TankStockingEmber 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.
| Adult size | 2 cm |
|---|---|
| Minimum tank | 10 US gal |
| Minimum group | 6+ (shoal) |
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Temperature range | 20–28°C |
| pH range | 5–7 |
| Bioload | Low |
| Swim level | Midwater |
| Beginner-friendly | Yes |
Sources & confidence (11 species)
These back the Ember Tetra figures and the recommended tank mates above. Each figure is read from the TankStocking species database (v2026.06); below is the care reference behind it and how confident we are in that data. Confidence reflects the source quality, not whether any pairing is safe. Full source list and the welfare model are on the methodology page.
- Ember Tetra Hyphessobrycon amandae — Seriously Fish (seriouslyfish.com/species/hyphessobrycon-amandae) high confidence
- Assassin Snail Clea helena (Anentome helena) — The Shrimp Farm (theshrimpfarm.com/posts/assassin-snail-care) high confidence
- Black Neon Tetra Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi — Seriously Fish / Aqua-Fish (Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi) high confidence
- Black Phantom Tetra Hyphessobrycon megalopterus — Seriously Fish (Hyphessobrycon megalopterus) high confidence
- Cardinal Tetra Paracheirodon axelrodi — Seriously Fish (seriouslyfish.com/species/paracheirodon-axelrodi) high confidence
- Celestial Pearl Danio Celestichthys margaritatus — Seriously Fish (seriouslyfish.com/species/celestichthys-margaritatus) high confidence
- Cherry Shrimp Neocaridina davidi — Aquarium Co-Op cherry shrimp care; The Shrimp Farm high confidence
- Chili Rasbora Boraras brigittae — Seriously Fish (seriouslyfish.com/species/boraras-brigittae) high confidence
- Clown Killifish Epiplatys annulatus — Seriously Fish (Epiplatys annulatus); Aquarium Co-Op high confidence
- Dwarf Emerald Rasbora Celestichthys erythromicron — Seriously Fish (seriouslyfish.com/species/celestichthys-erythromicron) high confidence
- Dwarf Pencilfish Nannostomus marginatus — Seriously Fish (seriouslyfish.com/species/nannostomus-marginatus) high confidence
Your tank
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Verdict
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 any to load the exact pairing in the planner.
| Species | Adult size | Temp range | Min group | Swim level | Why it works |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assassin Snail | 2 cm | 18–25°C | 1 | Bottom | Uses the bottom zone, peaceful temperament, similar adult size |
| Black Neon Tetra | 3.5 cm | 23–27°C | 6+ (shoal) | Midwater | Peaceful temperament, similar adult size |
| Black Phantom Tetra | 3.6 cm | 20–28°C | 6+ (shoal) | Midwater | Peaceful temperament, similar adult size |
| Cardinal Tetra | 3 cm | 23–29°C | 6+ (shoal) | Midwater | Peaceful temperament, similar adult size |
| Celestial Pearl Danio | 2.1 cm | 20–26°C | 8+ (shoal) | Midwater | Peaceful temperament, similar adult size |
| Cherry Shrimp | 3 cm | 18–28°C | 6+ (pair/group) | All levels | Peaceful temperament, similar adult size |
| Chili Rasbora | 2 cm | 20–28°C | 8+ (shoal) | Midwater | Peaceful temperament, similar adult size |
| Clown Killifish | 3.5 cm | 20–26°C | 6+ (shoal) | Top / surface | Uses the top/surface zone, peaceful temperament, similar adult size |
| Dwarf Emerald Rasbora | 2 cm | 20–24°C | 8+ (shoal) | Midwater | Peaceful temperament, similar adult size |
| Dwarf Pencilfish | 2.5 cm | 22–28°C | 8+ (shoal) | Midwater | Peaceful temperament, similar adult size |
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.
Anabantoids (Bettas/Gouramis)
Corydoras
Danios
Invertebrates
Killifish
Livebearers
Loaches
Oddball
Plecos & Catfish
Rasboras
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
Ember Tetra community ideas
Each build is scored by the same engine as the planner — tap one to load it.
Ember + shrimp nano
✓ Good starter plan10× Ember Tetra, 10× Cherry Shrimp
A glowing nano school with a shrimp colony — a planted 10-gallon at its best.
Load this build in the planner ↑Ember + honey gourami
✓ Good starter plan8× Ember Tetra, 1× Honey Gourami
A warm-toned community: an ember school beneath a gentle honey gourami.
Load this build in the planner ↑Common questions
What fish can live with ember tetras?
Other peaceful nano fish and invertebrates: chili and other small rasboras, pygmy corydoras, honey gouramis, and shrimp. Keep tankmates small and calm — embers are easily out-competed by boisterous fish.
How many ember tetras should I keep?
At least six, and ideally ten or more. They are shoaling fish that show their best colour and behaviour in a tight group.
Are ember tetras good for nano tanks?
Excellent — their tiny size and peaceful nature make them one of the best schooling fish for a planted 10-gallon.
More on Ember Tetra
Related guides on TankStocking — each scored by the same welfare engine as the planner.
Can Ember Tetra live with…?
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.