About Ember Tetra
The Ember Tetra is a tiny jewel of the aquarium world, prized for its brilliant orange-red coloration that resembles glowing embers swimming through the water. Native to the Araguaia River basin in Brazil, these diminutive fish inhabit slow-moving streams with dense vegetation and leaf litter. At just 0.6-0.8 inches in length, they are true nano fish perfect for small aquariums and aquascapes. Despite their small size, they pack a visual punch with their intense, fiery coloration that becomes even more vibrant when kept in large schools. Males typically display deeper red colors, while females are slightly paler and fuller-bodied. Ember tetras are peaceful, active fish that spend most of their time in the middle to upper water column, creating a stunning display as they move together in tight schools. Their hardy nature, peaceful temperament, and striking appearance have made them one of the most popular nano fish for both beginners and experienced aquarists designing small planted tanks.
Care Guide
Care Requirements
Tank Setup
Ember tetras thrive in heavily planted nano tanks. Use dense vegetation: java moss, cryptocoryne, floating plants. Driftwood and leaf litter create natural hiding spots and add tannins. Dark substrate enhances their brilliant colors. Gentle filtration essential; they dislike strong currents. Heavily planted tanks provide security and display their colors best.
Water Quality
- Temperature: 72-82°F (22-28°C)
- pH: 5.5-7.0
- Water Hardness: Soft to moderate (2-12 dGH)
- Ammonia/Nitrite: 0 ppm
- Nitrate: <20 ppm
Good water quality is important despite their hardiness. Stable parameters prevent stress. Regular water changes (20-25% weekly) maintain conditions.
Feeding
Tiny mouths require appropriately small foods:
- High-quality micro pellets or powdered flake food
- Baby brine shrimp
- Microworms
- Infusoria for very small specimens
- Crushed regular flake food
Feed 2-3 small meals daily. They have fast metabolisms for their size and benefit from frequent small feedings.
Behavior & Compatibility
Peaceful and sociable nano fish that must be kept in schools of 8-10 minimum, ideally 15-20+. They establish pecking orders and display tight schooling behavior in larger groups. Active swimmers that stay in the middle-upper water column. Perfect for peaceful nano communities with shrimp and other small fish. May be outcompeted for food by larger, faster fish.
Common Health Issues
- Poor nutrition: Ensure appropriately sized food reaches them
- Ich: Common in stressed or newly acquired fish
- Fin rot: Usually from poor water quality
- Stress: Can cause color fading; improve conditions and school size
Breeding
Relatively easy to breed for a tetra. Egg scatterers that prefer fine-leaved plants or spawning mops. Condition with live foods. Soft, acidic water encourages spawning. No parental care; parents eat eggs. Eggs hatch in 24-36 hours. Fry are very small and require infusoria, then microworms and baby brine shrimp.
Tips for Success
- Keep in larger schools (15-20+) for best color and behavior
- Feed appropriately small food that they can actually eat
- Use heavy planting for security and color display
- Keep with other peaceful nano species only
- Add tannins from driftwood or almond leaves
- Monitor for outcompeted feeding if housed with larger fish
- Perfect centerpiece for nano aquascapes