet requirements, peaceful temperament, minimum 10 Gallons tank setup, and compatible freshwater tankmates. Difficulty: Easy.

Ember Tetra

Quick Answer

Ember Tetra (Hyphessobrycon amandae) is a captivating and highly sought-after freshwater species. It requires a minimum 10 Gallons aquarium with a pH of 6.0 - 7.2 and temperature range of 22-26°C. This omnivore occupies the middle zone and makes an excellent addition to community setups.

Intro

Ember Tetra (Hyphessobrycon amandae) is a captivating and highly sought-after freshwater species. Known for their peaceful nature and distinct appearance, they occupy the middle levels of the aquarium and bring dynamic energy to any setup.

Setup

Ember Tetra requires a stable, well-filtered aquarium of at least 10 gallons. They thrive best with moderate water movement and a reliable heater to maintain temperatures around 22-26°C. Ensure pH levels remain consistent between 6.0 - 7.2 to prevent stress and support long-term health.

Feeding

As a omnivore, the Ember Tetra is not a picky eater. They should be fed a high-quality base of flakes, sinking pellets, or wafers. Periodic supplementation with frozen or live foods, such as bloodworms or brine shrimp, will boost their health and colors.

Compatibility

Ember Tetra has a peaceful temperament. They are schooling fish and MUST be kept in a group of at least 8 individuals to exhibit natural schooling behavior and reduce stress. Avoid placing them with aggressive species or tankmates they are listed as incompatible with, such as: None.

Fish Compatibility Calculator

Enter your details below for an instant recommendation.

Recommended Output

Pair status badge

--

Pair status desc

--

Temp pct val

--

Temp summary text

--

Ph pct val

--

Ph summary text

--

Space val

--

Space summary text

--

Layer emoji

--

Layer status text

--

Layer badge

--

Profile temp badge

--

Perfect list

--

Caution list

--

Incompatible list

--

Profile emoji

--

Profile name

--

Profile sci

--

Profile zone

--

Profile mintank

--

Profile temp

--

Profile ph

--

Profile note

--

Perfect count

--

Caution count

--

Incompatible count

--

Tank Position
Middle
Water Temp
22-26°C
Adult Size
See profile
Water pH
6.0 - 7.2

Species Characteristics

Adult Size
Lifespan
Growth Rate
moderate
Tank Compatibility
Community compatible
Indoor Aquarium
Yes

Water Parameters

Water Temperature
Humidity
Water pH

Tank Lighting

Tank Lighting
Standard lighting
Light Hours
N/A
Intensity
moderate

Feeding & Diet

Diet Type
Diet: Omnivore
Feeding Schedule
N/A
Live Food Options
N/A

Continue Learning

Recommended Tools

Fish Compatibility Calculator fish compatibility

Health & Disease

Ich (White Spot Disease) common disease • all fish

Related Guides

Understanding pH in Aquariums water parameters • ph

Similar Species

African Red Eyed Tetra Care Guide: Schooling & Tank Size semanticSimilarity Apistogramma Care Guide: Temperament & Diet semanticSimilarity Banded Corydoras Care Guide: Substrate & Diet semanticSimilarity

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Ember Tetras should be kept together?
Maintain a minimum school of 10 to 15 individuals in a tank of at least 10 gallons (38 liters) with a footprint of 20x10 inches (50x25 cm). Ember tetras (Hyphessobrycon amandae) are tiny (0.8 inches/2 cm) schooling fish that display deep orange-red coloration only in groups over 12. Groups under 8 cause chronic hiding, faded colors, and stress-induced disease. A school of 20+ creates natural shoaling dynamics. Provide dense planting (Java moss, Cryptocoryne) and dark substrate. Tank height should not exceed 12 inches (30 cm) as they stay in mid-water. Avoid large tank mates that may prey on them.
What are the exact water parameters for Ember Tetras?
Target pH 6.0 - 7.2, General Hardness 3 - 8 dGH, Carbonate Hardness 2 - 6 dKH, Total Dissolved Solids 60 - 180 ppm, Electrical Conductivity 120 - 360 μS/cm, and temperature 72°F - 80°F (22°C - 27°C). They prefer soft, slightly acidic water but adapt to neutral parameters. Maintain nitrates below 15 ppm with weekly 20% water changes. Use a sponge filter with gentle flow. Add driftwood and Indian almond leaves to enhance red coloration. Hardness above 10 dGH causes faded colors. Sudden pH shifts >0.2 cause stress.
What is the dietary and medication protocol for Ember Tetras?
They are omnivores with very small mouths, requiring 35% protein, 10% fat, 55% plant matter. Feed crushed flakes, micro-pellets (0.3 mm), frozen daphnia, baby brine shrimp, and cyclops twice daily. Offer spirulina powder weekly. They ignore large pellets. Medication alert: Tolerate copper (0.15 mg/L) but sensitive to formalin. Use malachite green at half-dose (0.05 mg/L) for ich. Praziquantel is safe. Avoid salt (tolerance <3 ppt). Quarantine with methylene blue at half-strength. They are susceptible to neon tetra disease; remove infected fish immediately.
How to breed Ember Tetras in a home aquarium?
Select 12-15 mature fish (9 months old) and condition with live baby brine shrimp and blackworms for 2 weeks. Set up a 5-gallon (19 liter) breeding tank with 4 inches (10 cm) of water (pH 6.5, dGH 4, 78°F/25.5°C), a spawning mop, and java moss. Simulate dawn with gradual light. Spawning occurs in the morning; female releases 100-200 adhesive eggs. Remove parents after 4 hours. Eggs hatch in 24-30 hours at 75°F (24°C). Fry are 0.07 inches (1.8 mm); feed infusoria for 3 days, then microworms, then baby brine shrimp after day 7. Keep tank dark for first 5 days.

Related Content

fish

African Butterflyfish

Complete African Butterflyfish care guide covering carnivore diet requirements, semi-aggressive temperament, minimum 30 Gallons tank setup, and compatible freshwater tankmates. Difficulty: Advanced.

fish

African Cichlid

Complete African Cichlid care guide covering omnivore diet requirements, aggressive temperament, minimum 55 Gallons tank setup, and compatible freshwater tankmates. Difficulty: Advanced.

fish

African Leaf Fish

Complete African Leaf Fish care guide covering carnivore diet requirements, semi-aggressive temperament, minimum 55 Gallons tank setup, and compatible freshwater tankmates. Difficulty: Moderate.

fish

African Red Eyed Tetra

Complete African Red Eyed Tetra care guide covering omnivore diet requirements, peaceful temperament, minimum 30 Gallons tank setup, and compatible freshwater tankmates. Difficulty: Easy.

fish

Angelfish

Complete Angelfish care guide covering omnivore diet requirements, semi-aggressive temperament, minimum 30 Gallons tank setup, and compatible freshwater tankmates. Difficulty: Moderate.

fish

Apistogramma

Complete Apistogramma care guide covering omnivore diet requirements, peaceful temperament, minimum 20 Gallons tank setup, and compatible freshwater tankmates. Difficulty: Easy.