TankBud

Rummynose tetra

Petitella bleheri

Also known as Brilliant rummynose tetra

FreshwaterFish

Rummynose tetra (Petitella bleheri)
Imperial Tropicals · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–81°F
24–27°C
pH
6.0–7.0
Adult size
2 in
5 cm
Minimum tank
20 gal
75 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Schooling
Swim level
Middle
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Egg scatterer · Hard
Rarity
Very common
Family
Characidae
Origin
Rio Negro basin, Brazil

Overview

The rummynose tetra is a peaceful, red-nosed schooling characin for the middle of a community tank. It suits a keeper with a little experience.

Did you know

The rummynose tetra's red nose works as a built-in water tester. When conditions are good the snout glows deep red, but it fades to pale pink when water quality slips or the fish is stressed. If the school's noses dim, check your parameters before anything else.

Caring for the rummynose tetra

Keep rummynose tetras in a tight school of 8 to 10 or more, in a tank of 20 gal (75 L) or larger. A small group gets nervous and loses color. They hold the middle of the tank and swim as one unit.

Driftwood, leaf litter, a dark substrate and dim light bring out the red nose and keep them settled. Give them warm, soft, acidic water at 75 to 81°F (24 to 27°C) and a pH of 6.0 to 7.0. The water must stay stable, so add them only to a mature, well-cycled tank that has been running a while.

Feed small flakes, micro pellets and frozen foods such as daphnia or baby brine shrimp. Rummynose tetras are peaceful, so pair them with other calm, similarly sized fish that suit the same water.

Rummynose tetras are egg scatterers with no parental care. Breeding them is hard, and it takes very soft, acidic blackwater conditions to trigger spawning.

Good to know

The rummynose tetra, Petitella bleheri, is a characin in the family Characidae. It was formerly classified as Hemigrammus bleheri before being moved to Petitella, and it is also sold as the brilliant rummynose tetra. Most fish in the trade are commercially bred.

In the wild

Rummynose tetras come from the Rio Negro basin in Brazil. The water there is soft, acidic blackwater, stained dark with tannins from fallen leaves and driftwood.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The 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 rummynose tetra need?

A rummynose tetra needs at least 20 gal (75 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a rummynose tetra need?

A rummynose tetra is comfortable at 75–81°F (24–27°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.0.

What does a rummynose tetra eat?

A rummynose tetra eats small flakes and micro pellets. Add frozen foods too, such as daphnia or baby brine shrimp.

How big does a rummynose tetra get?

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

Does a rummynose tetra need a group?

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

How does a rummynose tetra breed?

Rummynose tetras scatter their eggs and give them no parental care. Breeding them is hard, since spawning needs very soft, acidic blackwater to set it off.

Related species