Home / Fishes / Tetras, piranhas and pacus / Flame tetra
No federal permit to keepFlame tetra
Hyphessobrycon flammeus
Fishes › Tetras, piranhas and pacus (Characiformes) › Characidae (Tetras)
The flame tetra (Hyphessobrycon flammeus), also known as the red tetra or Rio tetra, is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish in the family Acestrorhamphidae, the American tetras.
Care at a glance
Species-specific aquarium care
- Tank: At least 24 in long and 12 in front to back for one adult (adults commonly reach about 1.0 in / 2.61 cm).
- Water: Freshwater.
- Temperature: 72–82°F (range recorded for this species).
- pH: 5.8–7.8.
- Hardness: 5–25 dGH.
- Layout: Uses both the bottom and open water: give open swimming space plus cover near the substrate.
- Diet: Eats a varied diet: mix quality prepared foods with frozen and live foods. FishBase classes it as a omnivore.
Calculated from this species' own FishBase record: tank size from its typical adult length and swimming zone, water values from its recorded ranges. The group guide below fills in general care.
Care guide
Species care notes
- Tank: a base of at least 24 × 12 in (roughly 14 US gallons); space needed is rated “modest tank”.
- Water: a fairly wide range, from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline, 68–79 °F, pH 5.5–7.5, 1–12 dGH.
- Behaviour: temperament peaceful; a shoaling fish best kept in a group of six or more; suited to a community tank.
- Difficulty: Moderate (Seriously Fish rating).
Short excerpts from the species profile:
- Setup: “Choice of décor is not especially critical although it tends to show better colouration when maintained in a well-furnished set-up with live plants and a dark substrate.”
- Diet: “Omnivorous, feeding on small invertebrates, crustacea, filamentous algae, organic detritus, and suchlike in nature.”
- Tankmates: “Very peaceful, making it an ideal resident of the well-researched community aquarium.”
- Breeding: “An egg-scattering free spawner exhibiting no parental care.”
From the Seriously Fish profile for this species, which has the full habitat, maintenance, diet, behaviour and breeding write-up 167
Tetras
Applies to most species in this group. Habitat: The covered characids include South American river and tributary fishes, from vegetation-shaded bloodfin habitats to sandy flowing rivers occupied by Exodon. [fg156-bloodfin, fg156-exodon]. Individual species can differ, so compare with the species numbers above and the linked sources.
Housing & setup
- For glass bloodfins, use at least 60 × 38 × 30 cm (24 × 15 × 12 in), retaining open upper-water swimming space.
- Provide planted margins and floating vegetation for bloodfins; fit a tight lid for Aphyocharax anisitsi.
- For bucktooth tetras use at least 120 × 45 × 45 cm (48 × 18 × 18 in), efficient filtration and planted refuges from bullying.
- For glass bloodfins maintain pH 6.0–7.5; for Exodon, pH 5.5–7.5.
Climate & lighting
| Water | 73.4–80.6°F |
Diet
- Small dried foods for glass and ordinary bloodfins.
- Daphnia, Cyclops and bloodworms for glass bloodfins.
- For Exodon, chopped prawns, mussels, earthworms and fish rather than live feeder fish.
Social life
- Glass bloodfins need 6–8 or more; ordinary bloodfins at least six. Exodon requires a species aquarium and at least 12 introduced together; small groups can kill one another.
Health watch
- Freshwater ich (white spot disease), a general aquarium risk.
- Bacterial infections associated with stress and poor water quality.
- Fin and scale damage from aggression, especially Exodon.
Understanding the animal
About this animal
About this animal
This fish was first introduced as an aquarium fish in 1920 by C. Bruening (of Hamburg), and was not formally described until 1924, by the American ichthyologist George S. Myers. Today, it is common in the aquarium trade and large numbers are bred in captivity, but the remaining wild population in Southeast Brazil is highly threatened.
Quoted from the Wikipedia article “Flame tetra” (CC BY-SA 4.0) 174
In the wild
In the wild
From this species’ own FishBase record (habitat, bottom type, water and breeding data), not its family. Good care copies these conditions.1
| Where it lives | Lives in freshwater, in rivers and streams. Uses both the bottom and open water. Inhabits small streams of slow flowing, dark-brown or clear water, shaded by small forests. Occurs also in small streams with clear water and sandy bottom. Prefers habitats with vegetation and streams with slow flowing water, living in depths not superior to 50 c and water temperature from 22°-28°C. Forms relatively numerous schools with agonistic interaction among alpha males. Feeds on small insects, worms and plants. Female lays around 200 to 330 oocytes on rocks, plants, or submerged debris; after that, the male releases the sperm for fertilization. The eggs hatch in about 2-3 days. Longevity is around four years. |
| Water it lives in | Freshwater, 72–82 °F (22–28 °C), pH 5.8–7.8, hardness 5–25 dH. |
| Climate | Tropical climate. |
| Behavior to plan for | Breeding: open water/substratum egg scatterers. |
What this means for care
- Keep water within its wild range, 72–82 °F.
Native climate (measured)
Native climate (measured)
| Warm-season highs | about 82°F (up to 89°F in the hottest sampled areas) |
| Cool-season lows | about 54°F (down to 48°F in the coldest sampled areas) |
| Average temperature | 64–74°F across sampled records |
| Relative humidity | 80–83% on average (driest month about 78%) |
| Rainfall | about 1517 mm a year |
Measured at 13 wild occurrence records sampled against WorldClim 2.1 climate data (1970–2000 averages). Air conditions in the range are ecological context, not enclosure settings: microhabitats such as burrows, leaf litter or basking rocks can be cooler, warmer or more humid.
From the sources
From the sources
Quoted from the matching sections of reputable sources for this exact species. Specialist databases are used first; Wikipedia (community-edited, CC BY-SA 4.0) only fills gaps. Other sources are short credited quotes.
| Overview | The flame tetra (Hyphessobrycon flammeus), also known as the red tetra or Rio tetra, is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish in the family Acestrorhamphidae, the American tetras. This fish was first introduced as an aquarium fish in 1920 by C. Bruening (of Hamburg), and was not formally described until 1924, by the American ichthyologist George S. Myers. Today, it is common in the aquarium trade and large numbers are bred in captivity, but the remaining wild population in Southeast Brazil is highly threatened. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Where it lives | Home ranges Population dynamics Growth parameters Max. ages / sizes Length-weight rel. Length-frequencies Mass conversion Recruitment Abundance Life cycle Reproduction Maturity Maturity/Gills rel. — FishBase |
| Appearance and size | The flame tetra reaches about 2.5 cm in standard length. The rear half of the body is flame red while the area in front of the dorsal fin is silver, crossed by two dark vertical bars. All fins are red, except for the colorless pectoral fins. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Biology | Inhabits small streams of slow flowing, dark-brown or clear water, shaded by small forests. Occurs also in small streams with clear water and sandy bottom. Prefers habitats with vegetation and streams with slow flowing water, living in depths not superior to 50 c and water temperature from 22°-28°C. Forms relatively numerous schools with agonistic interaction among alpha males. — FishBase |
| Conservation | The flame tetra has declined drastically, mainly because of habitat loss, pollution and introduced species (especially tilapia and black bass). Although sometimes reported as extinct in the wild, wild populations have survived, albeit perhaps not everywhere in its range; for example, the last confirmed record from Rio de Janeiro was from 1992. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
Data and studies
The numbers
The numbers
Each bar is what one source reports. Where several sources weigh in, the dashed gold band marks their average.
Adult length
Maximum recorded length. Measured as standard length (snout to the base of the tail, not counting the tail fin). Fish in home aquariums often stay smaller than wild records.
Water temperature
Range the species tolerates in nature; aim for the middle.
Minimum tank footprint
Seriously Fish recommends a tank base of at least 24 × 12 in (about 14 US gallons).
Sources for this sheet
- FishBase (Froese & Pauly, eds.), version 24.07 Peer-reviewed researchThe global scientific database on fishes, maintained by a consortium of research institutions; every value is referenced.
- Seriously Fish species profiles Experienced keeper or breederLong-running aquarium reference written and peer-checked by experienced fishkeepers and ichthyologists; each profile covers habitat, tank size, water, diet, behaviour and breeding.
- Seriously Fish: Prionobrama filigera Experienced keeper or breederAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Seriously Fish: Exodon paradoxus Experienced keeper or breederAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Seriously Fish: Aphyocharax anisitsi Experienced keeper or breederAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Disorders and Diseases of Fish Zoo, university or veterinaryAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Wikipedia (species article) Community referenceFree encyclopedia; useful overviews with their own citations. Intro text is quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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