Ember Tetra Care Guide - Aquarium Setup, Diet & Breeding

The Ember Tetra is a tiny characin with a striking orange to reddish-amber body that seems to glow beneath aquarium lighting. Its warm colour is strongest when the fish are settled and well conditioned, while the fins are generally translucent with subtle orange edging.

These peaceful fish are active but not boisterous, spending much of their time moving together through the middle and lower levels of the aquarium. A group displays more natural confidence and behaviour than an isolated individual, with the shoal regularly tightening and loosening as the fish explore.

In the wild, Ember Tetras inhabit quiet, heavily vegetated waters where leaf litter, branches and tannin-stained water create a subdued environment. Their small size and understated movements suit planted aquariums especially well, where a group can provide a vivid focal point without dominating the scene.

Hyphessobrycon amandae was described in the early twenty-first century and quickly became popular among aquarists seeking a colourful fish for a peaceful community or nano-style aquarium. Despite their delicate appearance, established groups can be lively and engaging, particularly when kept alongside other gentle species.

Ember Tetras are native to the Araguaia River basin in the Brazilian state of Goiás, South America. They occur in slow-moving, shallow waters and calm tributaries associated with the wider Amazon drainage.

A group of Ember Tetras should have an aquarium of at least 40 litres, with a footprint of approximately 60 by 30 cm or larger. Use gentle filtration and provide dense planting, fine-leaved vegetation, floating plants, wood and some shaded areas, while leaving open swimming space through the centre. A dark substrate helps their colours stand out; fine sand or smooth small-grain gravel is suitable. Stable, clean, well-oxygenated freshwater and subdued lighting create a natural-looking environment, and leaf litter can be used where appropriate to add shelter and tannins.

Up to 2 cm (0.8 in) in adult length. Females are typically a little deeper-bodied and may reach the larger end of the range, while males are usually slimmer.

Ember Tetras are omnivores and do best on a varied diet of suitably tiny foods. Offer a quality micro-pellet or crushed flake as a staple, supplemented with baby brine shrimp, daphnia, cyclops and other small frozen or live foods. Feed small portions once or twice daily, ensuring that every fish can eat without uneaten food accumulating.

Ember Tetras are peaceful community fish that can be kept with similarly gentle species such as small rasboras, celestial pearl danios, pygmy Corydoras, Otocinclus and other non-aggressive nano fish. They are also compatible with peaceful freshwater shrimp, although very small shrimplets may be eaten. Avoid large, predatory or highly boisterous fish, fin-nippers and aggressive species, which may intimidate or consume them.

Ember Tetras are egg-scattering fish that can be bred in a separate, dimly lit breeding aquarium with soft, slightly acidic water and fine-leaved plants or spawning mops. Condition the adults with plenty of small live or frozen foods, then introduce a pair or small group. Remove the adults after spawning, as they may eat the eggs. The eggs usually hatch within about 24 to 36 hours, with free-swimming fry requiring infusoria or another appropriately tiny first food before moving on to newly hatched brine shrimp.

Females are generally fuller through the abdomen, especially when carrying eggs, whereas males tend to have a slimmer, more streamlined profile. Males may also show slightly more intense colour, although sex differences can be subtle in young fish.