Ember tetra
Tiny orange freshwater fish from Brazil
The ember tetra is a small freshwater characin native to the Araguaia River basin in Brazil. Discovered in 1987, it is prized by aquarium hobbyists for its bright orange colour and peaceful schooling behaviour.
- Grows to only 3 cm in length
- Native to the Araguaia River in Brazil
- Named after explorer Heiko Bleher's mother
- Can live over ten years in captivity
- Requires acidic water and live plants
What it is
The ember tetra is a tiny ray-finned fish with a classic tetra body shape. It reaches a maximum length of about three centimetres. Its body displays vivid orange and reddish hues, often appearing slightly translucent near the pelvic fins. The eyes match the body colour and feature distinct black outlines. This species belongs to the family Acestrorhamphidae, known as American characins.
Where it lives
This fish is endemic to the Araguaia River basin in Brazil. It inhabits freshwater environments within this specific South American region. While the natural waters are very soft, the species shows adaptability to varying water hardness levels when kept in captivity.
How it lives
In the wild, the diet consists of small invertebrates and plant matter. In home tanks, they accept flakes, frozen foods, and small live items like brine shrimp. They swim at the middle level of the water column and do not feed from the bottom. Keeping them with bottom-dwelling species helps manage leftover food. They may feel stressed if housed with significantly larger fish.
Breeding and life cycle
Heavily planted aquariums provide shelter for fry. While specific spawning details in the wild are not detailed here, captive setups with dense vegetation support their reproductive cycle and protect young fish from predation within the tank environment.
Fish and people
Aquarium enthusiasts value this species for its striking appearance. It was named after Amanda Bleher, the mother of explorer Heiko Bleher. Hobbyists keep them in groups of at least six to encourage natural schooling behaviour. They thrive in acidic water with live plants and darker substrates. With proper care, they can live for ten years or more in captivity.
Questions people ask about Ember tetra
How big do ember tetras get?
They are very small fish, reaching a maximum overall length of approximately two to three centimetres. Their compact size makes them suitable for smaller aquarium setups.
What water conditions do they need?
They prefer acidic water with a pH near 6.6. While native to soft water, they adapt to hardness levels between five and seventeen dGH. The ideal temperature range is twenty-three to twenty-nine degrees Celsius.
Do they need to be kept in groups?
Yes, they should be kept in groups of at least six fish, though nine or ten is recommended. This promotes natural schooling behaviour and helps reduce stress in the aquarium environment.
Good reading and sources
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Ember tetra", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). EveryFish rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes, and figures change over time. Nothing here is investment or buying advice. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-11-15.
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