False Rummynose Tetra (Petitella georgiae) Breeding Guide

Petitella georgiae can be quite tricky to breed; it needs a dark tank with soft, acidic, peat-filtered RO water, and its light-sensitive eggs hatch in 24-36 hours.

Overview

Petitella georgiae, the false rummynose, is found in the Rio Purus, Rio Negro and Rio Madeira of Peru and Brazil, reaching about 5 cm. Seriously Fish notes that it can be quite tricky to breed, and it is an egg-scattering species with no parental care.

Sexing

Mature females are noticeably rounder in the body than males, most obvious when they are conditioned and carrying eggs.

Conditioning

Condition the fish well with plenty of small live foods. Spawning can be attempted in groups of half a dozen per sex or in pairs. General care parameters are 22-26 C, pH 5.5-7.0 and hardness 1-12 dH.

Breeding Setup

Seriously Fish recommends an 18 x 10 x 10 inch tank kept very dimly lit, with fine-leaved plants or spawning mops, or a mesh base that lets eggs fall through but blocks adult access. Spawning water should be pH 5.5-6.5, gH 1-5 at 75-80 F, with peat filtration and RO water recommended.

Spawning Behavior & Trigger

For pair spawning, fish are transferred in the evening and should spawn the following morning. The soft, acidic, peat-filtered conditions act as the trigger.

Egg & Fry Care

Eggs hatch in 24-36 hours and fry become free-swimming 3-4 days later. The eggs and fry are light-sensitive in the early stages, so the tank should be kept in darkness if possible. First food is an infusoria-type food, progressing to microworm or brine shrimp nauplii.