Flame Tetra

About

The flame tetra (Hyphessobrycon flammeus) comes from the coastal drainages around Rio de Janeiro, where it inhabits slow-moving, often shaded streams with dark or clear water and plenty of vegetation. In the aquarium hobby it goes by several names, red tetra, Von Rio tetra, fire tetra, and has been commercially bred for so long that wild-caught specimens are essentially unheard of. The fish itself is compact and laterally compressed, with the rear half of the body washed in warm red tones that intensify noticeably in well-kept groups. Two distinct humeral spots sit just behind the gill plate, a useful identification marker that sets it apart from similar Hyphessobrycon relatives. Temperament is reliably peaceful, making it a comfortable fit in most community setups with similarly-sized characins, smaller catfish, or non-aggressive cichlids. Where it gets interesting is social behavior: males establish loose dominance hierarchies and compete for female attention, so a group of eight to ten fish will show far richer coloration and more lively interaction than a handful of individuals. It is an egg-scatterer with no parental care, and breeding is achievable with modest preparation. Several ornamental strains exist, including golden, albino, and diamond variants, though the classic red form remains the most widely available.