The Ember Tetra (Hyphessobrycon amandae) is a beautiful and vibrant little fish that is very popular among the aquarium hobbyist community. What is ember tetra tank size? Although their size is very small, to ensure an optimal living environment for the growth and health of fish, choosing the right tank size is extremely important. This article, fishtankenthusiast.com will help you better understand ember tetra tank size, thereby creating the best conditions for these fish to grow and develop.
What is an Ember Tetra?
Hyphessobrycon amandae, also known as the ember tetra, is a common tetra fish found in Brazil. This species only grows to 0.8 inches (2 cm), but they are incredibly powerful with bright orange-red bodies that are slightly translucent with a bronze sheen. Unlike many other nanofish species, ember tetras are relatively outgoing, especially when swimming in large groups, and will not run away as soon as you get close to their tank.
Number of Fish Raised Together
Like most tetras, they are naturally social creatures who feel most comfortable when surrounded by their own kind. They do not gather in tight flocks but often gather in loose groups or herds. With such a small size, we want to keep at least 6–10 fish so they can make more of an impact in the aquarium.
Fish That Can Live With Ember Tetra Fish
They are perfect community fish and get along well with any animal of similar size, docile, and will not eat them. For example, you can keep them with other nano fish such as guppies, tetras, and danios. Since they tend to float around the middle of the aquarium, we like to pair them with bottom-dwelling corydoras and surface-dwelling hatchetfish or pencilfish.
Additionally, their gregarious nature makes them well-suited as dithers for dwarf Apistogramma cichlids or other shy creatures. We also found them to get along well with algae eaters such as otocinclus catfish and dwarf shrimp. Although they will leave adult shrimp alone, most fish will opportunistically hunt baby shrimp, so provide plenty of dense vegetation and caves for them to hide in.
A staple fish of the freshwater nano aquarium world is the Ember Tetra. Imagine a school of small fire-colored fish rushing back and forth among a lush forest of aquatic plants. Plus, their gentle nature and endurance make them an attractive choice for both beginners and veterans of the fishkeeping hobby. If you’ve never tried keeping ember tetras before, keep reading to find out why they’re the best-selling species in our fish shop.
Aquarium Setup for Ember Tetra Fish
Due to their small size, you have the flexibility to keep them in a 5-gallon nano tank with a smaller flock or a larger tank with a large group. They come from slightly acidic waters but are tolerant of pH 5.5–7.5, 72–82°F (22–28°C) and very soft to moderately hard water. Slow flow with gentle filtration using a sponge filter or pre-filter sponge is the best choice. We find that ember tetras tend to have brighter colors in planted tanks with dark backgrounds and substrates. To create more of a South American habitat look, some aquarists also like to add catappa leaves, driftwood, and other interesting plants.
Like most tetras, they are naturally social creatures who feel most comfortable when surrounded by their own kind. They do not gather in tight flocks but often gather in loose groups or herds. With such a small size, we want to keep at least 6–10 fish so they can make more of an impact in the aquarium.
Ember Tetra Tank Size
The minimum aquarium Ember Tetra Tank Size (Hyphessobrycon amandae) is 10 gallons (about 38 liters). Although these fish are very small, about 2 cm when mature, they need space to swim comfortably and create a stable environment. If you want to raise a larger group of fish, you should choose a tank with a larger capacity to ensure the best health and development for the fish.
Ember Tetra Fish Food
In the wild, they are omnivores, preferring to eat zooplankton, small invertebrates, and plants. Although coal tetras are not picky eaters, they have small mouths that prefer small, slow-sinking foods. Plus, feeding them a variety of fish foods will help them get the nutrients and vitamins they need to live a long and healthy life. Our favorite foods include:
- Nano pellets
- Debris
- Shrimp soaked in brine
- Food for fried fish and small fish
- The lizard
- Cyclops
- Rotifers
How to Raise Ember Tetra Fish
It can be difficult to tell the sex of ember tetras, so we recommend purchasing at least six fish to have a higher chance of catching both males and females. Males have slim bodies, while females have more rounded bodies, especially when viewed from above. As egg-laying species, they do not care for their offspring at all and will happily hunt for their own eggs and newborn fry. However, ember tetras can be kept in groups, where the parents are kept with the fry. It is important to keep them in a mature aquarium that has plenty of natural microflora for the fry to eat and plenty of dense vegetation for the fry to hide in.
To produce larger quantities, prepare a small, mature tank with a sponge filter or airstone for slow flow. Cover the entire bottom of the tank with a plastic craft net and underneath, place a layer of Java moss (or homemade mop) as shelter. The barrier allows eggs to fall through the holes, while also preventing adult fish from reaching them.
You can also add some catappa leaves on top of the ground to create a biofilm for the fry to eat and to acidify the water a bit if your pH is higher. After feeding the adult fish well and preparing them for spawning, transfer them to the breeding tank. Remove adult fish after a few days of spawning, especially if you spot any fry.
Tiny fry need very small foods such as infusoria, eel vinegar and fry food at first. Feed them small meals several times a day and keep the water quality clean and consistent with small water changes every day. Depending on the water temperature and size of the fry, they may start eating brine shrimp after a few weeks, which will greatly increase their growth rate and survival rate. If you see a large difference in the size of the fry, you may need to move the larger fry to another tank so that the smaller fry don’t have to compete for food.
Conclusion
Choosing the right tank size for Ember Tetra fish not only ensures the best health and development for the fish, but also helps you create a beautiful and sustainable aquarium environment. With a minimum tank size of 10 gallons (about 38 liters), you can rest assured that your Ember Tetra will have enough space to swim and interact naturally. Always pay attention to other factors such as water quality, filtration system and lighting to create a complete and healthy ecosystem for these beautiful little fish.
