Rummy Nose Tetra care guide
Rummy Nose Tetra (Hemigrammus rhodostomus) — minimum tank 75 L, temperature 24-28 °C, pH 5.5-7. Peaceful middle-water species.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
The Rummy-nose Tetra (Hemigrammus rhodostomus) is a slim South American characid recognised by a vivid red head and a tail patterned with bold black and white bands. The species is famed for forming extremely tight, coordinated schools and the intensity of the red colouration is widely used as a visual indicator of water quality.
Taxonomy
- Family: Characidae
- Genus: Hemigrammus
- Scientific name: Hemigrammus rhodostomus
- Common synonyms: Rummynose Tetra
Habitat
Native to the lower Amazon basin in the Brazilian state of Pará, where it inhabits soft, mineral-poor blackwater stretches stained by humic acids from decaying leaf litter. The species occupies mid and lower water layers in shaded forested streams.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 75 L (19.8 US gal)
- Adult size: 4-5 cm
- Temperature: 24-28 °C (75-82 °F)
- pH: 5.5-7
- GH: 2-8 °dGH
- Water flow: moderate
- Lifespan: 5-8 years
- School size: ≥8 individuals
Diet
A micropredator and opportunistic omnivore. In aquaria a varied diet of micro-pellets, crushed flakes and small frozen foods (daphnia, cyclops, baby brine shrimp) maintains colour and condition. Feed twice daily in small portions.
Compatibility
A peaceful mid-water schooling species. Maintain in a group of at least eight to enable natural shoaling. Suitable companions include Cardinal Tetra, peaceful Corydoras, calm Angelfish, Discus and other soft-water community species. Avoid boisterous fin-nipping species such as Tiger Barb.
Breeding
Spawning is challenging in captivity and requires soft, acidic water and stable parameters across the parents' life cycle. Eggs are highly sensitive to bacterial and fungal infection; fry develop slowly and require infusoria for the first weeks before moving to microworms.
Breeding Rummy-Nose Tetra
Overview
Hemigrammus rhodostomus is an egg-scattering characin that offers no parental care. Its breeding difficulty is rated advanced: success depends on consistently soft, acidic water and managing the slow-growing fry. Seriously Fish notes the adults will eat the eggs if they are not removed promptly after spawning.
Sexing
According to Seriously Fish, mature females are noticeably rounder in the body than males, which is the most reliable external difference. Gender identification is otherwise difficult unless a female is obviously gravid.
Conditioning the Breeders
Condition the fish with plenty of small live foods before attempting to spawn them. Reproductive capability depends on the parents having been kept in soft, acidic water throughout their lives; persistently high mineral content can render breeders sterile. Keep conditioning fish under dim lighting for several days before introducing them to the spawning tank.
Breeding Setup
- Separate breeding tank, roughly 18 x 10 x 10 inches, with very dim lighting
- Fine-leaved plants (java moss) or spawning mops, or a mesh base so eggs fall out of reach of the adults
- Soft, acidic water: pH 5.5-6.5, GH 1-5
- Temperature 80-84 F (27-29 C); peat filtration and RO water are beneficial
- Sterilise the breeding tank before use, as the eggs are highly prone to bacterial and fungal infection
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
Either group spawning (about six of each sex) or pair spawning of conditioned, sex-separated fish can be used; pairs are introduced once females are full of eggs. Seriously Fish reports that this species spawns almost exclusively in the evening.
Egg & Fry Care
Remove the adults as soon as eggs are seen. Eggs and early fry are light-sensitive, so keep the tank dark. Seriously Fish gives a hatch time of 24-36 hours, with fry becoming free-swimming 3-4 days later. The rummy-nose tetra is among the slowest-growing characins: fry need infusoria-grade foods for the first weeks before moving on to microworm and brine shrimp nauplii. Maintaining warm water for the early growth period is important for survival.
Common Challenges
The two main obstacles are achieving and holding suitably soft, acidic water and rearing the very slow-growing, light-sensitive fry. Egg fungus is common, so cleanliness in the breeding tank is essential.