Ember Tetra Care Guide (Hyphessobrycon amandae): Tank Size, Diet & Tank Mates

The Ember Tetra (Hyphessobrycon amandae) is a tiny, glowing orange schooling fish that has become a favorite for nano and planted aquariums. Peaceful, hardy, and endlessly active, embers bring a warm splash of color to community tanks. This guide covers everything you need to keep them thriving.

Quick care overview

• Adult size: about 0.8 inches (2 cm)
• Minimum tank size: 10 gallons for a proper school
• Temperature: 73–82°F
• pH: 5.5–7.0
• Temperament: peaceful, schooling
• Diet: omnivore (micro foods)
• Lifespan: 2–4 years

Tank setup

Ember tetras look their best in a well-planted tank with darker substrate, which makes their orange coloration pop. Provide gentle flow, plenty of plants, and some open swimming space in the middle of the tank. A tight-fitting lid is optional given their small size, but subdued lighting and floating plants help them feel secure and show richer color. They are a great fit for a densely planted aquascape—browse live aquarium plants to build one.

Water parameters

Embers prefer soft, slightly acidic to neutral water and appreciate stability more than any specific number. Keep temperature in the low-to-mid 70s to low 80s Fahrenheit and avoid sudden swings. As with all small fish, consistent maintenance matters—see our guide on how to do an aquarium water change to keep nitrates low.

Diet and feeding

Because of their tiny mouths, ember tetras do best on small foods: micro pellets, crushed flakes, and small frozen or live foods like baby brine shrimp, daphnia, and cyclops. Feed small amounts once or twice a day and only what they can finish in a couple of minutes.

Behavior and schooling

Ember tetras are true schooling fish and should be kept in groups of at least 8–10; larger groups look stunning and reduce shyness. In a proper school they stay out in the open, display more intense color, and behave far more confidently.

Tank mates

Their peaceful nature makes them ideal community fish. Good companions include other small tetras, rasboras, pygmy corydoras, otocinclus, and dwarf shrimp. Avoid large or aggressive fish that may see embers as food. For more on keeping schooling fish, read our tetra care basics and our complete guide to freshwater tetras.

Is the ember tetra right for you?

If you want a hardy, brilliantly colored nano fish for a planted community or shrimp-friendly tank, the ember tetra is hard to beat. Get a school going and pair them with peaceful tank mates for a lively, low-drama display. You can find them among our freshwater fish.