Rummy Nose Tetra
Hemigrammus rhodostomus
Also known as Red-Nose Tetra
Edited by Ivan F. · Reviewed
Beginner verdict
A tightly schooling tetra with a bright red nose and a striped tail, and one of the best fish for that classic synchronized school look. It is peaceful and active, so give it a long tank, a large group, and companions that will not bully it.
Care at a glance
- Min tank size
- 21 US gal
- Footprint
- 35 in long
- Temperature
- 75–81 °F
- pH
- 5.5–7
- Hardness
- 2–15 dGH
- Swim zone
- Mid-Water
- Min group
- 10 or more
- Lifespan
- 5–6 years
Rummy Nose Tetra tank mates and swim zone
Mid-Water
Spends most of its time in this part of the tank.
Trichogaster chuna
Trichogaster lalius
Trichopodus leerii
Trichopsis pumila
Mikrogeophagus altispinosus
Corydoras aeneus
Paracheirodon innesi
Their temperature ranges barely overlap, so you will have little room for error.
Boraras brigittae
Chili Rasbora is small and shy, and is easily outcompeted for food by Rummy Nose Tetra.
Danio rerio
Their temperature ranges barely overlap, so you will have little room for error.
Danio margaritatus
Celestial Pearl Danio is small and shy, and is easily outcompeted for food by Rummy Nose Tetra.
Tanichthys albonubes
Their temperature ranges do not overlap, so one of them would always be stressed.
Carassius auratus
Goldfish suit cooler water and are not suited to tropical tanks, so Rummy Nose Tetra is a poor match.
Neritina natalensis
Their pH ranges do not overlap, so one of them would always be stressed.
Rummy Nose Tetra feeding and care
How to feed
- Feed small flakes or pellets, because its mouth is fairly small.
- Add frozen daphnia or bloodworm for variety.
- Feed small portions you can see finished within a couple of minutes, because overfeeding fouls the water fast.
Telling males from females
Mature females are noticeably rounder in the body than males.
Rummy Nose Tetra care mistakes to avoid
- Do not buy just one or two. Keep at least 10 fish so they feel secure.
- Choose a long tank. This active swimmer needs length more than height.
- Avoid very boisterous or much larger tank mates, which it cannot compete with.
- Watch the red nose. A pale nose is often an early sign of stress or poor water.
- Check your tank before you buy. Our sourced minimum is 21 US gallons.
Rummy Nose Tetra tank setup
A forgiving setup with room for a small community.
TankAt least 21 US gal (81 L), 90 cm long
The smallest tank our sources give for Rummy Nose Tetra. We list only tanks that hold this volume (allowing 10%, so a standard size counts) and have at least this much floor.
Picks for Spain are still being checked. The options below are for the US, and we have not confirmed that they are sold in Spain.
Aqueon Standard Glass Aquarium 40 Breeder US
Why we chose these (Best 20-Gallon Fish Tank: 20 Long or 29?). Nobody here has used or tested them.
Starter kitA kit with the tank, filter and light in one box
We list only kits whose tank fits Rummy Nose Tetra, up to twice its minimum volume. A kit whose heater has a fixed setting shows only when that setting is inside Rummy Nose Tetra's temperature range.
None of the kits we recommend fits Rummy Nose Tetra yet. See Best Aquarium Starter Kit: What to Look For for what to look for.
FilterHang-on-back or large sponge filter
Easy to maintain and strong enough for a community without blasting the fish.
Seachem Tidal 55 Power Filter US
Marineland Penguin PRO 175 Power Filter US
Eheim LiBERTY 130 Hang-on Filter Spain
Seachem Tidal 35 Power Filter Spain
Why we chose these (Best Filter for a 20 to 29-Gallon Tank). Nobody here has used or tested them.
HeaterKeep it at 75–81 °F (24–27 °C)
Adjustable heater, about 5 W per gallon: 100 W at 20 gallons, about 150 W at 29. Enough power to hold a stable temperature in most homes. Size up for a cold room.
Aqueon Pro Adjustable Heater 100 W US
Aqueon Submersible Glass Heater 100 W US
Eheim Thermocontrol e 100 Heater Spain
Tetra HT 100 Electronic Heater Spain
Why we chose these (Best Heater for a 20 to 29-Gallon Tank). Nobody here has used or tested them.
Water conditionerDechlorinator such as Seachem Prime
Tap water contains chlorine or chloramine that harms fish.
Seachem Prime US
Fritz Complete Water Conditioner US
API Betta Water Conditioner US
sera aquatan Spain
Tetra AquaSafe Spain
Sold at Kiwoko · Sold at Tiendanimal · Sold at zooplus.es · Maker's details
Why we chose these (Best Water Conditioner for Betta Fish). Nobody here has used or tested them.
Test kitLiquid kit such as API Freshwater Master
Tracks ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH while the tank cycles.
API Freshwater Master Test Kit US
API General & Carbonate Hardness Test Kit US
See it at The Shrimp Farm (a retailer; affiliate link) · Sold at Bulk Reef Supply · Maker's details
sera aqua-test box (Cl) Spain
JBL PROAQUATEST COMBISET Plus NH4 Spain
Why we chose these (Best Test Kit for a Freshwater Aquarium). Nobody here has used or tested them.
SubstrateDoes well in a standard planted tank; river sand suits a biotope setup.
We are still choosing products for this.
Hiding places and decorDriftwood, roots and dried leaves suit a biotope; a well planted tank also works.
We are still choosing products for this.
PlantsSafe with live plants
Cycle the tank before adding animals. See our guide on how to cycle a fish tank.
Where to buy Rummy Nose Tetra
We have not found a store that sells Rummy Nose Tetra under its scientific name yet. We add stores as we confirm them.
Live animals and plants travel by courier. Check the store's live-arrival guarantee, and only buy once your tank has cycled (see how to cycle a fish tank).
Some US states restrict certain species. Check our US state aquarium rules table and your state's own rules before you buy.
Rummy Nose Tetra FAQ
What size tank do Rummy Nose Tetras need?
Our sourced minimum is 21 US gallons (81 liters), with a footprint of 90 cm long. A bigger tank is always easier to keep stable.
How many Rummy Nose Tetras should I keep?
Keep at least 10 fish. Bigger groups usually look better and behave more confidently.
What can live with Rummy Nose Tetras?
Good matches on our list include Honey Gourami, Dwarf Gourami and Pearl Gourami. Avoid White Cloud Mountain Minnow and Goldfish.
How long do Rummy Nose Tetras live?
Care guides report about 5–6 years. Stable water and a good diet make the biggest difference.
Why has my rummy nose tetra lost its red nose?
A faded nose usually points to stress. Test your water, check the temperature, and make sure the group is large enough.
Rummy Nose Tetra facts and sources
- Family
- Characidae
- Native to
- Lower Amazon basin, Brazil
- Adult size
- 2 in (5 cm)
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social needs
- Schooling/Shoaling (6+)
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Water flow
- Moderate
- Substrate
- Any
- Live plants
- Yes - Loves Plants
- Shrimp
- Adult Shrimp Only
- Fin nipping
- None
- Vulnerable to nippers
- No
- Breeding
- Difficult in Home Tanks
Sources
- Seriously Fish: Tank size, water ranges and behavior
- FishBase: Cross-check of water ranges and size
Lifespans are approximate and come from aquarium care guides, because these databases rarely publish them.
Where sources differ, we show the Seriously Fish aquarium figures.
Spotted something wrong? Report a parameter correction. For a sick fish, see our veterinary disclaimer.