Ember Tetra
Hyphessobrycon amandae
Photo: Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
Tiny orange tetras that actually work in a 10-gallon. Keep a dozen if you can. They vanish against pale sand.
Nano school for a planted 10.
In the tank
- Actually fits a 10-gallon as a group.
- Usually ignores cherry shrimp.
- Water
- freshwater
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Swims
- Midwater
- Adult size
- 0.8 in
- Minimum tank
- 10 gal
- Group
- School of 6+
- Temperature
- 73–84°F
- pH
- 6.0–7.5
- Diet
- The smallest micro pellets you can find, plus baby brine.
- Beginner
- Yes, if the tank is cycled
How to keep them
- Tiny food. Regular flakes are too big unless crushed.
- A dozen is better than six.
Tankmates
Chili-scale fish, shrimp, small corys in a 20.
Avoid
Bettas that hunt, and any fish that treats them as moving garnish.
Check tankmates · Stocking calculator
Same group
Neon Tetra
Paracheirodon innesi
The default midwater school.
A group of six-plus fills the middle of a 20 long so the tank does not look empty.
Cardinal Tetra
Paracheirodon axelrodi
A showier neon that wants better water.
Same schooling job as neons, with a full-body red stripe.
Harlequin Rasbora
Trigonostigma heteromorpha
Calm midwater school for a 20 long.
Less nippy than barbs, less fragile than cardinals.
Zebra Danio
Danio rerio
Fast top-water school. Hardy, slightly chaotic.
Tolerates cooler rooms than tetras.
White Cloud Mountain Minnow
Tanichthys albonubes
The honest no-heater school.
Lives in the mid-60s without a heater if the room stays cool.
Cherry Barb
Puntius titteya
A peaceful barb for a planted 20.
Schooling color without tiger-barb nipping — if you keep six-plus.