Ember Tetra

Care

A fairly recent addition to the aquarium hobby, the diminutive Ember tetra was discovered in 1987 and named in honour of Amanda Bleher, the mother of familiar fish collector Heiko Bleher. If it weren't for their bright orange colour they'd probably be called Amanda tetras.

Native to slow flowing waters with plentiful vegetation, this tiny tetra is perfect for small, planted aquaria where a shoal can take on a bright, burnished hue reminiscent of their rowdier cousins the Serpae tetra (Hyphessobrycon eques). Unlike them, these are model citizens and can be kept alongside a range of community species including shrimps. In the spartan surroundings of a stock tank, these fishes don’t always look their best but soon blossom when housed in a properly-furnished aquarium.

Feeding

Flake and small frozen foods such as cyclops, baby brineshrimp, and daphnia.

Breeding

Spawning is fairly straightforward and happens in typical tetra fashion, with high temperatures and acidic water giving the best results. Well-conditioned parent fish are placed in a breeding tank with either spawning mops or fine plants to receive the scattered eggs. Remove the adults once spawning has occured and the eggs will hatch 24-36 hours later. Fry are free swimming a few days later and ready to feed on the usual tiny live foods.