Flame tetra (Hyphessobrycon flammeus) care guide

Group
Freshwater fish
Other names
Von Rio tetra, Rio tetra, Red tetra, Fire tetra, Red von Rio
Family
Acestrorhamphidae (American tetras; formerly Characidae)
Origin
Small, shallow, slow-flowing streams in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo states, south-eastern Brazil. Now rare or possibly extinct across much of its wild range.
Water
freshwater
Maximum size
2.6 cm
Temperature
20–26°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Hardness
Soft to medium, 1–12 dGH
Minimum tank
54 litres
Care level
beginner
Temperament
peaceful
Lifespan
About 4 years years

Care

A small, very peaceful tetra that colours up beautifully in the right tank. Keep a group of at least 8–10, because the fish form short-lived pecking orders and are calmer and showier in numbers. A tank with a base of 60 × 30 cm (about 55 litres) is the smallest to consider. It looks best in a well-furnished tank with live plants and a dark substrate. Sand, some wood, a little leaf litter and some floating plants to soften the light recreate the shallow, weedy streams it comes from. It needs very clean water, so make weekly water changes part of the routine. It prefers slightly cooler water than many tetras: around 20–26°C, soft to moderately hard (1–12 dGH), with a pH of 5.5–7.5. Wild populations are listed as Endangered by the IUCN and the species has been on Brazil's threatened-species list since 2004, so it is not collected from the wild; all fish in the trade are commercially bred. Orange, golden, 'diamond' and albino strains are also sold. Listed as Endangered in the wild, though large numbers are bred in captivity, including golden, orange and albino forms. Sources: Seriously Fish (seriouslyfish.com/species/hyphessobrycon-flammeus/); FishBase (fishbase.se/summary/Hyphessobrycon-flammeus.html); Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flametetra). Checked October 2026.

Diet

An omnivore that eats small invertebrates, crustaceans, algae and detritus in the wild. Feed a good small flake or micro-pellet daily, plus regular live or frozen foods such as bloodworm, mosquito larvae, Daphnia and Moina to keep the colour strong.

Breeding

An egg scatterer with no parental care. Set up a small, dimly lit breeding tank with mesh, marbles or fine-leaved plants on the bottom so the adults cannot reach the eggs, and remove the adults after spawning. Eggs hatch overnight. Start the fry on Paramecium or similar infusoria, then move on to Artemia nauplii. Males are slimmer, slightly smaller and more intensely coloured; females are deeper-bodied.

Compatibility and tank mates

Ideal for a peaceful community of small fish: other small tetras, pencilfish, hatchetfish, Corydoras, small loricariids and dwarf cichlids. Avoid boisterous or large fish that would bully or eat it.

Last updated 4 October 2026. Community-edited care guide on Aquatic-Auctions.

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