False Rummy Nose Tetra

About

The false rummy nose tetra (Petitella georgiae) is one of three species routinely sold under the "rummy-nose" label in the hobby, and sorting out which one you actually have is half the fun of keeping it. This fish comes from the upper Amazon drainage in Peru, along with stretches of the Purus, Negro, and Madeira river systems. Soft, acidic blackwater territory. It closely resembles its relatives, but a couple of visual clues help: unlike the Hemigrammus rummy-noses, Petitella georgiae lacks the dark blotch on the lower caudal peduncle, and the lateral stripe running from the tail band into the body is noticeably wide and bold. The red on the head is vivid when the fish is healthy, though it tends to be a touch less intense than in Hemigrammus bleheri. In the aquarium this species is thoroughly peaceful and quite active in the midwater, making it a natural fit alongside other small South American tetras, pencilfish, Apistogramma, Corydoras, and small plecos. The key to getting the most from it is numbers. A group of ten or more produces that tight, synchronized schooling behavior that makes rummy-noses so rewarding to watch. It feeds readily on most small prepared and frozen foods. Breeding is possible but demands a dedicated setup with very soft, acidic water and careful attention, so it falls into intermediate territory overall.