Ember Tetras are one of the most popular tropical fish in home aquariums. They require an environment with plenty of live plants and hiding places but also need to be fed 2-3 times per day. However, what does the Ember Tetra diet consist of in the wild? And how often should you feed them at home? Let’s find out!
In the wild Ember Tetra eat small invertebrates as well as live plants and vegetables. In captivity, they can be fed frozen bloodworms, brine shrimp, micro worms, beef heart, egg yolk, or daphnia.
What Do Ember Tetra Eat In The Wild? Ember Tetra Diet In The Wild
The Ember Tetra is a small fish that inhabits the streams and rivers of South America. In the wild, they primarily eat small invertebrates such as insects, worms, and crustaceans. They will also consume some live plants and vegetables.
So, What Can You Feed Your Pet Ember Tetras?
In general, Ember Tetras can be fed a variety of different foods including frozen bloodworms, brine shrimp, micro worms, beef heart, egg yolk, or daphnia. If you are looking for more natural food options then try feeding them live plants and vegetables.
Live Food For Ember Tetra
One of the best things about Ember Tetras is that they are willing to eat a variety of live foods. This makes it easy to give them a varied diet that includes both animal and plant-based items. Some good live food options include:
Brine Shrimps – These small shrimp are an excellent source of protein for fish and can be found at most pet stores.
Frozen Bloodworms – Frozen bloodworms make a great staple food for Ember Tetras and can be purchased at most pet stores.
Micro Worms – Micro worms are tiny, white worms that are high in protein and nutrients. They can be ordered online or found at some pet stores.
Beef Heart – Beef heart is a great alternative to live brine shrimp or bloodworms and is readily available at most grocery stores.
Egg Yolk – A raw egg yolk is a great source of protein, vitamins, and minerals for Ember Tetras.
Daphnia – Daphnia are small crustaceans that are an excellent source of nutrients for fish. They can be found online or at some pet stores.
Can You Give Commercial Food To Your Ember Tetra?
Yes, you can give your Ember Tetra commercial food options such as frozen bloodworms, brine shrimp, micro worms, beef heart, egg yolk, or daphnia. However, it’s important to note that these foods should only make up a portion of their diet – they still need live plants and vegetables.
Homemade Food For Your Ember Tetra
You can make your own homemade options for Ember Tetras including:
Blanched Vegetables
Blanching is a process that helps retain the nutrients and flavor of certain foods by boiling them quickly and then shocking them in ice water. This method works well with veggies such as carrots, peas, or green beans which you can then feed to your fish whole or cut into small pieces.
Brine Shrimps
While not an ideal food source themselves, brine shrimp eggs are packed full of high-quality proteins and fatty acids so they can be used as part of a balanced diet plan when fed sparingly (as directed on package). Some good sources include Little Bits, Brine Shrimp Plus, or Hikari Brine Shrimp+.
Frozen Bloodworms
Another good option for homemade foods is frozen bloodworms. These worms can be found in most pet stores and should only make up about 25% of your fish’s diet since they are high in protein. You should also feed these sparingly as too many fat-rich treats will cause bloating which is not healthy for the fish (more on this below).
Micro Worms
You can purchase micro worms online or at some pet stores but it’s important to note that they do require refrigeration so you may need to order ahead of time if you don’t have a supplier nearby. However, once thawed out, they make an excellent food source for fish and can be fed weekly.
Egg Yolk
Raw egg yolks are a great way to add protein, vitamins, and minerals to your Ember Tetra’s diet. Simply break open a raw egg and let the yolk drip into the tank – they will eat it right up.
Daphnia
As mentioned before, daphnia is small crustaceans that are an excellent source of nutrients for fish. They can be found online or at some pet stores.
Can You Overfeed Your Ember Tetra?
It is possible to overfeed your Ember Tetras if you’re not careful. While bloodworms and other high-protein foods are essential in their diet, too many fat-rich treats can cause bloating which is not healthy for the fish. So, it’s important to feed them in moderation and only as much as they will eat in a few minutes.
How Long Can Ember Tetra Live Without Food?
Ember Tetras can live for up to two weeks without food but I don’t recommend it since they need a balanced diet for optimal health.
What Does Ember Tetra Fry Eat?
Ember Tetra fry can eat newly hatched brine shrimp, daphnia, and micro worms. You can also feed them finely ground flake food or a liquid diet specifically for fry.
While Ember Tetra fry (babies) are generally left alone by the adults in a tank, they can eat small foods such as microworms and infusoria when young.
How Much And How Often Should I Feed My Ember Tetra?
Since Ember Tetras are small fish, they don’t need a lot of food. In fact, you should only feed them what they will eat in a few minutes to avoid overfeeding.
As for how often to feed them, you can do so once or twice a day – whatever works best for your schedule and the needs of your fish.
What To Do When You’re Out Of Fish Food?
If you find yourself out of fish food but still have live plants in your tank, you can supplement their diet with blanched vegetables. Simply boil some carrots, peas, or green beans then let them cool before adding them to the tank. They will nibble on them as if they were live food.
FAQ
Do Ember Tetra Eat Live Plants?
Some species of tetra do eat live plants but the Ember Tetra is not one of them. While they may nibble on some leaves from time to time, you don’t have to worry about them destroying your aquarium’s landscaping.
While some people think that Ember Tetras will snack on live plants in their tanks, this is simply not true. In fact, they rarely eat any of your plant life so you don’t have to worry about it being an issue!
Conclusion
The most important thing for feeding Ember tetras is variety. Try offering them different food options each week and remember never to overfeed them or give them too much at one time because it can cause bloating which isn’t healthy for the fish.
In conclusion, while there are many different food options that you can give your Ember Tetras, they still need a balanced diet including both live plants and vegetables as well as high-protein foods like bloodworms and brine shrimp. Feed them in moderation and you’ll have happy, healthy fish for years to come!
But don’t forget – variety is key! You don’t want to give them the same food day in and day out. Mix it up for the best results!