After keeping flame tetras for over 15 years, I still find myself captivated by their vibrant copper-red coloration every time I walk past my aquarium.
These peaceful South American characins, also known as Von Rio tetras or fire tetras, have become increasingly popular among aquarists seeking hardy, beginner-friendly schooling fish. What many don't realize is that Hyphessobrycon flammeus has been listed as an endangered species in their native Brazil since 2004.
The good news? Captive-bred flame tetras thrive in home aquariums with basic care, making them perfect for both beginners and experienced keepers.
In this comprehensive guide, I'll share everything you need to know about flame tetra care, from setting up their tank to breeding these beautiful fish. You'll learn about their specific requirements, compatible tank mates, and solutions to common problems that arise when keeping this species.
What is a Flame Tetra?
Quick Answer: The flame tetra (Hyphessobrycon flammeus) is a small freshwater fish from the Characidae family, native to coastal Brazil's slow-moving streams and rivers.
First described by ichthyologist George S. Myers in 1924, flame tetras originate from the coastal regions around Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo in Brazil. They inhabit slow-flowing streams with sandy bottoms, dense vegetation, and water stained brown by tannins from decomposing leaves.
The species goes by several common names including Von Rio tetra, fire tetra, and red tetra. All these names reference their distinctive copper-red coloration that intensifies during breeding periods.
⚠️ Conservation Alert: Wild flame tetras are endangered due to habitat loss from urban development around Rio de Janeiro. Always purchase captive-bred specimens to support conservation efforts.
In the aquarium trade, you'll find flame tetras readily available as they've been successfully bred in captivity for decades. Most specimens sold today come from commercial breeding operations in Asia and Florida, ensuring wild populations remain untouched.
Their classification within the Characidae family places them alongside other popular aquarium species like black neon tetras and cardinal tetras. This family includes over 1,000 species of primarily South American freshwater fish.
Flame Tetra Appearance and Size
Quick Answer: Flame tetras grow to 1.6 inches (4 cm) and display copper-red bodies with two dark vertical bars behind the gills.
The flame tetra's body showcases a stunning gradient from silver-gray on the back to brilliant copper-red on the sides and belly. Their fins display varying shades of red, with the anal fin often showing a black edge bordered by white.
Two distinct black vertical bars mark the area behind their gill covers, though these can fade when the fish feels stressed or during nighttime. The intensity of their red coloration varies based on mood, diet, and breeding condition.
Sexual Dimorphism in Flame Tetras
Males typically display more intense red coloration and have a completely black edge on their anal fin. Their bodies appear slightly more slender than females.
Females grow slightly larger and rounder, especially when carrying eggs. Their anal fin shows less black coloration, often just a thin dark line or spots rather than a solid black edge.
During breeding season, these differences become even more pronounced. Males develop an almost metallic sheen to their scales while females' bellies become noticeably swollen with eggs.
Color Variations
Selective breeding has produced several color variations including the gold flame tetra, which displays yellow-gold coloration instead of red. Some specimens show more orange tones, while others lean toward deep crimson.
Flame Tetra Care Requirements
Quick Answer: Flame tetras need water temperatures of 73-82°F, pH 5.5-7.5, and soft to moderately hard water to thrive.
I've found flame tetras remarkably adaptable to various water conditions, though they show their best colors in slightly acidic, soft water that mimics their natural habitat.
Water Parameters
Temperature should remain stable between 73-82°F (23-28°C), with 75-78°F being ideal for daily maintenance. They tolerate brief temperature drops better than many tropical species, surviving down to 64°F temporarily.
The pH range spans from 5.5 to 7.5, though I've had best success maintaining it between 6.0-7.0. Sudden pH swings cause more problems than a stable pH slightly outside their preferred range.
| Parameter | Ideal Range | Acceptable Range | Critical Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 75-78°F | 73-82°F | 64-86°F |
| pH | 6.0-7.0 | 5.5-7.5 | 5.0-8.0 |
| Hardness | 5-10 dGH | 3-15 dGH | 0-20 dGH |
| Ammonia | 0 ppm | 0 ppm | >0.25 ppm toxic |
Filtration and Water Movement
Flame tetras prefer gentle to moderate water flow that mimics their natural slow-moving streams. I use a sponge filter or HOB filter with reduced flow in my flame tetra tanks.
Biological filtration proves especially important as these active fish produce considerable waste for their size. Weekly 25-30% water changes keep nitrate levels below 20 ppm.
Adding Indian almond leaves or driftwood releases beneficial tannins that slightly tint the water brown. This not only replicates their natural environment but also provides antibacterial properties.
💡 Pro Tip: Use a pre-filter sponge on your filter intake to prevent fry from being sucked in if you plan to breed your flame tetras.
Tank Maintenance Schedule
Daily tasks include checking temperature and observing fish behavior for signs of stress or disease. Remove uneaten food after 5 minutes to prevent water quality issues.
Weekly maintenance involves testing water parameters, performing water changes, and cleaning algae from glass. Monthly tasks include filter maintenance and trimming plants as needed.
Tank Setup for Flame Tetras
Quick Answer: Flame tetras need a minimum 20-gallon tank for a school of 6, with dense plants, open swimming space, and subdued lighting.
A 20-gallon long aquarium works perfectly for a school of 6-8 flame tetras. The horizontal swimming space suits their active nature better than tall tanks.
For each additional flame tetra beyond the initial school, add 2 gallons of water volume. A 30-gallon tank comfortably houses 12-15 specimens along with other types of tetra fish.
Substrate and Decorations
Dark substrates like black sand or fine gravel make their colors pop dramatically. In my experience, flame tetras over light substrates appear washed out.
Driftwood pieces create natural territories and release tannins that benefit the fish. Position larger pieces toward the back and sides, leaving the center open for swimming.
Rock formations work well but avoid sharp edges that could damage fins during their active swimming. Smooth river rocks or rounded stones provide excellent anchor points for plants.
Plant Selection
Dense background plants like Amazon swords, Vallisneria, and Cryptocoryne species replicate their natural habitat. These plants also help maintain water quality by absorbing nitrates.
Floating plants such as Water sprite or Amazon frogbit diffuse lighting and provide security. Flame tetras display better colors under subdued lighting conditions.
Leave the front third of the tank open for swimming space. These active fish need room to school and display their natural behaviors.
Creating a Biotope Setup
For a true Rio de Janeiro stream biotope, use sand substrate with scattered leaf litter. Add several pieces of driftwood and limit plants to species like Echinodorus and floating Pistia stratiotes.
Tannin-stained water from Indian almond leaves or commercial blackwater extract completes the authentic look. This setup brings out exceptional coloration in flame tetras.
What Do Flame Tetras Eat?
Quick Answer: Flame tetras are omnivores that eat high-quality flakes, pellets, and frozen foods like brine shrimp and bloodworms.
In nature, flame tetras feed on small insects, larvae, plant matter, and microscopic organisms. Replicating this varied diet ensures optimal health and coloration.
High-quality tropical flakes or micro pellets should form the base diet. I feed my flame tetras twice daily with portions they consume within 2-3 minutes.
Live and Frozen Foods
Frozen bloodworms, brine shrimp, and daphnia provide essential proteins. Feed these 2-3 times weekly as treats rather than staple foods.
Live foods like baby brine shrimp, microworms, and mosquito larvae trigger breeding behavior. These foods also enhance coloration significantly within days.
Avoid feeding exclusively protein-rich foods as this can cause digestive issues. Balance is key for long-term health.
Vegetable Matter
Flame tetras nibble on algae and benefit from vegetable content in their diet. Spirulina-based flakes or blanched vegetables supplement their nutritional needs.
I've observed my flame tetras grazing on algae throughout the day. This natural behavior helps control algae while providing dietary fiber.
Feeding Schedule for Optimal Health
- Morning: High-quality flake food or micro pellets
- Evening: Frozen or live foods (2-3 times weekly) or second flake feeding
- Fasting day: Skip feeding once weekly to prevent digestive issues
Flame Tetra Behavior and Temperament
Quick Answer: Flame tetras are peaceful schooling fish that become aggressive when kept in groups smaller than 6 individuals.
I learned this lesson the hard way when I started with just 3 flame tetras. They constantly chased each other and nipped at my other fish until I increased the school to 8.
In proper schools of 6 or more, flame tetras display fascinating social behaviors. They establish subtle hierarchies with dominant males claiming small territories during breeding periods.
Schooling Dynamics
Flame tetras school loosely compared to species like neon tetras. They spread out while foraging but quickly group together when startled or during feeding time.
Morning hours bring increased activity as they patrol the tank searching for food. They often rest in shaded areas during the brightest part of the day.
Evening triggers another activity spike, with males displaying to females and establishing temporary territories around plants or decorations.
Aggression Issues and Solutions
Small groups of 2-4 flame tetras often develop aggression problems. The dominant fish relentlessly chases subordinates, causing stress and potential health issues.
Increasing school size to 8-10 individuals disperses aggression across the group. No single fish becomes a target when natural schooling behaviors emerge.
✅ Solution: If you notice fin nipping or chasing, immediately increase your school size. Adding 4-6 more flame tetras usually resolves aggression within days.
Best Tank Mates for Flame Tetras
Quick Answer: Flame tetras thrive with peaceful community fish like corydoras catfish, rasboras, other tetras, and small peaceful cichlids.
Over the years, I've successfully kept flame tetras with dozens of species. They work beautifully in community tanks with similarly sized peaceful fish.
Ideal Tank Mates
Other tetra species make excellent companions. I've had great success combining flame tetras with pristella tetras, neon tetras, and rummy nose tetras.
Bottom dwellers like corydoras catfish and kuhli loaches occupy different tank levels without competing for space. These species also help clean up excess food.
Peaceful rasboras such as harlequin rasboras or chili rasboras share similar water requirements. Their calm nature complements flame tetras perfectly.
Compatible But Requiring Caution
Dwarf cichlids like German blue rams work if the tank provides adequate space and hiding spots. Monitor interactions during breeding periods when cichlids become territorial.
Gouramis generally coexist peacefully, though larger species might view flame tetras as food. Stick to dwarf or honey gouramis for best results.
Livebearers including guppies and platies work well, though flame tetras may nip elaborate finnage. Choose short-finned varieties when possible.
Species to Avoid
Large predatory fish obviously pose a threat. Any fish capable of swallowing a 1.6-inch tetra should be avoided entirely.
Aggressive species like serpae tetras or tiger barbs create stress through constant harassment. Even in large tanks, these combinations rarely work.
Slow-moving fish with long fins suffer from flame tetra nipping when school sizes drop below 6. Bettas and fancy goldfish make poor tank mates.
How to Breed Flame Tetras?
Quick Answer: Flame tetras breed in soft, acidic water with spawning mops or fine-leaved plants, requiring separation of adults after spawning to prevent egg eating.
Breeding flame tetras presents moderate difficulty but yields rewarding results. I typically get 100-150 eggs per spawning with about 60% survival rate to free-swimming stage.
Setting Up the Breeding Tank
A 10-gallon breeding tank works perfectly for a pair or trio (1 male, 2 females). Fill it with aged water adjusted to pH 6.0-6.5 and 75-78°F.
Add spawning mops or Java moss to provide egg-laying sites. Some breeders use marbles as substrate to protect fallen eggs from hungry parents.
Gentle filtration through an air-driven sponge filter maintains water quality without creating strong currents that disturb eggs.
Conditioning the Breeders
Separate males and females for 2 weeks before breeding attempts. Feed them high-quality live or frozen foods 3 times daily during conditioning.
Females develop noticeably round bellies when full of eggs. Males intensify their red coloration and become more active.
Gradually lower the breeding tank temperature to 73°F, then raise it to 78-80°F to trigger spawning. This mimics seasonal changes in their natural habitat.
Spawning Process
Introduce the conditioned fish to the breeding tank in the evening. Spawning typically occurs at dawn the following day.
Males chase females through plants while performing elaborate displays. Females release eggs among fine-leaved plants or spawning mops while males simultaneously fertilize them.
Remove adults immediately after spawning as they will eat their own eggs. The transparent eggs hatch in 24-36 hours at 78°F.
Raising Fry
Newly hatched fry absorb their yolk sacs for 3-4 days before becoming free-swimming. Start feeding infusoria or commercial liquid fry food at this stage.
After a week, introduce newly hatched brine shrimp and micro worms. Perform daily 10% water changes to maintain pristine conditions.
Young flame tetras begin showing adult coloration at 6-8 weeks. They reach sexual maturity around 6 months of age.
Common Flame Tetra Problems and Solutions
Quick Answer: Common flame tetra problems include fin nipping from small schools, color fading from poor diet, and stress from inappropriate tank conditions.
Aggression and Fin Nipping
Problem: Flame tetras chase and nip other fish constantly.
Solution: Increase school size to minimum 8 individuals. Add more hiding spots and ensure adequate swimming space. This typically resolves within 48 hours.
Loss of Color
Problem: Vibrant red coloration fades to pale orange or gray.
Solution: Improve diet quality with color-enhancing foods rich in carotenoids. Add tannins to water and reduce lighting intensity. Check water parameters for stability.
Stress and Disease Susceptibility
Problem: Flame tetras hide constantly or develop ich and fungal infections frequently.
Solution: Test and correct water parameters. Ensure proper school size and compatible tank mates. Quarantine new additions before introducing to main tank.
Breeding Failures
Problem: Adults spawn but eggs fungus or fry die shortly after hatching.
Solution: Use methylene blue to prevent egg fungus. Ensure breeding tank has established biological filtration. Feed fry appropriate-sized foods multiple times daily.
⏰ Time Saver: Keep a hospital tank cycled and ready. Quick isolation and treatment saves more fish than any medication.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many flame tetras should I keep together?
Keep at least 6 flame tetras together, though 8-10 provides better schooling behavior and reduces aggression. In smaller groups, they become nippy and stress other tank inhabitants.
Can flame tetras live with bettas?
Flame tetras may nip at betta fins, especially in groups smaller than 8. If attempting this combination, use a large tank with plenty of plants and monitor closely for fin damage.
How long do flame tetras live?
Flame tetras typically live 3-5 years with proper care. Stable water conditions, quality diet, and appropriate school size contribute to maximum lifespan.
Why are my flame tetras aggressive?
Aggression usually results from inadequate school size. Groups under 6 fish develop dominance issues. Increasing to 8+ individuals disperses aggression naturally.
Do flame tetras need a heater?
Yes, flame tetras need a heater to maintain stable temperatures between 73-82°F. Temperature fluctuations cause stress and increase disease susceptibility.
What size tank do flame tetras need?
A minimum 20-gallon tank houses 6-8 flame tetras comfortably. Longer tanks work better than tall ones since these active swimmers use horizontal space.
Are flame tetras good for beginners?
Yes, flame tetras make excellent beginner fish due to their hardiness and adaptability. They tolerate minor water parameter fluctuations better than many tropical species.
Final Thoughts on Flame Tetra Care
After decades of keeping flame tetras, I can confidently recommend them to aquarists of all experience levels. Their combination of hardiness, peaceful nature, and striking appearance makes them ideal community tank residents.
Remember that proper school size prevents 90% of flame tetra problems. Keep at least 6, preferably 8-10, and you'll enjoy their natural schooling behaviors without aggression issues.
Supporting captive breeding efforts helps preserve this endangered species while allowing us to enjoy their beauty in home aquariums. Every captive-bred flame tetra purchased reduces pressure on wild populations.
Whether you're setting up your first tank or adding to an established community, flame tetras bring reliable color and activity. Follow the care guidelines in this article, and your flame tetras will thrive for years to come.