Ember Tetras (Hyphessobrycon amandae) can be found most heavily in Central Brazil. They prefer backwater rivers with low currents and a very high amount of vegetation. It is important to mimic their natural environment so they would prefer a heavily planted aquarium.

In the wild, this fish eats a mixture of plants and very small invertebrates. They are very peaceful and can be compatible with a wide variety of tank mates, perfect for small aquariums.

Ember Tetra care is about as easy as it gets. These fish are a dream to keep and are recommended for aquarists of all experience levels.

As long as you take care of the basics with their habitat and water quality there isn’t much else you’ll need to worry about.

Lifespan

The typical Ember Tetra lifespan is between 2 and 4 years.

Maximizing their lifespan is heavily dependent on the quality of care they receive and the habitat they live in. Aside from the obvious water quality impact, the biggest influencer on their health and lifespan tends to be the presence of plants.

Appearance

The main draw of the Ember Tetra is its bright orange color. This really makes them stand out in most freshwater nano aquariums and means this fish will likely be a popular choice for years to come.

The Ember Tetra is almost entirely orangeish-red.

Their dorsal fins are tall and thin with a gradient that fades from their primary color to a slightly darker tone at the back. This darker area transitions into a slightly transparent section at the very edge of the fin.

Their caudal fins are forked and have a more drastic color transition than their dorsal fins. The very base of the fin is the same color as the rest of their body (sometimes even brighter). From there it quickly transitions into a darker orange before becoming almost completely transparent. This clear portion of their caudal fin makes up the back half of the fin.

The ventral and pectoral fins of the Ember Tetra are almost completely clear as well. This is neat to watch because it makes a little flicker while they swim!

Size

The average Ember Tetra size is just under 1 inch (2,54 cm) in length.

Tank Size

The ideal tank size for Ember Tetras is 37 liters at a minimum.

If you want to include a larger number of these fish together (somewhere in the 20-25 range) then you’ll want to up the tank size to about 75 liters. This will maintain the necessary balance of space, fish, and plants.

Water Parameters

• Water temperature: Generous range of 23°C to 28°C
  
• pH levels: A little bit on the acidic side, 5-7 is the recommended range but we prefer keeping them closer to 6.5
• Water hardness: 5-17 dGH