TankBud

False rummynose tetra

Petitella georgiae

Also known as False rummynose, Hemigrammus georgiae, Peruvian Rummynose Tetra

FreshwaterFish

False rummynose tetra (Petitella georgiae)
NasserHalaweh · CC BY-SA 4.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
72–79°F
22–26°C
pH
5.5–7.0
Adult size
2 in
5 cm
Minimum tank
29 gal
110 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Schooling
Swim level
Middle
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Hard
Rarity
Common
Family
Characidae
Origin
Upper Amazon basin (Rio Purus, Rio Negro, Rio Madeira), Peru and Brazil

Overview

Keep them in a group of at least ten, and more is better, in a tank of 110 liters or larger. This is one of the tighter shoaling tetras, and a small group turns nervous and washes out in color. They are peaceful, active middle swimmers that hold a tight school. Water should run soft and acidic to neutral, roughly 22 to 26 C with a pH from 5.5 to 7. They have tiny mouths, so feed small foods like crushed flake, micro pellets, and small frozen items such as daphnia or baby brine. They are poor competitors, so skip boisterous or larger tankmates and keep the lid tight, since they will jump. Do not release any aquarium fish into local waters, and check your local rules before rehoming.

In the wild

False rummynose tetras come from the upper Amazon basin, in soft, acidic blackwater rivers like the Rio Purus, Rio Negro, and Rio Madeira across Peru and Brazil. These are dim, tannin-stained waters with leaf litter and submerged wood. To match that, give them a planted blackwater-style tank with dark substrate, bogwood, leaf litter, and floating plants to soften the light. They need swimming length, so a tank of at least 110 liters works best despite the small body. Keep the water soft and slightly acidic, from 22 to 26 C, with a pH between 5.5 and 7. They show their best red over a dark bottom in lower light.

Good to know

This is a characin in the family Characidae, reaching about 5 cm with the tail, though FishBase lists closer to 3.9 cm standard length. The genus saw a recent reshuffle, and Petitella now takes in the former Hemigrammus rummynose species. The true rummynose, Hemigrammus rhodostomus, and the firehead or Bleher's rummynose are still separate fish. It is an egg scatterer with no parental care.

Did you know

For a long time this fish was sold under the wrong name, mixed in with the true rummynose and Bleher's rummynose, and many tanks of so-called rummynose tetras were actually this species. The red nose and barred tail also work as a health gauge. When the color fades or goes pale, it usually means stress, poor water, or a group that is too small.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

False rummynose tetra is a peaceful, schooling species that keeps to the middle. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does a False rummynose tetra need?

A False rummynose tetra needs at least 29 gal (110 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a False rummynose tetra need?

A False rummynose tetra is comfortable at 72–79°F (22–26°C) with a pH of 5.5–7.0.

How big does a False rummynose tetra get?

An adult False rummynose tetra reaches about 2 in (5 cm).

Does a False rummynose tetra need a group?

Yes. A False rummynose tetra is a schooling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.

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