What tank size does a Flame Tetra need?

A Flame Tetra needs an aquarium of at least 60 litres (15.9 US gallons) with a footprint at least 60 cm (23.6 in) long — for this species, swimming length matters as much as raw volume.

What water parameters does a Flame Tetra need?

Flame Tetra does best at 18–28 °C (64.4–82.4 °F), pH 5.5–7.8 and a general hardness of 2–18 °dGH.

What group size does a Flame Tetra need?

Flame Tetra is a social species — keep a group of at least 8 so natural behaviour emerges and stress stays low.

Is the Flame Tetra suitable for beginners?

Yes — Flame Tetra is one of the easier species to keep and forgives typical first-tank mistakes, as long as the aquarium is cycled and maintained.

Species library

Flame Tetra

Hyphessobrycon flammeus

Characidae

FishDifficulty: ●●○○○Data: well-established

📷 Joel Bez · CC BY 2.0 · resized · Wikimedia Commons

Flame Tetra — Hyphessobrycon flammeus — 📷 Joel Bez · CC BY 2.0 · resized · Wikimedia Commons

About

The flame tetra, also known as the von Rio tetra, is a small, deep-bodied characin from the coastal stream systems of Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo states in southeastern Brazil, where it is now rare in the wild but remains one of the most established aquarium species. Mature fish flush a warm red-orange across the rear half of the body, a colour that intensifies over a dark substrate and among dense planting. Peaceful, hardy and tolerant of cooler subtropical temperatures, it is an excellent, forgiving shoaling fish for planted community tanks and unheated or lightly heated setups alike.

Care

Keep a shoal of 8 or more in a well-planted tank with gentle flow and soft to neutral water; tolerates cool subtropical temperatures. Peaceful and beginner-friendly with similar-sized tankmates.

Diet

Omnivore that grazes small invertebrates, crustaceans and algae in the wild; feed varied dry foods with frequent frozen or live micro-foods for best colour.

Tankmate compatibility

Computed by the AquaSage engine for a spacious reference tank — always check the full verdict for your exact setup in the calculator.

Telling males from females

What works for this species, most reliable first.

Belly depthA hint only · only on well-fed adults, and only as a comparison
For most tetras, barbs and rasboras this is all there is: a conditioned female is deeper through the belly than a male of the same length.

All the methods, with diagrams

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Frequently asked questions

What tank size does a Flame Tetra need?: A Flame Tetra needs an aquarium of at least 60 litres (15.9 US gallons) with a footprint at least 60 cm (23.6 in) long — for this species, swimming length matters as much as raw volume.
What water parameters does a Flame Tetra need?: Flame Tetra does best at 18–28 °C (64.4–82.4 °F), pH 5.5–7.8 and a general hardness of 2–18 °dGH.
What group size does a Flame Tetra need?: Flame Tetra is a social species — keep a group of at least 8 so natural behaviour emerges and stress stays low.
Is the Flame Tetra suitable for beginners?: Yes — Flame Tetra is one of the easier species to keep and forgives typical first-tank mistakes, as long as the aquarium is cycled and maintained.

Sources

Water & tank

Temperature18–28°C

Optimal temp.22–25°C

pH5.5–7.8

Hardness (GH)2–18°d

Carbonate (KH)1–12°d

Adult size4 cm

Min. volume≥ 60 L

Min. tank length≥ 60 cm

Group size≥ 8

Swimming zoneMid

TemperamentPeaceful

Water typeFreshwater

FlowLow

Lifespan~4 yrs

Try in the calculator