Rummynose Tetra

The Rummy Nose Tetra (Petitella rhodostoma) is renowned for its vibrant scarlet-red face and striking black-and-white checkered tail. These sleek, silver-bodied fish grow up to 5 cm long and are widely considered one of the best schooling fish for community tanks because of their tight, synchronised swimming patterns. Native to the Amazon River basin in South America, they naturally inhabit soft, slightly acidic blackwater environments.

While the standard rule for schooling fish is a group of six, Rummy Nose Tetras are far happier and more confident in groups of 10 to 15. In smaller groups, they can become stressed and may lose their distinct colouration. They thrive in temperatures between 24–28°C and prefer a pH between 5.5–7.0 with soft to moderate water hardness.

Rummy Nose Tetras are peaceful, active, and make excellent tank mates for species such as Discus and Corydoras. They primarily occupy the middle of the water column and are enthusiastic eaters. To keep their colours vivid and their “noses” bright red, provide a varied diet of high-quality flake foods, micro-pellets, and frozen treats like daphnia or brine shrimp.