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The Fire Tetra – Ember Tetra Care Guide
Tetras, belonging to the Characidae family, come in diverse species. Featuring a bright orange-red color, ember tetras are one popular species of them. Before getting into the care guides of ember tetras, let’s take a brief look at ember tetras.
| Scientific name | Hyphessobrycon amandae | Care Level | Easy |
| Family | Characidae | Temperament | Peaceful |
| Origin | the Araguaia River basin in Brazil | Diet | Omnivore |
| Adult size | About 1 inch | Swimming level | Middle |
| Lifespan | 2–4 years | Minimum tank size | 10 gallons |
What do ember tetras eat
In fact, ember tetras are small and peaceful fish. They are omnivores. In their natural habitat, they primarily consume small insects, crustaceans, and plant matter. However, in captivity, you can feed them daphnia, bloodworms, brine shrimp, small insects, flakes, pellets, and frozen or live foods. Just keep in mind – a balanced diet rich in protein is necessary. It ensures sufficient nutrients for ember tetras.
Besides that, never overfeed. As it can lead to health problems and poor water quality in your aquarium. Just offer small amounts of food 2–3 times each day, and only feed as much as the fish can consume in 2–3 minutes.
Can Ember Tetra live without a filter and heater
Can Ember tetra live without a filter in aquariums
Technically, ember tetras can survive without a filter in aquariums. Nonetheless, it is not recommended. Because an aquarium filter plays a vital part in maintaining great water quality. It helps to filter aquarium water and remove waste, excess nutrients, plus harmful substances.
Without an aquarium filter, your aquarium would be polluted quickly and suffer poor water quality, which poses threats to fish health. By the way, for more about aquarium filters, you can read:
Can Ember tetra live without a heater in aquariums
Ember tetras are tropical fish. They need a stable and consistent water temperature. Consequently, you’d better add an aquarium heater in ember tetra aquariums. Ember tetras prefer a water temp ranging from 73 ℉ to 84 ℉. If the water temperature is out of the preferred ranges, ember tetras will face stress and the risk of suffering disease.
Thus, it is generally not recommended to keep ember tetras in an aquarium without a heater, especially in cooler environments. An aquarium heater makes sense in maintaining a stable water temperature and keeping the water temperature within the appropriate range.
If you want to learn more about aquarium heaters, you can go to:
Ember tetra care
Monitor the aquarium water
It includes the water temperature and water quality. Below are some references. You can test the water once a week with the help of aquarium water test strips.
Regular water changes and tank cleaning
To maintain great water quality, regular water changes are necessary. It is feasible to change 15-30 percent of water once each week. During the process of water changes, you can also clean your tank. Just determine according to your tank status. Furthermore, it is better to wash the filter media once per month. Indeed, you can have the help of a gravel cleaner to do water changes and tank cleaning quickly.
Tank mates
Ember tetras are peaceful and get along well with small and non-aggressive fish. For instance, guppy fish, cherry barbs, and corydoras. And it is better not to keep ember tetras with large and aggressive fish, which may cause fights and injury.
Aquarium decor
Ember tetras fancy an aquarium with plenty of aquatic plants. Also, you should provide adequate hiding places and open swimming areas. Definitely, aquatic live plants and other decor create a natural and comfortable environment.
How many ember tetras are in a 10-gallon tank
Ember tetras are schooling fish. Accordingly, they are in groups of at least 6 individuals in a tank, which helps to reduce stress. They are peaceful and non-aggressive and can be kept with other small, non-aggressive fish. Featuring a small size, ember tetras can be a great addition to small aquariums or peaceful community aquariums. Generally, they can grow up to about 1 inch and can be kept in a minimum tank size of 10 gallons.
The number of ember tetras that can be kept in a 10-gallon tank depends on several factors, including the size of the fish, the filtration and aeration of the tank, and the presence of other fish or aquatic creatures. But in general, a 10-gallon tank can stock 6-8 ember tetras.
In closing
In summary, ember tetras are peaceful and easy to care for. So, they are an excellent option for beginners. Finally, there are some interesting facts about ember tetras.
- Ember tetras are hardy. As long as they are kept in suitable ranges of water temperatures, they can tolerate a wide range of water conditions.
- Ember tetras are famous for their bright orange-red coloration, which is caused by the presence of carotenoid pigments in their scales.
- In captivity, the average lifespan of ember tetras approaches 2–4 years. But they may live longer with proper maintenance and a healthy environment.
- In the wild, Ember tetras are preyed upon by a variety of larger fish and aquatic predators. Hence, to avoid being eaten, they rely on their schooling behavior and fast swimming ability.
