Care at a glance
Excellent nano-tank fish. Glowing orange colour pops against green plants and dark wood. Tolerates a wide pH range once acclimated.
By Mike ElmiraUpdated 2 min read
Part of our complete guide to aquarium fish for the planted tank.
Fish
Ember Tetra
Hyphessobrycon amandae
Rio das Mortes basin, BrazilEasy
TL;DR, Ember Tetra
Excellent nano-tank fish. Glowing orange colour pops against green plants and dark wood. Tolerates a wide pH range once acclimated.
Ember Tetra (Hyphessobrycon amandae) reaches 2 cm as an adult and needs a minimum tank of 40 L. Native to Rio das Mortes basin, Brazil, it lives in the mid water column with a peaceful temperament. Aim for 23–29 °C, pH 5.5–7.0, and 1–10 dGH hardness. Lifespan is 2–4 years with good care. Keep ember tetra in groups of 8+, yes schoolers need numbers to display natural behaviour. Diet: omnivore, Micro pellets, crushed flake, baby brine shrimp. Small mouth, keep food fine. Plant-safe: Yes. Shrimp-safe: Yes (adults safe with adult shrimp).
Tank fit
The parameters that decide whether ember tetra fits in your tank.
Parameters
15 °C20 °C25 °C30 °C
4.05.06.07.08.0
0 dGH5 dGH10 dGH15 dGH20 dGH25 dGH
0481115
Water column
Mid
Schooling
Yes
Group of 8+
Still
Low
Medium
High
V. high
Profile
Family
Characidae
Diet
Omnivore
Micro pellets, crushed flake, baby brine shrimp. Small mouth, keep food fine.
Lifespan
2–4 yrs
Breeding
Medium
Habitat
Quiet leaf-littered forest pools of the Araguaia basin
Rio das Mortes basin, Brazil
Who it lives with
Tank-mate safety and the species this one is documented to thrive (or fail) alongside.
Good tank mates
Chili rasboras, celestial pearl danios, pygmy corydoras, cherry shrimp (adults), sparkling gouramis. Most peaceful nano species.
Avoid
Anything large enough to eat them (~6 cm+). Fin-nippers like tiger barbs.
Pro tips
Hard-won lessons from the tank.
Colour pops most against black substrate, dark wood, and dim warm lighting. Feed colour-enhancing foods (krill, paprika-based) to maintain saturation. A group of 12+ in a 40 L tank looks better than 6 in a 75 L.
Etymology
Species 'amandae' honours Amanda Bleher, mother of Heiko Bleher (who collected the type specimens).
Things to watch for
What can go wrong and how to spot it.
Things to watch for
Failure modes, in order of how dramatic the fix is.
Health
Common diseases
Hardy when acclimated. Watch for stress-induced ich after transport.
Often wrong
Misconceptions
Often mistaken for 'orange neons' — they're a different genus (Hyphessobrycon). The colour is fluorescent orange-red rather than gem-toned.
How to care for it
The practical routine, read top to bottom.
Tank setup
30 L nano upwards. Heavy planting (mosses, crypts, floating plants), driftwood, tannins. Sand substrate. Sponge filter or gentle canister — strong flow stresses them.
Quarantine
2–3 weeks in a planted QT tank. They settle in faster than most tetras.
Background
Where it comes from, how it behaves, and the variants you'll see at retail.
Show backgroundHide background
In the wild
Where it lived before it came home.
Native rangeRio das Mortes, BrazilBrazil
Origin · Rio das Mortes basin, Brazil
Rio das Mortes basin and floodplain pools in central Brazil. Shallow, slow-moving, tannin-stained, often heavily vegetated.
Wild diet
Tiny crustaceans, mosquito larvae, micro-invertebrates, biofilm.
Conservation status
Not threatened. Almost entirely captive-bred for the trade now.
Behavior & breeding
How they pair, reproduce, and grow.
- Stage 1
Telling them apart Sexing
Females are fuller-bodied; males more brightly coloured and slimmer.
- Stage 2
Pairing & spawning Breeding
Egg scatterers; relatively easy among nano tetras. Soft water (<5 dGH), pH 5.5–6.5, 25–27 °C, dim light. Java moss or spawning mop. Eggs hatch in 24–36 hours; fry need infusoria/microworms.
Variants & identification
The named cultivars and the lookalikes worth flagging.
Color forms
Wild type only.
Frequently asked questions
Direct answers to the questions search engines and AI assistants surface most often about this species.
What is the minimum tank size for Ember Tetra?
Ember Tetra (Hyphessobrycon amandae) needs a minimum tank of 40 L. They live in the mid water column and should be kept in groups of 8+, so a longer footprint matters more than depth.
What water parameters do Ember Tetra need?
Target 23–29 °C, pH 5.5–7.0, and 1–10 dGH hardness. Acclimate slowly when moving them between water sources.
Are Ember Tetra safe with shrimp?
Shrimp safety: Yes (adults safe with adult shrimp). Plant safety: Yes.
What do Ember Tetra eat?
Ember Tetra are omnivore. Micro pellets, crushed flake, baby brine shrimp. Small mouth, keep food fine.
Are Ember Tetra beginner-friendly?
On Fin & Stem's 1–5 difficulty scale this species rates 2/5. Forgiving, beginner-friendly once the tank is cycled. Breeding difficulty: medium.
How long do Ember Tetra live?
Typical lifespan in a well-maintained tank is 2–4 years.
Sources & further reading
More fish
See all fishAdjacent specimens in the catalogue.
Cross-references
Build the rest of the tank.
A planted tank is a system. Pair this fish with one entry from each other pillar to plan the whole scape.
