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Encyclopedia / Tetras / Brilliant rummynose tetra
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Variations

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Brilliant rummynose tetra

Petitella bleheri · Hemigrammus bleheri, Brilliant rummy, Firehead tetra, Bleher's rummynose

Peaceful school fish that swims tightly.

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5 cmBody length, without tail ✓
23–26 °CTemperature ✓
5.5–7pH ✓
81 LSmallest tank ✓
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Tank mates
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Not recommended
  • Tinfoil barb eats animals up to about 5 cm. Brilliant rummynose tetra only grows to 5 cm.
Not recommended
  • White cloud mountain minnow needs cool water and makes a lot of waste, while Brilliant rummynose tetra is tropical.
  • They need different temperatures (23–26 °C vs 14–22 °C). No setting suits both.
Not recommended
  • Giant gourami eats animals up to about 10 cm. Brilliant rummynose tetra only grows to 5 cm.
With conditions
  • Only a narrow temperature range suits both: 23–24 °C.
With conditions
  • Only a narrow temperature range suits both: 23–24 °C.
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible

305 species in our list are a good match.

Facts checked against sources on 16 Oct 2026. ✓ means a source backs it; ? means no reliable source yet. See sources

Care and water

Hardness ✓2–15 dGH
Group size ✓10 or more
Temperament ✓Peaceful
Swims at ?Middle
Care level ✓Easy
Diet Omnivore
Lifespan ?Unknown
Size in shops 2.5–3.5 cm
Growth Medium

Behavior

Peaceful school fish that swims tightly.

Food

Micro-pellets and small frozen foods.

Tap a food to see what it is.

Male or female

Mature females are noticeably rounder in the body than males.

Health

Common problems. Tap one to see the signs. This is a guide, not a diagnosis.

Breeding

Egg-scatterer · Hard

Egg scatterer laying adhesive eggs among fine-leaved plants or through mesh in a dim tank with acidic water; adults eat the eggs and should be removed.

Pairing

Buy a group of 8-10 and let them pair up; condition for two weeks on live and frozen foods.

Setup

15-20 L bare tank with very soft, acidic water (pH 5.5-6.5), spawning mops or java moss, a sponge filter and low light.

What starts it

Soft acidic water, a slightly cooler water change and dim light with gentle morning sun.

Eggs

100-250 eggs

Raising the fry

Feed infusoria or green water for days 1-3, then newly hatched brine shrimp and microworms. Keep light low early on; grow out in a larger tank.

Common mistakes
  • Using hard tap water
  • Keeping the tank bright
  • Leaving adults with the eggs
Full breeding guide, day-by-day plan and simulator →

Where it lives in the wild

RegionSouth America – Rio Negro and Orinoco basins (Brazil, Colombia & Venezuela)
Rivers and lakesRio Negro and Río Meta
HabitatSoft blackwater streams
Native rangeAbout 800 km across
See it on the world map

The story of the brilliant rummynose tetra

The fish most often sold as 'rummy-nose tetra'. Of the three look-alikes it is the only one whose red extends beyond the gill covers, and the red fades when the fish is in poor condition. Named after its discoverer, Heiko Bleher; moved from Hemigrammus to Petitella in 2020.

Jacques Géry and Volker Mahnert described this fish in 1986, naming it after explorer Heiko Bleher. It was separated from the classic rummynose tetra. Its bright red head and black-and-white tail make it a favourite schooling fish.

First described by Jacques Géry & Volker Mahnert in 1986. Named for Named after German fish explorer Heiko Bleher.

  • Its red head colour fades when the fish is stressed.
  • It was named after explorer Heiko Bleher.
  • It is one of the tightest-schooling tetras.

Sources

15 facts checked with sources