A number of different types of tetra have been popular options within the fish keeping community for decades now but historically, the neon tetra, ember tetra, and cardinal tetra have usually been the most common options.
Over the last couple of months, the rummy nose tetra has seen a spike in their popularity due to their low price, unique look, and many fish keeping influencers recommending them.
This has caused a number of people to reach out and ask if rummy nose tetras are hardy or not as they consider adding the fish to their own tanks.
After seeing so many people asking about how hardy rummy nose tetras are, we decided that we wanted to publish our own article on the topic going over the main things that we feel you should be trying to factor in.
We wanted to do this as we have seen many people give a blanket yes or no answer when in actual fact, you have to look at the tank setup that you will be keeping your rummy nose tetra in as different factors can affect the fish in different ways.
What Is A Rummy Nose Tetra?
The rummy nose tetra ( scientific name: Hemigrammus rhodostomus) is a freshwater fish that is part of the Characidae family.
They are found in South America and their natural habitat includes creeks, small rivers, and floodplains.
Rummy nose tetras are a peaceful community fish that are popular in community, planted, and nano tanks.
They grow to a maximum length of around 2.5 cm ( 1 inch) and have a lifespan of 5-8 years with the proper care.
Rummy nose tetras are one of the few freshwater fish that are known for their bright red coloration on their face and nose area as well as their black tail.
While their coloration is one of the main reasons that people are drawn to them, we have found that they are an active and fun fish to watch in a tank as well.
Are Rummy Nose Tetras Hardy?
As we mentioned above, there is no simple yes or no answer to this question as it really depends on the environment and setup that you are keeping your rummy nose tetras in.
With that being said, we have found that rummy nose tetras are pretty hardy fish overall and as long as you provide them with a good quality tank setup, they should do well.
One of the big things that you need to be aware of is that rummy nose tetras come from soft water in the wild so if you have hard water, it is important to take steps to soften it.
You can do this by using a water conditioner or by adding driftwood to your tank as it will help lower the pH levels and make the water softer.
Another thing that you need to be aware of is that rummy nose tetras like to school so it is important to keep them in groups of at least 6-10 fish.
If you don’t do this, they can become stressed which can lead to a number of different health issues.
Rummy nose tetras are also sensitive to changes in their environment so it is important to make sure that you do not make too many changes to your tank at once as it can cause them to become stressed.
One of the best things that you can do for your rummy nose tetra is to provide them with a well-planted tank as they love to hide among the plants.
Not only does this provide them with a place to feel safe but it also helps reduce the stress levels in the tank overall.
Do Rummy Nose Tetras Do Well With Poor Water Parameters?
One thing that beginners usually have problems with is maintaining steady and consistent water parameters but outside of water hardness, rummy nose tetras do tend to usually do well with slight variations in their water parameters.
In our opinion, they tend to handle the effects of the ammonia cycle much easier than most other types of tetra too.
That said, you should still try to do a partial water change of between 15% and 20% of your tank’s water at least once per week if possible or once every two weeks to reduce the chances of issues with the fish.
Still, if you are a beginner to the fish keeping hobby and are worried about you being able to maintain steady water parameters, the rummy nose tetra can be the perfect fish for you!
Do Rummy Nose Tetras Do Well With Water Temperature Fluctuations?
Rummy nose tetras are hardy when it comes to their water temperature and slight fluctuations in it but ideally, you should be doing everything you can to keep the water temperature within their 72-84°F (22-29°C) range.
Your rummy nose tetras will usually be fine with fluctuation within this bracket that offers a span of 12°F so the vast majority of people should be able to keep their water temperature within their range.
That said, even if you do accidentally let your tank’s water parameters drop out of this range, your rummy nose tetras should be fine in most situations provided you get the water temperature back in range quickly.
If you are using an entry level tank that has a questionable heater then this can work to your advantage until you are able to upgrade to a better heating using.
Can Rummy Nose Tetras Deal With Stress Well?
Stress is something that can be a big killer of fish if you are not careful and rummy nose tetras are no different.
While they are pretty hardy fish, if you do not take steps to reduce the stress levels in your tank, it can lead to a number of problems such as disease and even death.
One of the best things that you can do to reduce stress in your rummy nose tetra is to provide them with a well-planted tank.
Not only does this provide them with a place to feel safe but it also helps reduce the overall stress levels in the tank.
Another thing that you can do is to try and make as few changes to your tank as possible as they are sensitive to changes in their environment.
If you do need to make a change, try and do it slowly so that the fish can get used to the new conditions over time.
You should also avoid putting them in with fish that are much larger than them or that are known to be aggressive as this can also lead to stress.
Can You Keep One Rummy Nose Tetra In Your Tank?
The schooling size of your rummy nose tetras is one thing that you really can’t deviate from as the species really do need between six and ten rummy nose tetras in their tank to school with and feel safe.
Anything outside of this range will usually cause issues due to there not being enough rummy nose tetras to school correctly or so many that they end up fishing each other.
If you are looking to keep the rummy nose tetra in your tank then you really do need to be going with at least six rummy nose tetras total from the start so plan your tank size as required!
