Care Level: Moderate

Temperament: Peaceful

Live Plant Safe: Yes

General Description: The Rummynose Tetra, native to the blackwaters of the lower Amazon basin, gets its name from the brilliant red color across its face. Accompanied with a mirror-like silver body and black patterned tail, the Rummynose tetra makes for a simple yet striking display in the freshwater aquarium. Rummynose tetra absolutely require a minimum of 8 to10 individuals to thrive and shoal, but the more the merrier when it comes to this species. An adult Rummynose tetra can reach a size of approximately 2″. Tank raised or aquacultured Rummynose tetra are somewhat hardier than wild caught specimens.

Diet Requirements: In the wild Rummynose tetra are omnivores. A diet made up of various high quality vegetable based and protein based flake foods, sinking micro pellet foods and bug bites are ideal, in addition to offering frozen foods such as bloodworms, brine shrimp and daphnia. Variety is the spice of life in order to maintain color, immune function and longevity of your fish.

Care Requirements: An extremely established minimum 10 gallon aquarium is ideal for a small group of Rummynose tetra. Size up accordingly to accomodate a larger shoal. A tight fitting lid is highly suggested because some individuals are known to jump. Rummynose tetra are very intolerable of nitrite or ammonia spikes. Weekly water changes are encouraged to keep water parameters pristine (Nitrates < 15 ppm); they will lose color in unfavorable parameters. Given the blackwater environments in which they come from, Rummynose tetra like gentle water flow, soft water, a more acidic pH and tannin-stained water. Tannins can be achieved by the use of driftwood or leaf litter, such as Indian almond leaves. The aquarium should be aquascaped with a fine substrate and moderate to dense vegetation (whether artificial or live, though live plants are preferred). Rummynose tetra are extremely peaceful and rarely conflict with tank mates. Their timid nature, however, may make them not suitable for community aquariums that have overly rambunctious or competitive species. Mix Rummynose tetra with peaceful shoaling tetra, rasbora or barb (such as Pentazona [Desmopuntius pentazona], Checkerboard [Oliotius oligolepis], or Cherry [Puntius titteya]) species to provide them with security. In the wild, Rummynose are observed around non-predatory dwarf cichlids, such as apistogrammas. Rummynose tetra are also a popular shoaling fish for discus aquariums. Recommended water conditions, 76-82° F, KH 2-6, pH 5.5-7.0.

Purchase Size: Medium: 1” to 1-1/4”

Note: Your item may not look identical to the image provided due to variation within species. Purchase sizes are approximate.