Flame Tetra

Flame Tetra, also known as Hyphessobrycon flammeus, is a compact and colourful freshwater fish loved for its bright red-orange tones, silvery highlights, and energetic schooling behaviour. This species is well suited for planted aquariums and peaceful community tanks, where its colour shows best against dark substrate, driftwood, and green plants. Because of its manageable adult size and generally easy care, Flame Tetra is a popular option for both beginners and experienced fishkeepers.

These fish are most comfortable when kept in a proper group, as schooling helps them feel secure and display more natural movement. In a well-maintained aquarium, Flame Tetras stay active through the middle area of the tank and add constant motion without becoming aggressive. Their attractive colour, small size, and compatibility with many calm tank mates make them an excellent everyday community fish.

Key Features

• Appearance: Slim-bodied tetra with a glowing red to orange rear body, silver front section, and transparent to lightly tinted fins.
• Size: Usually sold as a small aquarium specimen and generally grows to around 3.5 to 4 cm in home aquariums.
• Colors: Red, orange-red, and silver tones become richer under good water quality, stable lighting, and a stress-free setup.
• Lifespan: With proper care, this species can live around 3 to 5 years in a stable freshwater aquarium.
• Temperament: Peaceful and social; best kept in groups of at least 6, though larger schools often show better confidence and colour.
• Water Type: Freshwater tropical fish suitable for community and planted setups.

Care Requirements

• Tank Size: A tank of at least 45 to 60 litres is recommended for a small school, with more space preferred for larger groups and mixed community tanks.
• Water Parameters: Ideal temperature is around 22 to 28°C with pH roughly 6.0 to 7.5. Stable parameters are more important than chasing exact numbers.
• Diet: Omnivorous and easy to feed; accepts quality micro pellets, crushed flakes, and occasional live or frozen foods such as daphnia or bloodworms.
• Tank Mates: Suitable with other peaceful small fish like rasboras, other tetras, corydoras, small gouramis, and calm livebearers. Avoid large aggressive fish or fin-nippers.
• Care Tips: Keep them in a school, maintain regular water changes, provide plants or shaded areas, and avoid sudden swings in temperature or water quality.
• Aquascape Preference: They show best in planted tanks with open swimming space in the middle and darker backgrounds that enhance their red body colour.

For best results, add Flame Tetras only to a cycled aquarium and acclimate them slowly after arrival. A healthy school of these fish can become a beautiful focal group in nano-to-medium community tanks, especially when kept in clean water with gentle filtration and consistent feeding.