Ember Tetra Tank Mates

Ember tetras are tiny, glowing, peaceful nano fish — perfect for small planted tanks and gentle communities.

At barely 2 cm they are no threat to anything and get along with every calm nano species the engine knows, including shrimp. Their warm orange glow pops against green plants. Keep a group of six or more and avoid boisterous tankmates that out-compete them at feeding time.

Ember Tetra key facts

The sourced figures the engine uses to judge Ember Tetra pairings.

Top Ember Tetra tank mates

A ranked shortlist: the species the engine clears with Ember Tetra and that suit its size and temperament best — tap a name for its care guide, or use + Add to test the pairing in the planner.

No tank mates match these filters — try removing one. Reset filters

Other engine-cleared options (not necessarily ideal)

These clear TankStocking's hard welfare checks with Ember Tetra, but are larger, bolder, or otherwise less ideal than the shortlist above — read up before committing.

Possible with care

These can work, but the engine flags something to watch — read the reason before you commit.

• Betta (Siamese Fighting Fish) — Territorial

Best avoided

A hard welfare check fires for each of these — don't mix them with Ember Tetra.

• Banded Gourami — Predation risk
• Chocolate Gourami — Species-only fish
• Kissing Gourami — Predation risk
• Licorice Gourami — Species-only fish
• Paradise Fish — Predation risk, Aggression
• Snakeskin Gourami — Predation risk
• Three-spot (Blue/Opaline/Gold) Gourami — Predation risk
• Bala Shark — Predation risk
• Denison Barb (Roseline Shark) — Predation risk
• Odessa Barb — Predation risk
• Rosy Barb — Predation risk
• Tiger Barb — Predation risk
• Tinfoil Barb — Predation risk
• Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid (Apisto Cacatuoides) — Predation risk, Territorial

Keeping Ember Tetra well: the detail

Beyond the table — the behaviour, the parameters that actually move the needle, and the mistakes that cost fish. Hobbyist context, not a verdict; the planner above is what judges your plan.

Water parameters in practice

Ember tetras like soft, slightly acidic water (pH 5–7) at 23–28 °C, and their warm orange glow is strongest in a dim, planted, tannin-tinted tank. They are tiny and peaceful, so the parameters are gentle — stability and soft water matter more than precision. A mature nano tank suits them perfectly.

Why Ember Tetra behaves the way it does

Embers come from the slow, soft, often tannin-stained waters of central Brazil, shoaling among fine vegetation in dim light. At barely 2 cm they are a true micro-fish, built to school in cover rather than swim in the open. The glowing orange is a shoaling signal that pops against dark substrate and green plants.

Common Ember Tetra stocking mistakes

The first mistake is keeping too few — a handful of embers is a shy, faded scattering, so eight or more is the real minimum. The second is housing them with anything boisterous or large, which out-competes them at feeding and can swallow them. The third is a bright, bare tank that leaves a tiny shoaler exposed.

Early signs something is wrong

Loss of the orange glow, a fish hanging at the surface or apart from the group, and reluctance to feed are the early signs, usually water quality. Being so small, an unwell ember declines quickly, so watch new arrivals and the shoal's colour daily. A happy group is a warm, glowing cloud among the plants.

How tank size changes the answer

Eight to ten fit a planted 10-gallon, where they make an ideal nano centrepiece. More volume lets the shoal grow, which only improves the effect, alongside shrimp or a gentle bottom group. Keep the tank dim and densely planted at any size.

Ember Tetra community ideas

Each build is scored by the same engine as the planner — tap one to load it.

Common questions

More on Ember Tetra

Related guides on TankStocking — each scored by the same welfare engine as the planner.

Compatibility is a planning estimate: individual temperament, tank layout, and group sizes all matter. Cycle the tank, add fish gradually, and watch how they behave. See the methodology or browse the full freshwater fish list.