Rummy-nose tetra
Hemigrammus bleheri
A tight-schooling tetra with a bright red nose and striped tail whose colour fades when water quality slips, making it a living warning light.
Key facts
- Body length
- 2 in without fins
- Minimum tank
- 26 gallons
- Group
- 10+
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Care level
- 3 / 5
- Lifespan
- Not well documented
- Diet
- Micro pellets, flakes, frozen bloodworm and daphnia
- Origin
- Rio Negro and Rio Meta, South America
- Hardier than10%
- Bigger than29%
- Calmer than68%
Water: their range vs yours
Rummy-nose tetra tank mates
- Neon tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Harlequin rasboraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Fancy guppyGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Panda corydorasGets along in shared water.Good mates
- OtocinclusGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Cherry shrimpGets along in shared water.Good mates
- BettaGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Tiger barbGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Amano shrimpGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Black neon tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Black widow tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Blood parrot cichlidGets along in shared water.Good mates
- AngelfishAngelfish can eat young or small Firehead tetra; adults are big enough to be safe.Risky
- Chinese algae eaterChinese algae eater attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Firehead tetra.Risky
- Clown loachClown loach attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Firehead tetra.Risky
- DemasoniDemasoni attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Firehead tetra.Risky
- Golden mbunaGolden mbuna attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Firehead tetra.Risky
- Peacock cichlidMalawi butterfly peacock attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Firehead tetra.Risky
- Blue dolphin cichlidBlue dolphin cichlid can eat Firehead tetra: prey body depth 1.1 cm ≤ mouth 6.3 cm.Avoid
- Convict cichlidConvict cichlid can eat Firehead tetra: prey body depth 1.1 cm ≤ mouth 3.8 cm.Avoid
- Firemouth cichlidFiremouth cichlid can eat Firehead tetra: prey body depth 1.1 cm ≤ mouth 3.0 cm.Avoid
- GoldfishGoldfish can eat Firehead tetra: prey body depth 1.1 cm ≤ mouth 3.0 cm.Avoid
- Iridescent sharkIridescent shark can eat Firehead tetra: prey body depth 1.1 cm ≤ mouth 32.5 cm.Avoid
- Jewel cichlidJewel cichlid can eat Firehead tetra: prey body depth 1.1 cm ≤ mouth 3.8 cm.Avoid
How we check
The numbers the tank model uses for rummy-nose tetras: water as ideal and tolerated ranges, bioload from adult mass, space, flow and how they act on other species.
- Standard length
- 5 cm (SL)
- Adult mass
- 3.17 g
- Bioload at 25 °C
- 2.60 BU
- Min. water
- 81 L net
- Min. footprint
- 90 × 30 cm per group
- Group
- 10+ (best 15)
- Swims in
- middle
- Flow
- low
- Body / fins
- fusiform, normal fins
- Diet type
- omnivore
- Fin nipper
- none
- Sensitive to
- nitrate
Sources: Seriously Fish: Hemigrammus bleheri · FishBase: Hemigrammus bleheri
Care notes
Rummy-nose tetras come from blackwaters of the Rio Negro and Rio Meta. Three very similar species are sold under the same name, with nearly identical needs, and all of them swim in a tight, fast school.
Keep ten or more, ideally fifteen, in a tank at least 3 feet long (about 20 gallons) with soft, acidic water at 73–79°F. If the red head turns pale, test your water first.
Questions
What size tank does a rummy-nose tetra need?
At least 26 gallons (81 litres of water after decor). Adults reach about 2 inches without fins.
How many rummy-nose tetras should be kept together?
Keep at least 10, ideally 15 or more: fewer feel exposed and hide or turn nippy.
What water do rummy-nose tetras need?
73–79 °F, pH 5.5–6 and 2–15 dGH. Rummy-nose tetras come from Rio Negro and Rio Meta, South America.
How long do rummy-nose tetras live?
Not well documented with good care.
What fish can live with rummy-nose tetras?
Good tank mates include Neon tetra, Harlequin rasbora, Fancy guppy, Panda corydoras and Otocinclus. Each is checked both ways for size, fin nipping, temperament, territory and shared water.