All fish / Characidae

Rummy-nose tetra

Petitella rhodostoma

Also known as rummynose tetra, rummy nose tetra, red-nose tetra, red nose tetra, true rummy nose, hemigrammus rhodostomus, firehead tetra, brilliant rummy nose, ปลาคาดินัลจมูกแดง, ปลารัมมี่โนส, ikan rummy nose, ラミーノーズ・テトラ

A slim silvery tetra with a bright red head and a black and white striped tail. It is popular because a large group swims together in a tight, eye-catching shoal, and the strength of the red on the head is a handy sign of good water quality.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

4.5 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

5.5 to 7

Smallest tank

80 litres

Keep as

Shoal of 10 or more

Diet

Omnivore: quality flakes and micro pellets, plus live or frozen daphnia, bloodworm and brine shrimp

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 8 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Lower Amazon basin in Brazil (Pará) and the Orinoco basin in Venezuela

Breeding

It scatters eggs over fine-leaved plants and gives no parental care, so parents should be removed after spawning. Breeding in captivity is quite difficult and needs very soft, acidic water, and the fry are tiny and need infusoria at first.

Good to know

Bittencourt and colleagues moved it from Hemigrammus to Petitella in 2020, and most fish sold under this name are actually the similar firehead tetra (Petitella bleheri). It is sensitive to poor or unstable water, so add it only to a mature, well-filtered tank.