Rummy Nose Tetra

About

The rednose tetra (Hemigrammus rhodostomus) is actually the 'true' rummy-nose, though it is frequently outsold and misidentified in the hobby. The fish labeled as such in most stores is usually the firehead tetra, H. bleheri. All three rummy-nose lookalikes share the iconic red head, black-and-white banded tail, and silver body, but you can tell them apart by looking closely: in H. rhodostomus, the red coloration stops at the gill cover rather than bleeding into the body, and there are dark blotches on both the upper and lower caudal peduncle, unlike the false rummy-nose, Petitella georgiae, which lacks the lower blotch. In the wild, this species comes from the lower Amazon and Orinoco basins, where soft, warm, acidic water is the norm. In the aquarium it is a genuinely peaceful fish with no interest in bothering tankmates, but it holds its own best alongside similarly calm South American species. Other small tetras, Corydoras, Apistogramma, and small loricariids are all natural partners. Where this fish really shines is in a proper shoal. Keep at least ten, ideally more. They are among the most tightly grouped schooling tetras available, and a large shoal moving in formation is something worth planning a tank around. Breeding is possible but calls for soft, acidic water and a dedicated setup, placing it comfortably in the intermediate care bracket.