Brilliant Rummy-Nose Tetra (Bleheri)

Geographic Origin and Biotope: Rio Negro and Rio Meta basin in South America. Inhabits the classic "Blackwater" streams and submerged forest lagoons, with hyper-acidic water dyed by tannins and dense riparian vegetation.

Taxonomy and Morphology: Brilliant Rummy-Nose Tetra (Hemigrammus bleheri). Often confused with its cousin H. rhodostomus, it is distinguished because the bright red mask goes beyond the gill operculum extending up to the nape, without ever fading in health.

Social Behavior: The "king of the school" (The Ultimate Schooler). Absolutely one of the fishes with the most compact and choreographic schooling behavior in the aquarium hobby. Swims tirelessly back and forth as a single organism.

Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Blood-red mask on the head (which fades in case of high stress or pollution). Translucent silver/olive body and white tail with very black horizontal stripes. Females are only slightly stockier and more swollen than males.

Aquarium Setup: Long tank (at least 100 cm / 40 inches). They need endless frontal swimming lanes and constant currents. A lateral planting of Echinodorus or vallisneria offers shelter. Peat in the filter helps recreate optimal conditions.

Diet and Feeding: Omnivorous and micro-predator. Accepts tiny protein granules, but goes crazy for live brine shrimp nauplii and frozen bloodworms, essential to light up the red mask.

Water Quality: The "Canary in the coal mine". It is a true bio-indicator: if the red mask suddenly fades to pale pink, nitrates have exploded or there is a serious problem with the filters. Extremely sensitive to ammonia and nitrites.

Compatibility and Tankmates: Ideal tankmate par excellence for warm South American tanks. Perfect with Discus (withstands 28°C / 82°F very well), Ramirezi, Corydoras and various Loricariids. Too fast and restless for Bettas.

Aquarium Reproduction: Very complex. Requires water totally free of salts (KH and GH close to 0) and extreme acidic pH (5.5). They spawn in small groups in the moss (Egg-scatterer) immediately devouring the eggs at the first light of day.

Risks and Diseases: Lethal acclimation stress (Osmotic shock). During introduction into the tank deaths are very frequent if a long drip-acclimation is not performed. If they survive the first week, they become made of steel.