Flame tetras with shrimp

By the Shrimp Tank Hub editorsUpdated Oct 27, 2026Research-based

The flame tetra, also sold as the von Rio, Rio, red or fire tetra, is Hyphessobrycon flammeus, a small, reddish characin from coastal rivers of Rio de Janeiro state and the upper rio Tietê around São Paulo in southeastern Brazil (Seriously Fish, Maidenhead Aquatics). It lives in small, shallow, slow streams thick with submerged plants. Seriously Fish says it is now uncommon or even extinct across much of its wild range and has been on Brazil's list of threatened fish since 2004, so the fish on sale are commercially bred; Maidenhead Aquatics says most are tank-raised, and lists blonde, albino, platinum and yellow forms. Because it comes from further south than most tetras, it is happy in cooler water. For other cool-tolerant tetras, see Buenos Aires tetras and neon tetras.

Flame tetra at a glance

Will flame tetras eat shrimp?

• Adult shrimp: usually safe. None of our sources tested flame tetras with shrimp. Aquarium Co-Op says to avoid medium to large fish with cherry shrimp, and a very peaceful 1-inch tetra is at the small end. In our reading, full-grown female cherries are too big for them, but small males and freshly molted shrimp are more exposed.
• Shrimplets: expect them to be eaten. Seriously Fish says wild flame tetras feed on small invertebrates and crustaceans, and Neale Monks at Practical Fishkeeping says pretty much any active fish, even one as small as a tetra, views hatchling shrimp as food.
• Eggs and berried females: eggs are safe while carried under the tail.

Dense moss and plants let some babies survive (Aquarium Co-Op), but a group of tetras will thin out each hatch. For similar choices, compare ember tetras with shrimp, ornate tetras with shrimp and rosy tetras with shrimp, or see the full cherry shrimp tank mates list.

Matching the water

Seriously Fish lists 68–79 °F, pH 5.5–7.5 and 1–12 dGH. Maidenhead Aquatics gives a wider 16–28 °C, pH 5.8–7.8 and up to 25 dH, says captive-bred fish adapt to a wide range, and notes the color is stronger in softer, slightly acidic water. The Shrimp Farm lists 65–80 °F, pH 6.8–8.0 and GH 4–8 for cherry-type shrimp. By our comparison, the overlap is about 68–79 °F, pH 6.8–7.5 and GH 4–8, wider than for most tetras because the flame tetra doesn't need warm water. The sources disagree on how cool it can go (68 °F versus 61 °F); we'd keep it above 68 °F. See shrimp tank pH, GH and KH explained and shrimp tank temperature.

Tank size and setup

• Size: Seriously Fish says a base of 24 × 12 in (about 14 US gallons) is the smallest to consider.
• Planted and shady: Seriously Fish says the colors are better with live plants, a dark substrate, wood that makes shady spots, fairly dim light and floating plants. Maidenhead Aquatics also suggests a planted tank with shady areas. Thick moss gives shrimp cover (Aquarium Co-Op). See java moss for shrimp and driftwood and botanicals for shrimp.
• Mature, clean water: Seriously Fish says the species is intolerant of organic pollutants, needs weekly water changes and should never go into a biologically immature tank. See how to cycle a shrimp tank.
• Shrimp-safe intake: a sponge filter or pre-filter keeps shrimplets out of the intake (our suggestion). See shrimp-safe filters.

Group size and behavior

Seriously Fish recommends a mixed-sex group of at least 8 to 10, because males form temporary pecking orders while competing for females and show better color and behavior in a group; Maidenhead Aquatics says at least 6. Males are slimmer, slightly smaller and more intensely colored, with redder anal fins; females are deeper-bodied (Seriously Fish, Maidenhead Aquatics).

Other tankmates

Seriously Fish suggests similar-sized tetras, hatchetfish, pencilfish, small Corydoras and Loricariid catfish, and non-predatory small to medium cichlids. Dwarf cichlids hunt shrimp (Aquarium Co-Op), so in a shrimp tank stick to small catfish and other peaceful small fish. See corydoras with shrimp, otocinclus with shrimp and dwarf pencilfish with shrimp.

Feeding both

Seriously Fish says flame tetras survive on dried food but do best with a varied menu including live and frozen bloodworm, mosquito larvae, Daphnia and Moina. Maidenhead Aquatics lists flake, micropellets and frozen Daphnia and mosquito larvae. Feed the tetras first, then drop sinking shrimp food into a planted corner (our suggestion). See best shrimp food.

How to add flame tetras to a shrimp tank

• Shrimp first. Practical Fishkeeping suggests letting the shrimp colony build up before adding fish; hiding places and well-fed fish reduce losses.
• Consider bigger shrimp. Neale Monks suggests larger shrimp such as Amanos when the fish are likely to eat babies. See Amano shrimp care.
• Acclimate slowly. See how to drip acclimate.
• Watch shrimp numbers for the first few weeks, especially after molts.
• Quarantine the fish separately. Practical Fishkeeping says many fish medications are not safe for invertebrates. If fish get sick, ask a fish veterinarian or an experienced store about treatment that won't harm the shrimp. See how to quarantine and is copper toxic to shrimp.

Common mistakes

• Adding them to a new tank; Seriously Fish says never put them in a biologically immature aquarium.
• Keeping only a few; Seriously Fish suggests 8 to 10.
• Running the tank warm out of habit; this tetra and cherry shrimp both do well in the low to mid 70s °F (our reading).
• Expecting a cherry colony to grow quickly next to a group of tetras.

Track it

Log temperature, pH, GH and TDS on the free Water Parameter Log printable so you can keep the tank in the range both species share.

Frequently asked questions

Will flame tetras eat cherry shrimp?

They will eat shrimplets. Full-grown cherry shrimp are usually too big for a 1-inch tetra in our reading, but small or freshly molted shrimp are at some risk. We rate them a moderate risk.

Is the flame tetra the same as the von Rio tetra?

Yes. Seriously Fish lists von Rio, Rio, red and fire tetra as trade names for Hyphessobrycon flammeus.

How big do flame tetras get?

About 1 to 1.2 inches: 25 mm standard length per Seriously Fish, or 3 cm overall per Maidenhead Aquatics.

What water do flame tetras need?

Seriously Fish lists 68 to 79 °F, pH 5.5 to 7.5 and 1 to 12 dGH; Maidenhead Aquatics gives a wider range. With cherry shrimp, the overlap is about 68 to 79 °F and pH 6.8 to 7.5 in our reading.

How many flame tetras should I keep?

A mixed group of at least 8 to 10 (Seriously Fish); Maidenhead Aquatics says 6 or more.

What size tank do flame tetras need?

A base of at least 24 by 12 inches, about 14 US gallons (Seriously Fish).

Sources: Seriously Fish, Hyphessobrycon flammeus (flame tetra) (Hyphessobrycon flammeus; Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo states, Brazil; also sold as red, fire, Rio and von Rio tetra; commercially bred; uncommon or extinct across much of its range, on Brazil's threatened list since 2004; São Paulo populations possibly introduced; shallow, slow, vegetated streams; 25 mm SL; base 60 × 30 cm, about 54 L, 14 US gal; 20–26 °C, pH 5.5–7.5, 1–12 dGH; plants, dark substrate, shade, dim light, floating plants, leaf litter; intolerant of organic pollutants, weekly water changes, never in an immature tank; omnivore, small invertebrates and crustacea in nature; bloodworm, mosquito larvae, Daphnia, Moina; very peaceful; similar-sized characids, hatchetfish, pencilfish, small catfish, non-predatory small to medium cichlids; mixed group of at least 8–10; males slimmer and more colorful); Maidenhead Aquatics (fishkeeper.co.uk), Flame tetra (coastal rivers of Rio de Janeiro; most in the trade tank-raised; 3 cm; 16–28 °C; pH 5.8–7.8, up to 25 dH; captive-bred fish acclimatize to a wide range; stronger color in softer, slightly acidic water; groups of 6 or more; planted tank with shady areas; blonde, albino, platinum and yellow forms; females fuller, males redder anal fins; flake, micropellets, frozen foods); Practical Fishkeeping, can I safely add some shrimp? (Neale Monks: almost any active fish, even a small tetra, eats hatchling shrimp; larger shrimp such as Amanos); Practical Fishkeeping, What can I keep with shrimp? (let shrimp numbers build first; hiding places; well-fed fish; many medications unsafe for invertebrates); Aquarium Co-Op, Cherry shrimp tank mates (avoid medium to large fish; dwarf cichlids go after shrimp; moss and plants for baby shrimp); The Shrimp Farm, Red rili shrimp tank set-up and care (cherry-type range 65–80 °F, pH 6.8–8.0, GH 4–8). Risk rating, temperature advice and the shared water range are our reading of these sources.