Rummynose Tetra (Medium)

Scientific Name: Petitella bleheri
Synonym: Hemigrammus bleheri

The Rummynose Tetra is a beautiful South American schooling fish recognized by its brilliant red head, reflective silver body, and distinctive black-and-white striped tail. It is especially well known for its tight, coordinated schooling behavior, with larger groups often swimming together as a synchronized unit across the aquarium.

Rummynose Tetras are peaceful community fish but prefer mature, stable aquariums with warm, soft, slightly acidic water. Their red facial coloration can become noticeably paler when fish are stressed or water conditions deteriorate, while healthy, settled specimens typically develop much stronger red coloration. They should be maintained in a proper school to encourage confidence, natural behavior, and their impressive group display.

Care Level: Moderate
Temperament: Peaceful / Active / Schooling
Purchase Size: Medium
Adult Size: Approximately 2 inches
Minimum Tank Size: 20 gallons recommended
Temperature: 75–81°F
pH: 5.5–7.0
Diet: Omnivore
Recommended Group Size: 8–10 or more

Recommended Setup: A mature, well-established aquarium with plenty of horizontal swimming room is ideal. Provide live plants, driftwood, darker substrate, and areas of subdued lighting while maintaining open space for the school to swim. Stable water quality is particularly important with Rummynose Tetras. Keep them with other peaceful species that thrive under similar warm, soft-water conditions. Feed quality flakes or micro pellets supplemented with appropriately sized frozen or live foods such as brine shrimp and daphnia.

Please Note: Rummynose Tetras naturally vary in size, sex, and coloration. Recently transported or stressed fish may temporarily lose some of their characteristic red facial coloration, which typically strengthens as they settle into appropriate aquarium conditions. Male and female fish are selected at random, and a specific sex or ratio cannot be guaranteed. The fish you receive may not look exactly like the individual pictured.

All livestock from Felipe’s Fish is carefully selected and prepared for safe transport. Please review our shipping and Live Arrival Guarantee policies before ordering.