Flame tetra
Hyphessobrycon flammeus
A tetra of intense chromatic warmth: the rear half of the body grades from orange-red to fiery red, like a living flame. Also known as 'Von Rio' for its origin in coastal rivers around Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Wild populations are now severely threatened, making captive-bred specimens vital for conservation. Robust, long-lived and peaceful, it is one of the easiest tetras to keep and breed. In schools of 6–8+ on dark substrate with dim lighting and tannins, the coloration reaches spectacular depth.
Température de l’eau
22 - 28 °C
Valeur du pH
5.5 - 7.5
Type d'eau
Eau douce
Niveau dans le bac
Milieu
Taille adulte
4 cm
Volume minimal du bac
>= 40 L
Groupe minimal
>= 6
GH
1 - 15 dGH
KH
1 - 7 dKH
TDS
25 - 295 ppm
Conductivité
39 - 461 uS/cm
Description de l'espèce
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Coastal area of Brazil (Guanabara river basin, near Rio de Janeiro). Inhabits slow, shallow rivers of the Atlantic forest, rich in coastal vegetation.
Taxonomy and Morphology: Flame Tetra / Von Rio Tetra (Hyphessobrycon flammeus). Classic tetra with a slightly compressed rhomboidal body. Famous since the dawn of the aquarium hobby for its exceptional resistance.
Social Behavior: Quiet and schooling (gregarious 8-10+). Extremely peaceful, spends its days exploring the mid-level of the tank, with sporadic harmless skirmishes between dominant males.
Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Olive-silver anterior half with two weak dark vertical bars ("epaulets"); brilliant red posterior half and fins (Flame). The male has a black edge on the anal fin, the female has it transparent.
Soins, reproduction et cohabitation
Aquarium Setup: Adapts to everything. Prefers planted 60 cm (24 inch) tanks, with a dark background and medium lighting. Provide hiding places but also open swimming spaces; amber water enhances the fire red.
Diet and Feeding: Undemanding omnivore. Immediately accepts any type of small dry food (flakes). Supplement with brine shrimp or daphnia to intensify the brilliance of the reds.
Water Quality: The "Iron Tetra". Tolerates high hardness (GH up to 15) and temperature variations better than most South Americans, being native to variable coastal areas.
Compatibility and Cohabitation: Perfect for community tanks. Does not nip fins. Coexists optimally with Corydoras, Ancistrus, Apistogramma and other small Characins or Rasboras. Avoid only overly large tankmates.
Aquarium Breeding: Among the easiest (Egg-scatterer). In soft, acidic water, they lay eggs in the morning among fine-leaved plants. Parents cannibalize the brood, must be removed to save the fry.
Risks and Diseases: Risk of hybridization and genetic weakening: today's commercial strains are often pale or deformed due to prolonged intensive breeding over decades.
Origine et répartition géographiques
Coastal area of Brazil (Guanabara river basin, near Rio de Janeiro). Inhabits slow, shallow rivers of the Atlantic forest, rich in coastal vegetation.
Origine
Océans tropicaux et récifsAmérique du Sud hors Amazonie
Profil de poisson
- Tempérament
- Peaceful
- This is a highly peaceful and somewhat shy species that thrives in a calm environment. They are a schooling fish that relies on the presence of conspecifics to feel safe and exhibit their best behavior. When kept in sufficiently large groups, they are active and inquisitive without ever bothering tank mates.
- Régime alimentaire
- Omnivore
- This species is an opportunistic omnivore that will easily accept a wide variety of aquarium foods. A staple diet of high-quality flakes or pellets should be provided daily. For optimal health and coloration, supplement with frozen or live foods such as bloodworms and brine shrimp.
- Espérance de vie
- 3-5 years
- Taille adulte
- 4 cm
- Ratio des sexes
- School
- Maintaining a proper sex ratio is less critical for this species compared to some others, as they are a schooling fish. Keeping them in groups of at least eight to ten individuals ensures natural behavior and reduces stress. Having a mix of males and females can help diffuse any minor squabbles among displaying males.
- Fréquence d'alimentation
- Twice daily
- These active fish benefit from multiple small feedings throughout the day rather than one large meal. Feeding them two to three times daily with amounts they can consume in under two minutes is ideal. This schedule helps prevent bloating and keeps water parameters stable by reducing uneaten food.
- Charge biologique
- Low
- This species produces a very minimal bioload due to its small physical size. It is highly suitable for smaller aquariums or heavily planted setups. However, standard filtration and regular water changes remain essential.
- Courant
- Moderate
- Originating from slow-moving tributaries and forested pools, they prefer gentle to moderate water currents. High flow environments can quickly exhaust these fish and cause them significant stress. A sponge filter or a baffled hang-on-back filter provides the perfect amount of water movement.
- Risque de saut
- No
- Reproduction
- Oviparous
- They are egg scatterers that do not provide any parental care to their offspring after spawning. To encourage breeding, a separate tank with soft, slightly acidic water and fine-leaved plants is required. Once eggs are laid and fertilized, the adult fish must be removed promptly to prevent them from eating the eggs.
- Compatibilité et compagnons
- Peaceful
- This species is exceptionally peaceful and does well in community tanks with other small, non-aggressive fish. They should never be kept with large or boisterous species that might view them as food. Ideal tank mates include small rasboras, Corydoras catfish, and peaceful dwarf cichlids.
- Niveau dans le bac
- Middle
- This species primarily occupies the middle region of the aquarium water column during normal activities. They are active swimmers that appreciate ample open swimming space in the center of the tank. They will frequently dart in and out of plant thickets or hardscape for cover when resting.
Modèles et paramètres scientifiques
FishBase
Fenêtre sur les données scientifiques officielles de l’espèce
FishBase v25.04Données synchronisées le : 15/06/2026
- Niveau trophique
- 2,9 ± 0,32 se
- Résilience
- Élevée (moins de 15 mois)
- Singularité phylogénétique (PD50)
- 0.5
- Relation bayésienne longueur-poids
- a = 0.01202, b = 3.09
- VulnérabilitéVulnérabilité faible (10 / 100)
Galerie d'images
Images sous licence liées à l'espèce ou, lorsqu'elles sont indiquées, au taxon représentatif le plus proche.
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