
- Flakes/Pellets – when it comes to feeding aquarium rummy nose tetras, this is the best option. This is because such feeds come with all the nutrients they require. ...
- Live/Frozen Food – you can also give live foods to your rummy nose tetra because they are a great source of protein. ...
- Green Vegetables – rummy nose tetras also love eating vegetables. Make sure that you first chop the vegetables into small pieces before feeding it to them.
How to maintain rummy nose tetra aquarium?
To maintain your aquarium water, regardless of the size of your tank, you need to change 10% of the tank water every week. If the tank is densely stocked, you need to do a lot of water changes to remove these pollutants and waste. Here is the summary of how your tank should be to keep Rummy Nose Tetra healthy and safe.
Do rummy nose tetras eat mosquito larvae?
But in some cases, rummy nose tetras will take mosquito larvae, but it is not their first choice when it comes to meals. Another impressive feature with the feeding of rummy nose tetras is that they love feeding in the posterior and central parts of the aquarium, not the parts close to the surface.
What kind of water do you put a tummy nose tetra in?
Tetras are from brackish water where water is soft and in the acidic side. The best range of pH for Rummy Nose Tetra is 6.0 to 8.0 and hardness: 2-15 dGH. To maintain the hardness and pH of the water, always use an air filter in your aquarium and change the 10% of aquarium water once in every week.
What are the different types of rummy nose tetras?
The banded Rummy Nose Tetra ( Hemigrammus rhodostomus ), also known as true Rummy Nose Tetra and Black fined Rummy Nose Tetra ( Petitella Georgia) also known as False Rummy Nose Tetra. All these breeds are native to South American water. However, each species occupies a different region.

How many rummy nose tetras should be kept together?
How many rummy nose tetras should be kept together? You can follow the rule of thumb of one fish per two gallons of water. Using this, a 20-gallon tank can hold 10 tetras. This is the minimum tank size and maximum number of fish.
Are rummy nose tetras sensitive?
They are peaceful fish that are great for community aquariums. They won't offend any of their tank mates, but they can become easily stressed by more boisterous fish. You should avoid large fish with mouths big enough to eat your rummy nose tetras. Stay away from species with an aggressive reputation too.
How often should you feed tetras?
two to three times dailyYou should feed your fish two to three times daily. A few flakes per fish is sufficient. The fish should eat all the food in two minutes or less.
How long do rummy nose tetra live?
5 to 6 yearsLifespan for the rummy-nose tetra in the aquarium is usually 5 to 6 years with careful maintenance. Exceptional specimens can live for more than 8 years. The fish is interesting in that it can act as a "mine canary" in an aquarium, alerting the aquarist to potential pollution problems in an aquarium.
How big can a Rummy Nose Tetras get?
around 2.5 inchesThe average size of the Runny Nose Tetra is around 2.5 inches when fully grown. Some specimen don't even grow past 2 inches. Author Note: This size makes them one of the best fish for small tanks. If that's your thing, you should definitely consider this species!
How long can tetras go without food?
How long then can your school of tetras survive without food? The real answer is probably around 7 to 8 days or roughly around 1 week. Once the fishes have used up their fat reserves, which tetras do not have a lot of because they are constantly moving, they will probably die.
What food should I feed my tetra fish?
Most tetras are omnivorous and will thrive on Aqueon Tropical Flakes, Color Flakes, Tropical Granules and Shrimp Pellets. Frozen and live foods can also be fed as treats or to help induce spawning. For best results, rotate their diet daily and feed only what they can consume in under 2 minutes, once or twice a day.
How do I feed my tetra fish?
0:243:09How to Feed Neon Tetra? – 3 step to feed your Neon Tetra - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIt is advisable to feed them with varying food materials such as flakes blood worms brine shrimp andMoreIt is advisable to feed them with varying food materials such as flakes blood worms brine shrimp and lettuce. This will give them enough options to choose from and make sure to balance out their diet.
Are Rummy Nose Tetras active?
Rummy Nose tetras are a peaceful species that does well in a community tank setup. These fish are happiest in shoals of seven to ten individuals. Also, a school of these active, brightly colored fish really makes your aquarium shine!
Why are Rummy Nose Tetras expert only?
Please note: We guarantee that ALL aquaria species we offer will arrive alive and in good condition. However, because of the increased level of care required for this particular species, it has been designated as "Expert Only." This species is recommended only for the expert aquarist, zoo, or research institution.
Are rummy nose tetra fin nippers?
Yes, rummy nose tetras can be fin nippers, particularly when other long-finned fish are involved. Therefore, it is best to try to not house rummy nose tetras with any fish that have long fins or fins sensitive to damage.
Do Rummy Nose Tetras lose color at night?
Is this normal for overnights with no lights for tetra.....anyone have any thoughts on this? It's perfectly normal for their color to fade when 'sleeping'. +1 to 850R. The colors fade when the fish rests.
What do tetras eat?
They are just cool with frozen, live, or even artificial meals but ensure that whatever you are feeding them with is of the highest level of quality and nutritional value. Just as it is the case with several other tetras, rummy nose tetras love live bloodworms (which are the water-dwelling larvae of a midge). They will also happily eat live Daphnia, which is a family of small planktonic crustaceans.
Where are rummy nose tetras found?
Location and Origin. Rummy nose tetra is found all over the tropics, and the three primary species are called the rummy nose tetras ( Hemmigrammus rhodostomus (frequently referred to as the Firehead Tetra). Others are Hemmigrammusbleheri (also known as the brilliant or common rummy nose tetra) and Petitellageorgiae which is better known as ...
How do you know if a tetra is a rummy nose?
Rummy nose tetras are very sensitive to changes in the environment so as an aquarist if you can be very observant, you will know when there are issues in the aquarium. For example, when the aquarium has excess biological wastes, the red color around the eyes the of rummy nose tetras become high in intensity. Whenever there is an unusual change in any of the regular patterns, as an aquarist, you must not ignore any of them. Ignoring the warning signals will only lead to more significant problems or even a total loss of the fish stock.
How long does it take for a tetra to hatch?
Under temperature conditions maintained at 32 degrees Celsius, rummy nose tetra eggs will take up to four days before they finally hatch. After the hatching, the fry will stay for another two or three days consuming the yolk sac, and after that, they can start swimming on their own. Once you notice this, the next thing to do is to prepare an egg layer meal for the fry. The water should also be changed partially regularly – about one-tenth of the tank volume is recommended for replacement every one or two days.
What is the color of the tetra?
A rummy nose tetra has a unique bullet shape and, on the dorsal side, the body is typically glossy silver, and some have blots of green embedded in their scales. The tail fin has horizontal stripes in white (four) and black (usually three).
What is a rummy nose tetra?
The rummy nose tetra (scientific name: Hemigrammus rhodostomus) is very well-known in fishkeeping circles. This fish species that came from Latin America is a favorite choice for use as an aquarium fish. A typical rummy nose tetra is under the classification of a tropical freshwater fish, and at maturity, it is about five centimeters in length.
Why are rummy nose tetras so difficult to reproduce?
Breeding rummy nose tetras are problematic because: Fertility rates of the fishes depend on placing them in water that has a carefully calibrated level of calcium.
How many pairs of tetras are needed for a rummy nose?
Rummy Nose Tetras are schooling fish that are a bit bigger as compared to other fish in the tetra family. They need to be kept in a group of at least six pairs, and as they are comparatively bigger tetras, they need a larger tank. In this article, we will be discussing everything you need to know about Rummy Nose Tetra.
What is a rummy nose tetra?
Rummy Nose Tetra (Scientific Name: Hemigrammus Bleheri) is a beautiful fish of the Tetra family. The fish has an incredibly unique feature; it has a bright red spot on its head; this the reason Rummy Nose Tetra is also called Fire Tip Tetra.
What temperature should a rummy nose be?
Rummy Nose Tetra does its best when the water temperature is between 72.0 to 82.0° F (22.2 to 27.8° C ). Temperature higher than 82 Degree will increase the metabolism and decrease the life span of the fish. Likewise, when the heat is less than 72-degree, fish will get stressed and opens its door to many diseases like fungus, ich, and many more. So it is necessary to maintain aquarium water temperature.
How much does a rummy nose tetra cost?
A pair of Rummy Nose Tetra Cost Around $2.99 for a pair as you need to keep them in a group of at least 10, you will be spending about $25 to $30.
What is the difference between a rummy nose and a tetra?
However, one thing that separates the sexes of Rummy Nose Tetra is its belly. As female Rummy Nose Tetra carries the eggs during spawning, their belly as a bot rounded as compared to males.
How to tell if a tetra is stressed?
When the fish is stressed, the red marking on its head gets pale significantly; the sign that your fish is having some trouble in your tank. Rummy Nose Tetras are big tetra as compared to other fish in the tetra family. They get up to 1.75-2 inches (5 centimeters) and has a lifespan of about 5 to 6 years in captivity.
Why are rummy noses so popular?
Rummy Nose Tetra are popular because of their striking colors and markings across its body.
What Do Rummy Nose Tetras Eat?
This includes small insects and insect larvae, very small crustaceans, plant debris, and fish eggs as well. When it comes to feeding them in an aquarium, you do want to provide them with a fairly varied diet. Their main source of nourishment should come from high-quality tropical fish flakes, preferably ones made specifically for tetra fish. You can also go for tropical fish pellets, but flakes are best. This should be offset with some occasional treats, such as live, frozen, or freeze-dried daphnia, blood worms, and brine shrimp. Something to keep in mind here is that the freeze-drying process kills parasites, which makes freeze-dried treats much safer than live or regularly frozen treats. You may also provide them with some blanched green veggies. Small pieces of blanched spinach, lettuce, zucchini, and shelled peas all make for decent treats. What is nice is that the rummy nose tetra, as long as it is well fed, should not try to eat your aquarium plants.
What substrate do you need for a rummy nose tetra?
The rummy nose tetra requires a fairly fine substrate. You can go for a darker substrate to make their red faces pop, although the color of the substrate is up to you.
How Long Do Rummy Nose Tetras Live?
The average lifespan of the rummy nose tetra kept in captivity is between 3 to 5 years, with a median lifespan of 4 years. However, on occasion, some have been known to live for up to 7 years, albeit rarely.
How Many Rummy Nose Tetras in a 30 Gallon Tank?
Therefore, a 2.5-inch rummy nose tetra would need 2.5 gallons of water. According to this math, this would mean that you could technically fit up to 12 of these fish into a 30-gallon tank. That said, these fish are active swimmers, and the one gallon per inch rule is a bare minimum. If you want to keep your rummy nose tetras as comfortable as can be, you may want to up that to 1.5 gallons per inch of fish. This would mean that a 30-gallon tank could hold exactly eight rummy nose tetras very comfortably.
What diseases affect rummy nose tetra?
The two most common diseases which affect the rummy nose tetra include ich and dropsy. 1. Ich. Ich is also known as white spot disease, a very common problem in freshwater fish, and it is caused by small protozoans living in the water.
How many gallons of water for a tetra?
Most are going to tell you that a small school of these fish will do fine in a tank of about 20 gallons. In case you did not know, the rule of thumb is that you want a gallon of water for each inch of fish, and seeing as tetra fish are about 2 inches long, you will need 2 gallons for each tetra, at the very least. Therefore, you could fit a school of 10 rummy nose tetras into a 20-gallon tank. However, if you want to provide them with the best life possible, you might want to provide each tetra with 1.5 to 2 gallons of tank space. Therefore, for the best life possible, a 30 to 40-gallon tank for a school of 10 rummy nose tetras would be more than sufficient.
How many species of rummy nose tetra are there?
There are actually three species of the rummy nose tetra, which include the brilliant, the true, and the false rummy nose tetra. These are tropical warm water fish as well as shoaling or schooling fish, ones which should be kept in schools of at least 6 to 10 fish. The rummy nose tetra tends to swim in the middle of the water column along ...
Appearance
One of the noticeable features of the rummy nose tetra is its body. The rummy nose tetra has a torpedo-shaped body. The basal body is silverfish in color and has some specks of greenish tint in it. The furthest tip of their heads usually has iridescent green scales.
Habitat
These are freshwater fish who live in rivers. There are unique features of the rivers that they inhabit. First of all, the water in these rivers is soft. This means that it does not contain any minerals. Another impressive thing is that the water is quite acidic.
Feeding
All rummy nose tetras are omnivores, whether they are in the wild or in tanks (domesticated). Even with that being said, there is still a difference in the food they eat when in those two habitats. Let us take a look.
Water and Tank Requirements
Setting up a tank for rummy nose tetra is quite simple, and the maintenance does not take a lot of work. A 20-gallon tank is an appropriate size for rummy nose tetras.
Compatibility
The rummy nose tetras are among the most peaceful aquatic animals to ever exist. When looking for tank mates, it is good that you go for small fish like:
Breeding
The breeding process is split into two parts; handling the aquarium and reproduction. Let us look at each one of them keenly.
Conclusion
Contrary to popular opinion, taking care of rummy nose tetra is quite simple. All you need is some passion and little effort.
What do tetras eat?
Rummy nose tetras are omnivores. So in the wild, they would eat small bits of plant debris, small insects, larvae, or eggs. Generally, anything that would fit into their mouths.
Where do rummy nose tetras live?
Petitella georgiae (The False Rummy Nose Tetra) All three species are native to South America where they live in the Amazon River (each species occupies a different region). Shoaling fish are often popular with beginners, but these aren’t the easiest examples to care for.
How big of a tank do tetras need?
Rummy nose tetras need at least a 20 gallon tank. Although they are small, they enjoy having plenty of space to shoal and swim.
How long is a tetra?
Their body is a torpedo shape with short, clear fins (except the caudal fin). Once fully grown they should reach 2.5 inches long. There are a few differences between the three species. The most notable is that the common rummy nose tetra is usually a little shorter than the other two, at about 2 inches.
What is a rummy nose tetra?
The rummy nose tetra is a freshwater fish from the Characidae family.
Where is the tetra of a rummy nose found?
The true rummy nose tetra is found closer to the Atlantic coastline. The common rummy nose is found further inland and have a narrow range (the middle portion of Rio Negro in Brazil ). Finally the false rummy nose tetra is also found further inland but has a broader range (living in Brazil and Peru).
How to get a tetra away from other fish?
Pick some plants that will grow into the middle levels of the water. These are the preferred shelter of tetras; they may want to get away from other fish or bright lights when stressed.
Rummy Nose Tetra Overview
The rummy nose tetra belongs to the Characidae family of freshwater fish.
Appearance
These tetras are well-known for their vibrant colours and patterns all over their bodies.
Habitat and Tank Conditions
All three species can be found in the Amazon River in South America in their natural habitat. Despite the fact that they live in different parts of the country, they are all accustomed to comparable situations.
Diet
Tetras with a rummy nose are omnivores. They would eat little bits of plant detritus, small insects, larvae, or eggs in the wild. Anything that will fit into their mouths, in general.
Care
Your tetras will be healthy if you keep your tank in the conditions we specified previously.
Breeding
When breeding a rummy nose tetra, the first issue you’ll face is ensuring that you have a good mix of men and females. Because they’re so tough to sex, it’s usually a case of trial and error. When you buy them, the best option is to have their sex certified by a qualified breeder.
FAQs
They get along nicely with other peaceful fish, and their setup requirements are similar to those of many other fish.
How to tell when to remove a rummy nose tetra?
After spawning has been completed, the female will usually turn very pale in color and hide among leaves and plants . This is how you know that it is time to remove the parents from the breeding tank. You need to remove them because rummy nose tetras are notorious for eating their eggs and the fry that hatch.
How many eggs do rummy nose tetra drop?
The male will bend and turn the female over, effectively fertilizing the eggs. The female rummy nose tetra will then drop the eggs, usually between 5 and 8 fairly large eggs. They will fall down past the breeding mesh or into the breeding moss.
How long does it take for a tetra fry to hatch?
The incubation period for rummy nose tetra fry is about 24 hours. After this, they will hatch, but they won’t swim yet. The rummy nose tetra fry are comparatively larger than other fish fry from the same size fish. They will begin actively swimming around after about 6 days after hatching.
How to tell if a tetra is a female?
One of the other ways to tell if a rummy nose tetra is a female is if her belly starts to get big when she reaches around 8 months to 1 year of age. The big belly means that she has eggs inside of her that are ready to be laid. Rummy nose tetras are egg layers, so the eggs build up inside of the female before she lays them.
How many gallons of water do you need for a tetra?
You need to keep rummy nose tetras in schools of at least 6, and they require a 20-gallon tank. Now, in terms of care, these fish are quite simple and low maintenance. However, breeding the rummy nose tetra is a bit of a different story. We are here right now to talk about how to breed rummy nose tetras.
How long do tetras live?
These fish live all around the Amazon river, they can grow to around 2 inches in length, and live to a maximum of 5 years old.
Can you breed rummy nose tetras?
The first thing that you need to do to get these fish to breed properly is to set up the breeding tank. Yes, you probably have a school of fish in your aquarium, but you probably don’t want to breed with all of these rummy nose tetras.

Species Summary
Appearance
- The most notable part of the Rummy Nose Tetra is its appearance. It’s almost like the fish is comprised of parts from several wildly unique species. When it comes to shape, the fish has a torpedo-like body. It’s a relatively small fish with a slender profile that’s slightly more bulbous towards the head. The base color of the fish is silver. Some specimens also have a subtle transl…
Size
- These aren’t big fish at all. The average size of the Runny Nose Tetra is around 2.5 inches when fully grown.Some specimen don’t even grow past 2 inches. Author Note: This size makes them one of the best fish for small tanks. If that’s your thing, you should definitely consider this species!
Rummy Nose Tetra Care
- Despite their gentle nature, Rummy Nose Tetra care can be a little tricky at times. The difficulty comes with managing water conditions and ensuring that the fish have everything they need to stay healthy. Here are some need-to-know care facts about Rummy Nose Tetras that will make the ownership process a whole lot easier.
Common Possible Diseases
- Failing to keep your aquarium in good condition can lead to a host of issues for your Rummy Nose Tetras. While there aren’t any health conditions unique to this species, your fish could experience any of the common freshwater ailments. Two of the most common to affect Rummy Nose Tetras are Ich and Dropsy. Ich is a relatively common parasitic infection. It manifests itself in time of st…
Behavior & Temperament
- As we mentioned earlier, Rummy Nose Tetras are very passive and gentle (like most types of tetras). They’re not going to cause any issues with other gentle fish. This species loves to swim in groups. Typically, they’ll stick together as they explore the tank. More often than not, these fish will stay in the middle of the water column. The only times they’ll stray from this area is when th…
Rummy Nose Tetra Tank Mates
- The best tank mate for Rummy Nose Tetras is more Rummy Nose Tetras. The shoaling fish do best when they’re in groups of 6 or more.They coordinate their movements and put on a nice little display. Other gentle fish can be kept in the same tank. The only thing you need to worry about is keeping aggressive or large fish out of the tank. While they won’t bother other fish, the distinct m…
Breeding
- Rummy Nose Tetras aren’t hard to breed. However, you do need to achieve optimal conditions in your tank to trigger spawning. Before you do that, there’s the issue of ensuring that you have both males and females in the tank. Because it’s so hard to sex the fish, try to multiple fish in the tank and keep an eye out to see which ones pair off. Then, raise the temperatures to 84 degrees Fahr…
Conclusion
- Rummy Nose Tetra care doesn’t have to be overwhelming. In fact, once you get the hang of it the whole thing becomes very simple! These fish are rewarding to own and bring a unique look that stands out in a crowd. A shoal of these fish swimming around is really a sight to see! We highly recommend giving this species a shot if you’re looking to stray from the most common freshwat…
Location and Origin
Physical Features
- A rummy nose tetra has a unique bullet shape and, on the dorsal side, the body is typically glossy silver, and some have blots of green embedded in their scales. The tail fin has horizontal stripes in white (four) and black (usually three). As for the head, it is typically bright blood red, and the red also covers the eyes. There are no apparent physical differences that can be used to differentiat…
Life Span
- When properly handled, rummy nose tetras can live for as much as six years in an aquarium. Records show that some have even lived for almost a decade.
Feeding
- The rummy nose tetra is not picky when it comes to food. The species love to consume a relatively diverse array of meals alongside live fish meals. They are just cool with frozen, live, or even artificial meals but ensure that whatever you are feeding them with is of the highest level of quality and nutritional value. Just as it is the case with se...
Breeding
- Handling the Aquarium
You need to get a protective net, and the water for breeding should be turbid to some extent. Coarse grains are for the bottom of the aquarium; finer grains are the best. The good thing with the three species of the rummy nose tetra is that their aquariums are handled pretty much the s… - Reproduction
When it comes to reproduction, expect some challenging hurdles with the rummy nose tetras, and this is true even if you are a master aquarist. Breeding rummy nose tetras are problematic because: Fertility rates of the fishes depend on placing them in water that has a carefully calibra…
Care
- Apart from the areas highlighted earlier, the point where one has to be most careful in handling the rummy nose tetra is when their eggs have. Exceptional care has to go into the handling of the fry if they are to mature or even live at all. Be free to call for help from more experienced aquarists at this stage if you are not too sure of the steps to take.
Diseases
- As long as you maintain the standard requirements, you can have your fishes in optimal health conditions. But there are sometimes that even your best efforts may not be enough and before you know it, the rummy nose tetras will be down with one disease or the other. Some of the most prevalent diseases seen with the rummy nose tetras are ich (better known as white spot disease…
Behavior
- Rummy nose tetras are very sensitive to changes in the environment so as an aquarist if you can be very observant, you will know when there are issues in the aquarium. For example, when the aquarium has excess biological wastes, the red color around the eyes the of rummy nose tetras become high in intensity. Whenever there is an unusual change in any of the regular patterns, as …
Aquarium Mates
- As hinted earlier, all species of the rummy nose tetra love warm water, and because of this, the best aquarium mates are those that also prefer the same warm water temperature range. Some fish species that are considered excellent aquarium mates for the rummy nose tetra include: 1. Catfish(not all the species but some specific ones) 2. Barbs 3. Gourami 4. Tetras(other tetras of …