False rummynose tetra

Care at a glance

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.

Related species

• 

  Rummynose tetra

  Petitella bleheri

  2 in (5 cm)20 gal (75 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)

• 

  Ceros Tetra

  Moenkhausia ceros

  2 in (5 cm)16 gal (60 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)

• 

  Lemon tetra

  Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis

  2 in (5 cm)17 gal (65 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)

• 

  Rummy-nose tetra

  Hemigrammus rhodostomus

  2 in (5 cm)20 gal (75 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)

• 

  Cochu's blue tetra

  Boehlkea fredcochui

  2.2 in (5.5 cm)20 gal (75 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)

• 

  Golden Tetra

  Hemigrammus rodwayi

  2.2 in (5.5 cm)20 gal (75 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)