True Rummynose Tetra Care Guide
Hemigrammus bleheri, the firehead or rummynose tetra, is a tight-schooling characin from the Rio Negro and Orinoco basins with a vivid red head.
Overview
Hemigrammus bleheri, the firehead or brilliant rummynose tetra, is a small characin known for an intense red head that extends past the gill plate into the humeral region and a black-and-white banded tail. It schools very tightly in the aquarium.
Taxonomy
- Family: Characidae (FishBase and Wikipedia now place it as Petitella bleheri, order Characiformes)
- Genus: Hemigrammus
- Scientific name: Hemigrammus bleheri
- Common synonyms: firehead tetra, brilliant rummynose, rednose tetra
Habitat
The species occurs in the middle Rio Negro and upper-to-middle Rio Orinoco basins across Brazil, Colombia and Venezuela, in clear and blackwater tributaries within flooded forests; the water is typically tannin-stained and acidic (Wikipedia, Seriously Fish, FishBase).
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 80 L (Seriously Fish suggests a base length of at least 90 cm)
- Temperature: 24-28 °C (Seriously Fish and FishBase report 23-26 °C)
- pH: 5.5-7.0 (FishBase 5.0-6.0)
- GH: 1-8 °dGH (Seriously Fish 2-15 dH)
- Maximum size: about 3.6 cm SL (FishBase); up to 5 cm reported by Seriously Fish
- School size: 10 or more individuals
- Lifespan: 5-7 years
Diet
It is omnivorous; in the Rio Negro its gut contents have included algae, zooplankton, plant matter and detritus. In the aquarium it accepts small dried foods plus live and frozen items sized for its small mouth.
Compatibility
The rummynose is peaceful and forms tight shoals, and should be kept in groups of at least 10. It suits calm community tanks with Cardinal tetras, discus and angelfish; aggressive cichlids should be avoided.
Breeding
It is an egg-scatterer. Seriously Fish reports adhesive eggs that hatch in about 24-36 hours, with fry free-swimming after 3-4 days and requiring infusoria before moving on to microworms or brine shrimp nauplii.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern (assessed 2021).