Flame tetra care guide
Also called: Von Rio tetra, Red tetra, Rio tetra
The flame tetra is a small, peaceful tetra with a red-orange rear body and two dark shoulder bars. Captive-bred fish suit planted community tanks from 15 gallons (57 L), kept in a group of eight or more in a mature, stable tank.
Flame tetras need a tank of at least 15 gallons (57 L), a group of 8 or more, and water at 22–26°C (72–79°F) with a pH of 6–7.5. They grow to about 3 cm (1.2 in) and are peaceful.
Plan a tank with flame tetrasSee all tank mates
Flame tetra quick facts
| Scientific name | Hyphessobrycon flammeus |
|---|---|
| Family | Acestrorhamphidae |
| Origin | Coastal streams around Rio de Janeiro, southeastern Brazil (aquarium fish are captive-bred; very rare in the wild) |
| Adult size | 3 cm (1.2 in) |
| Minimum tank | 15 gallons (57 L), at least 60 cm (24 in) long |
| Temperature | 22–26°C (72–79°F) |
| pH | 6–7.5 |
| Hardness (GH) | 4–12 dGH |
| Group size | 8 or more (shoaling fish) |
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Swims at | Middle |
| Diet | Omnivore |
| Care level | Moderate |
| Lifespan | 3–5 years |
| Safe with shrimp? | Mostly (eats baby shrimp) |
| Safe with plants? | Yes |
Tank setup
A group of eight fits a 15-gallon (57 L) tank at least 60 cm (24 in) long. Use live plants, a dark substrate and some floating plants to soften the light, which deepens their red color. Only add them to a fully cycled, mature tank.
How many flame tetras in a tank?
The smallest common tank that suits flame tetras is a 15 gallon. Here is roughly how many fit in each size when they are the only fish, based on adult size and waste output. Leave room if you want tank mates.
| Tank | Flame tetras (alone) |
|---|---|
| 3 gallon | Too small |
| 5 gallon | Too small |
| 10 gallon | Too small |
| 15 gallon | 8–31 |
| 20 gallon | 8–41 |
| 20 gallon long | 8–41 |
| 29 gallon | 8–60 |
| 40 gallon | 8–83 |
| 55 gallon | 8–115 |
| 75 gallon | 8–157 |
| 125 gallon | 8–262 |
What you need for flame tetras
Sized for a 15 gallon tank, the smallest common size that suits a group of 8 flame tetras. For a different tank or a mix of fish, use the stocking calculator for a list sized to your plan.
Tank and equipment
- 15 gallon aquarium (tank or kit) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Bigger tanks are more stable and easier for beginners. How to choose
- Adjustable heater, 50 W (opens Amazon in a new tab)Holds about 75 °F (24 °C) in a room at 65 °F (18 °C). How to choose
- Aquarium thermometer (opens Amazon in a new tab)Check it daily: heaters can fail stuck on or off. How to choose
- Hang-on-back filter rated 60–90 GPH (opens Amazon in a new tab)Community tank: 4–6 times the tank volume per hour. How to choose
- About 35 lb of aquarium gravel (opens Amazon in a new tab)Enough for a layer about 2 in (5 cm) deep. Smooth gravel suits most community fish. How to choose
- Water conditioner (dechlorinator) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Removes chlorine and chloramine from tap water. Seachem Prime is a popular, concentrated choice. How to choose
- Liquid test kit (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Liquid kits are more accurate than strips. The API Freshwater Master Test Kit is the common choice. How to choose
- Gravel vacuum (siphon) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Cleans the gravel and does the water change in one go. How to choose
- LED aquarium light, about 24 in long (opens Amazon in a new tab)Match the light to the tank length. Basic LEDs grow easy plants. How to choose
Food and extras for flame tetras
- Micro pellets or flakes for small fish (opens Amazon in a new tab)Small enough for tetras, rasboras and other nano fish.
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Water parameters
Keep them at 22–26 °C (72–79 °F), pH 6.0–7.5 and 4–12 dGH. Captive-bred fish adapt to a range of conditions, but they react badly to waste build-up. Change water weekly and avoid sudden swings.
Best tank mates for flame tetras
These popular species share flame tetras' water needs and temperament. See the full list of 91 good matches.
Cherry shrimp
3 cm (1.2 in) · 20–27°C (68–81°F)
Nerite snail
2.5 cm (1 in) · 22–27°C (72–81°F)
Guppy
5 cm (2 in) · 22–27°C (72–81°F)
Dwarf gourami
7.5 cm (3 in) · 24–28°C (75–82°F)
Neon tetra
3.5 cm (1.4 in) · 21–25°C (70–77°F)
Panda corydoras
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 21–25°C (70–77°F)
Bristlenose pleco
12 cm (4.7 in) · 22–26°C (72–79°F)
Bronze corydoras
7 cm (2.8 in) · 21–26°C (70–79°F)
Avoid keeping flame tetras with
- Angelfish: Angelfish can eat flame tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Common goldfish: Common goldfish can eat flame tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Fancy goldfish: Fancy goldfish can eat flame tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Oscar: Oscar can eat flame tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Bala shark: Bala shark can eat flame tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Blood parrot cichlid: Blood parrot cichlid can eat flame tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
Feeding
An omnivore that eats small invertebrates and some plant matter in the wild. Feed a good micro pellet or flake. Add small frozen or live foods such as daphnia, brine shrimp and bloodworm a few times a week.
Behavior
Very peaceful and active in the middle of the tank. Males hold short chasing contests to impress females, but these are harmless. Pair them with other small, calm fish such as small tetras, hatchetfish, pencilfish, corydoras and dwarf cichlids.
Breeding
Easy to breed. Adults scatter eggs among fine plants and give no care, and well-fed fish may even spawn in a planted community tank. For more fry, use a separate dim tank with java moss or a mesh base at the warm end of their range, and remove the adults after spawning. Feed fry infusoria or a very fine powder food first, then baby brine shrimp.
Tips from experienced keepers
- Buy a mixed group of 8–10. Males show redder anal fins and females look plumper.
- Floating plants and a dark substrate make the red color much stronger.
- Never add them to a new tank. Wait until it is fully cycled and stable.
- Wild fish are rare and listed as threatened in Brazil, so buy captive-bred fish (almost all in shops are).
- They are small enough to be eaten by angelfish and other larger fish, so choose small tankmates.
Frequently asked questions
How big do flame tetras get?
About 3 cm (1.2 in) long as adults. That makes them one of the smaller common tetras.
How many flame tetras should be kept together?
Keep at least eight. Bigger groups show better color and more natural behavior, and males spread their displays across the group.
Are flame tetras good for beginners?
They can be, as long as the tank is already cycled and stable. Captive-bred flame tetras are adaptable, but they do poorly in new tanks and when waste builds up.
Sources
We checked these references when writing this page. Values are for healthy long-term keeping, not survival limits. Last reviewed 2026-10-13. See our editorial policy.