Rummy Nose Tetra

Hemigrammus rhodostomus

Animalia›Chordata›Actinopterygii›Characidae

📍 Rio Vaupes & Amazon, South America

Named for its distinctive red nose and black-and-white striped tail, the rummy nose tetra is a stunning schooling fish that forms tight, coordinated shoals. It is more sensitive to water quality than the neon tetra and requires soft, warm, acidic conditions to look and behave at its best. The intensity of the red colouration serves as a reliable water quality indicator.

Size2"

Min Tank15g

School8+

peaceful

Zonemid

Care Guide

Diet

Rummy nose tetras are omnivores that thrive on a varied diet of high-quality micro pellets and flake food as staples, supplemented 2-3 times weekly with live or frozen foods such as daphnia and brine shrimp. Feed small amounts once daily, only what they can consume in 2-3 minutes, as overfeeding degrades water quality—a critical concern for this sensitive species.

Behavior

Rummy nose tetras are highly social fish that form tight, coordinated schooling formations, displaying synchronized swimming patterns that are mesmerizing to observe. They are peaceful and active mid-water swimmers that spend most of their time in open areas; they become stressed and lose their distinctive red coloration in inadequate group sizes or poor water conditions. The intensity of their red nose serves as a reliable indicator of water quality and overall health.

Breeding

Breeding rummy nose tetras in captivity is difficult and rarely successful in home aquariums. They require very soft, acidic water (pH 5.0–6.0, 2–4 dGH), warm temperatures (26–28°C), and densely planted spawning tanks with dim lighting; even under ideal conditions, they are egg-scatterers with low fry survival rates due to their tendency to eat their own eggs.

Tank Mates

Neon Tetra

Similar size, water requirements, and peaceful temperament; compatible schooling behavior

excellent

Cardinal Tetra

Identical water parameter needs and peaceful community fish; excellent mid-water companions

excellent

Otocinclus

Peaceful bottom-dweller that shares soft, acidic water preferences; helps maintain tank cleanliness

good

Red Cherry Shrimp

Small, peaceful invertebrate that thrives in soft water; minimal competition for food or space

good

Bolivian Ram

Peaceful dwarf cichlid with overlapping temperature range, but may occasionally nip at tetras during breeding

caution

Common Diseases

Ich (Ichthyophthirius multifiliis)

Symptoms

White spots on body and fins, rapid breathing, lethargy, rubbing against objects

Treatment

Raise temperature gradually to 28–30°C, perform daily 25% water changes, use aquarium salt (1 tsp per 5 gallons) or ich medication; maintain excellent water quality throughout treatment

Fin Rot

Symptoms

Frayed or disintegrating fins, white or black edges on fin margins, lethargy

Treatment

Perform immediate 50% water change, improve water quality and aeration, treat with antibacterial medication if severe; ensure ammonia and nitrite remain at 0 ppm

Neon Tetra Disease (Pleistophora)

Symptoms

Loss of red coloration, white spots along lateral line, curved spine, erratic swimming

Treatment

No cure exists; isolate affected fish immediately to prevent spread, maintain pristine water conditions for remaining fish, euthanize severely affected individuals humanely

Bacterial Infection

Symptoms

Red streaks in fins, swollen body, loss of appetite, pale coloration

Treatment

Perform 50% water change immediately, treat with broad-spectrum antibiotic medication, maintain water temperature at 26–27°C, ensure excellent filtration and zero ammonia/nitrite