Description
QUICK OVERVIEW:
| Category |
Rating |
| Care Level: |
Moderate |
| Temperament: |
Peaceful |
| Color Form: |
Silver body, red nose, black/white striped caudal fin |
| Lifespan: |
6-8 years |
| Size: |
2-2.5 inches |
| Diet: |
Omnivore |
| Family: |
Characidae |
| Minimum Tank Size: |
20 gallons |
| Tank Set-Up: |
Planted freshwater tank with open swimming space |
| Compatibility: |
Peaceful community aquariums |
The Platinum Rummynose Tetra is a freshwater fish from the Characidae family native to South America.
Three very similar species of fish are known as the rummy nose tetra:
- Hemigrammus rhodostomus (the true rummy nose tetra)
- Hemigrammus bleheri (also known as the brilliant rummy nose tetra or the common rummy nose tetra)
- Petitella georgiae (the false rummy nose tetra).
The three species are native to South America, living in the Amazon River. Each species occupies a different region of the river.
Shoaling fish are popular with beginners, but these are not the easiest to care for. These fish can be quite sensitive to water parameter changes, so you need to be vigilant. They don’t handle mistakes well.
A group of rummy nose tetras works well in a community tank. This species is peaceful and gets along well with many other types of fish, but it won’t do well if kept with boisterous fish that cause it stress.
They can live for 6-8 years in captivity if kept in a healthy environment.
Typical Behavior
These fish naturally gather in large groups, creating some impressive displays. The colors of the fish are more striking and their behaviors more impressive when they swim together.
Platinum Rummynose Tetras tend to swim in the middle levels of the water, but they might stray up or down in order to feed. You might see them hiding among plants if they get stressed by bright lights or pestering fish.
Platinum Rummynose Tetra Tank Mates
You can keep Platinum Rummynose Tetras in groups of 6 or more. The schooling fish coordinate their movements and put on a nice little display.
Other fish can be kept in the same tank with the Rummy Nose Tetra. The only things you need to worry about are keeping aggressive or large fish out of the tank. While a Platinum Rummynose Tetra will not bother other fish, its distinct markings make it a target for other bully fish.
Here are some fish that make great tank mates for the Rummy Nose Tetra:
- Green Neon Tetra
- Pearl Gourami
- Corydoras Catfish
- Hatchetfish
- Yo-Yo Loach
- Cherry Barb
- Dwarf Gourami
- Harlequin Rasbora
Appearance
The Platinum Rummynose Tetra is popular because of its interesting colors and patterns across its body. The body of this fish is mostly silver with a deep red head giving it its name, while the caudal fin stands out just as much as the head with a zebra-like design of black and white horizontal stripes. The body is a torpedo shape with short, clear fins (except the caudal fin). When fully grown, this fish should reach 2.5 inches long.
Food and Diet
It’s easy to feed Platinum Rummynose Tetras. They are omnivores and thrive well on plant-based materials and protein. Generally, the fish will eat small bits of plant debris or algae. But you need to supplement those snacks with a regular balanced diet.
Fish flakes and pellets work just fine. They should contain everything your Rummy Nose Tetra needs to stay healthy.
Giving your fish a treat every once in a while is a nice way to keep them contented. Live or frozen foods such as daphnia, bloodworms and brine shrimp are favorites among most fish, and they provide protein too.
Feed your fish two small meals a day, but don’t overfeed them: you don’t want excess food polluting the water chemistry. Watch how much food your fish are eating so you can adjust the amount accordingly.
Breeding
Platinum Rummynose Tetras are not difficult to breed; you simply must create optimal conditions in your tank to trigger spawning. The first step is ensuring that you have both males and females in the tank. Since it’s difficult to sex the fish, try purchasing multiple specimens and watching them for signs of courtship behavior.
The temperature should be raised to 29 degrees Celcius, which mimics the warmer breeding season in the wild. If successful, the female will swim to a leaf and turn over so that the male can fertilize the eggs.
She’ll then lay large eggs onto the leaf. At this point, remove all of the adult Rummy Nose Tetras; they are notorious for feeding on eggs and should be separated from breeding tanks.
After about 24 hours, the eggs will hatch. The tiny fish fry will survive off of their egg sacs for up to 2 days. Then, they’ll be able to swim around the tank a bit. Provide them with some food that fry can eat. This includes specialized powder solutions, infusoria, or brine shrimp.
