Rummynose Tetra
Hemigrammus rhodostomus
Also known as: Firehead tetra, Brilliant rummynose
Quick Facts
- Adult size: 4-5 cm (1.5-2 inches)
- Minimum tank size: 75 litres (20 gallons)
- Lifespan: 5–7 years
- Temperament: peaceful
- Swimming level: middle
- Diet: omnivore
- Minimum group size: 8
- Difficulty: intermediate
Water Parameters
- Temperature: 23–28°C
- pH: 5.5–7
- Hardness (GH): 18–143 ppm (1–8 dGH)
Values above are general hardness (GH). For carbonate hardness (KH), the buffer that keeps pH stable, see the water parameters guide.
Care Summary
Prized for two things: the deep red nose and the precision of its schooling. Three near-identical species are sold under the name, most often Hemigrammus bleheri (the firehead) rather than the true H. rhodostomus, but their care is effectively identical. Rummynose are more demanding than the average community tetra, not through fragility but through sensitivity: they want a mature, stable, soft-water tank and visibly object to ammonia, nitrite, or careless water changes by going pale in the face. That same trait makes them an honest early-warning system for water quality. Best added to an established tank, never a freshly cycled one, and always in numbers. That soft water also means a low carbonate hardness (KH): hard, high-KH water fades the red nose and prevents successful breeding.
Tankmates
One of the most tightly-schooling fish in the hobby: a group of ten or more moves as a single coordinated body, which is the whole point of keeping them. Groups smaller than eight school loosely and lose much of the effect. Peaceful toward everything, and a classic dither fish for german blue rams and angelfish, whose nervous tankmates settle once a calm school is cruising the open water. They need soft, well-oxygenated, scrupulously clean water; the red nose doubles as a health gauge, fading when water quality slips or the fish are stressed.
Compatible with
- Cardinal Tetra
- Neon Tetra
- Harlequin Rasbora
- Bronze Corydoras
- Otocinclus
- German Blue Ram
- Angelfish
- Amano Shrimp
- Bristlenose Pleco
- Discus
- Sterbai Corydoras
- Bleeding Heart Tetra
- Red Phantom Tetra
Avoid keeping with
- Betta
- Tiger Barb
- Fin Nippers
- Large Cichlids
Common Problems
- faded nose colour signalling poor water quality
- stress in groups smaller than 8
- sensitivity to unstable or hard water
- ich
Sources: seriouslyfish.com, fishbase.org · Last updated: 2026-06-20