Rummy-nose tetra
Hemigrammus rhodostomus
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 75–81°F
- 24–27°C
- pH
- 5.5–7.0
- Adult size
- 2 in
- 5 cm
- Minimum tank
- 20 gal
- 75 L
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Schooling
- Swim level
- Middle
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Breeding
- Egg scatterer · Hard
- Rarity
- Common
- Family
- Characidae
- Origin
- Brazil, Venezuela
Overview
The rummy-nose tetra is one of the tightest schooling fish in the hobby, and a healthy group turns almost as a single unit. It is an easy fish for a peaceful community tank.
Did you know
The rummy-nose tetra's red nose works as a built-in health gauge. It fades fast when water quality slips or the fish is stressed.
Caring for the rummy-nose tetra
Keep rummy-nose tetras in a group of six or more, though larger groups look and behave far better. They are active swimmers that hold the middle of the tank. Give them at least 20 gal (75 L), with plenty of plants, open swimming room and dimmer light.
They are sensitive to water quality, so add them only to a mature, well-filtered tank. Keep them in soft, acidic to neutral water at 75 to 81°F (24 to 27°C) and a pH of 5.5 to 7.0.
Feed quality flake and micro-pellets, with occasional live or frozen foods such as brine shrimp and bloodworms. Rummy-nose tetras stay peaceful with other calm species.
They are egg scatterers with no parental care, and the eggs hatch in roughly a day to a day and a half. Breeding them is hard and needs very soft, acidic water.
Good to know
Hemigrammus rhodostomus is a characin in the family Characidae, known for its bright red nose and bold black-and-white striped tail. The IUCN lists it as Least Concern.
In the wild
Rummy-nose tetras come from the Amazon and Orinoco basins in Brazil and Venezuela. They live in soft, slightly acidic water over fine sand and leaf litter, shaded by rainforest and often stained with tannins.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The rummy-nose 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.
Neocaridina shrimp
Neocaridina davidi
Freshwater1.6 in (4 cm) · 5 gal (19 L)59–84°F (15–29°C)
Guppy
Poecilia reticulata
FreshwaterBrackish2.4 in (6 cm) · 10 gal (38 L)64–82°F (18–28°C)
Neon tetra
Paracheirodon innesi
Freshwater1.5 in (3.8 cm) · 11 gal (40 L)70–77°F (21–25°C)
Marble wood shrimp
Atya scabra
Freshwater3.9 in (10 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Adolfo's cory
Hoplisoma adolfoi
Freshwater2.4 in (6 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)70–79°F (21–26°C)
Blue panchax
Aplocheilus panchax
Freshwater3.5 in (9 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a rummy-nose tetra need?
A rummy-nose tetra needs at least 20 gal (75 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a rummy-nose tetra need?
A rummy-nose tetra is comfortable at 75–81°F (24–27°C) with a pH of 5.5–7.0.
What does a rummy-nose tetra eat?
A rummy-nose tetra eats quality flake and micro-pellets. Give it occasional live or frozen foods as well, such as brine shrimp and bloodworms.
How big does a rummy-nose tetra get?
An adult rummy-nose tetra reaches about 2 in (5 cm).
Does a rummy-nose tetra need a group?
Yes. A rummy-nose tetra is a schooling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.
How does a rummy-nose tetra breed?
Rummy-nose tetras are egg scatterers and give no parental care. Their eggs hatch in roughly a day to a day and a half. Breeding them is hard and needs very soft, acidic water.
Related species
2 in (5 cm)20 gal (75 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)Collett's tetra
Hemigrammus collettii
2 in (5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)
2 in (5 cm)20 gal (75 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)Red flush tetra
Hemigrammus stictus
2 in (5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)
2.2 in (5.5 cm)20 gal (75 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Golden tetra
Hemigrammus rodwayi
2.2 in (5.5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)
1.8 in (4.5 cm)20 gal (75 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)Garnet tetra
Hemigrammus pulcher
1.8 in (4.5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)
1.8 in (4.5 cm)17 gal (65 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Head-and-taillight tetra
Hemigrammus ocellifer
1.8 in (4.5 cm) · 17 gal (65 L)
1.7 in (4.4 cm)20 gal (75 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Ulrey's tetra
Hemigrammus ulreyi
1.7 in (4.4 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)