EMBER Tetra 30mm

The Ember Tetra is an eye catching fish that will light up any aquarium, and its temperament makes it a great choice for any community tank. They are easy to care for and look wonderful in groups. Sometimes called the Fire Tetra, the Ember Tetra (Hyphessobrycon amandae) is a small freshwater fish that is native to the slow flowing rivers of Central-Western Brazil.

Behaviour Ember Tetra come from a very forested and green region. This abundance of plants has been a major influence on their behavior. Plants, logs and drifting wood usually serve as safe spots or breeding grounds in the wild.  They are active, fast swimmers and quite playful. They can be found swimming through plants or hiding in them. You are also more likely to find them in the middle section of the tank (they rarely swim close to bottom).

As shoaling fish, they are happiest when surrounded by other Ember Tetras. This also significantly reduces the time needed for adaptation. Not only that, but they look even more stunning in groups.

Tank Conditions Because they are found in heavily planted areas and “green” riverbeds, you should try to recreate this in the tank. Examples of plants you can keep with them include Java moss, Java fern, and Anacharis. Place just enough plants for fish to hide and leave just enough space for them to swim around.  You can try placing a few drifting or free-floating plants such as hornwort, and attach the rest firmly to the substrate.

Ember Tetras are usually found quite far away from the main streams, in slow flowing tributaries. This means you should try to use a silent filtration and aeration system.  Sponge filters work well.

Compatibility Despite their size, these species are not timid. They look great in community tanks, and rarely cause trouble. Due to spending most of the time in the middle layer, they rarely pick food from the bottom of the tank. That makes pygmy catfish a great tank mate choice.  Other than that, they are best kept with fish that have a similar temperament and size. For example, small corydoras or other peaceful fish from Characidae family.  Fish that prefer to swim in a different water layer also make good tank mates, such as: hatchetfish, dwarf cichlids, rasboras, microrasboras or neons.  Most shrimps and snails are fine to keep with these fish, as long as they don’t destroy your plants.

Not only can they be kept together but it is recommended that you get at least 7-8. This will help them to feel more comfortable in the tank and will significantly decrease stress.

They should not be kept with large, aggressive fish (especially predatory ones). If you decide to introduce any non-fish inhabitants to the tank, consider the same points.

Feeding An Ember Tetra’s natural diet consists mostly of small invertebrates and other zooplankton. Sometimes you can find them grazing on plants, scraping microbe colonies that live there. They can live happily on dry foods, either flakes or granules. In addition to artificial foods, it is recommended to include live or frozen food (Aartemia, Daphnia/Plankton or Grindal worms).

Try to make their diet as diverse as possible because what you feed them directly affects their appearance and color. Also keep their size in mind – when necessary grind the food up.

Care Despite what their size they are a quite healthy species and are not prone to any particular diseases.  Overfeeding is always an issue with small fish and can cause many problems with their digestive system. If your fish acts strangely or looks exhausted – take a look at what they’re eating.

Consistent water renewal is essential for their health, as is consistent aeration and filtration.