How long do Ember Tetras live?
Ember Tetras live about 2-4 years with good care. Stable, mature water matters more than hitting a perfect number, and a varied micro-diet supports their long-term health.
What do Ember Tetras eat?
Feed fine crushed flake, micro-pellets, and tiny live or frozen foods such as baby brine shrimp and daphnia, once or twice daily in portions eaten in two minutes. Overfeeding is the main diet mistake; their stomachs are tiny.
Tank size and water parameters
A 10-gallon (38 L) tank comfortably holds a school of 8-10. Target 73-84°F (23-29°C), pH 5.5-7.5, soft to moderately hard water, zero ammonia and nitrite, nitrate under 20 ppm. Keep them in groups of 6-10+; they school tightly over moss and fine plants.
Common mistakes with Ember Tetras
Common errors: a group too small so they hide and lose color; keeping them with larger or boisterous tank mates that outcompete or eat them; and unstable, fluctuating water in a tiny tank where one missed water change spikes toxins fast.
Beginner mistakes to avoid
- Keeping too few — embers need a school of 6-10+ to color up and behave naturally.
- Housing them with bigger fish that eat or outcompete tiny tetras.
- Letting a small nano tank's water swing — frequent small water changes are essential.
- Overfeeding — their tiny stomachs make pollution build up quickly.