TankStockingRummynose Tetra Tank Mates
Rummynose tetras are peaceful, tightly-schooling tetras — and a living water-quality gauge, their red noses fade when stressed.
They shoal more tightly than almost any other tetra, which makes a big group mesmerising, and they are gentle enough to pair with most peaceful community fish. Because they are larger than neons, they also work as dither fish for angelfish. They want clean, stable, warm water.
Rummynose Tetra key facts
The sourced figures the engine uses to judge Rummynose Tetra pairings.
| Adult size | 5 cm |
|---|---|
| Minimum tank | 20 US gal |
| Minimum group | 6+ (shoal) |
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Temperature range | 24–27°C |
| pH range | 5.5–7 |
| Bioload | Low |
| Swim level | Midwater |
| Beginner-friendly | Yes |
Sources & confidence (11 species)
These back the Rummynose Tetra figures and the recommended tank mates above. Each figure is read from the TankStocking species database (v2026.06); below is the care reference behind it and how confident we are in that data. Confidence reflects the source quality, not whether any pairing is safe. Full source list and the welfare model are on the methodology page.
- Rummynose Tetra Hemigrammus rhodostomus — Seriously Fish (seriouslyfish.com/species/hemigrammus-rhodostomus) high confidence
- Amano Shrimp Caridina multidentata — Aquarium Co-Op amano shrimp care; Aquadiction high confidence
- Bamboo Shrimp (Wood/Fan Shrimp) Atyopsis moluccensis — Aquariadise (aquariadise.com/caresheet-bamboo-shrimp-atyopsis-moluccensis) high confidence
- Black Neon Tetra Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi — Seriously Fish / Aqua-Fish (Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi) high confidence
- Black Phantom Tetra Hyphessobrycon megalopterus — Seriously Fish (Hyphessobrycon megalopterus) high confidence
- Bleeding Heart Tetra Hyphessobrycon erythrostigma — Seriously Fish (Hyphessobrycon erythrostigma) high confidence
- Boesemani Rainbowfish Melanotaenia boesemani — Seriously Fish; Aquarium Co-Op Boesemani guide high confidence
- Bolivian Ram Mikrogeophagus altispinosus — Seriously Fish (seriouslyfish.com/species/mikrogeophagus-altispinosus) high confidence
- Brilliant Rasbora Rasbora einthovenii — Seriously Fish (seriouslyfish.com/species/rasbora-einthovenii) high confidence
- Bronze Corydoras Corydoras aeneus — Seriously Fish (seriouslyfish.com/species/corydoras-aeneus) high confidence
- Cardinal Tetra Paracheirodon axelrodi — Seriously Fish (seriouslyfish.com/species/paracheirodon-axelrodi) high confidence
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Verdict
Top Rummynose Tetra tank mates
A ranked shortlist: the species the engine clears with Rummynose Tetra and that suit its size and temperament best — tap any to load the exact pairing in the planner.
| Species | Adult size | Temp range | Min group | Swim level | Why it works |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amano Shrimp | 5 cm | 18–27°C | 3+ (pair/group) | All levels | Peaceful temperament, similar adult size |
| Bamboo Shrimp (Wood/Fan Shrimp) | 10 cm | 20–27°C | 1 | All levels | Peaceful temperament, similar adult size |
| Black Neon Tetra | 3.5 cm | 23–27°C | 6+ (shoal) | Midwater | Peaceful temperament, similar adult size |
| Black Phantom Tetra | 3.6 cm | 20–28°C | 6+ (shoal) | Midwater | Peaceful temperament, similar adult size |
| Bleeding Heart Tetra | 6 cm | 21–28°C | 8+ (shoal) | Midwater | Peaceful temperament, similar adult size |
| Boesemani Rainbowfish | 10 cm | 24–28°C | 6+ (shoal) | Midwater | Peaceful temperament, similar adult size |
| Bolivian Ram | 8 cm | 24–27°C | 2+ (pair/group) | Bottom | Uses the bottom zone, peaceful temperament, similar adult size |
| Brilliant Rasbora | 9 cm | 22–26°C | 6+ (shoal) | Midwater | Peaceful temperament, similar adult size |
| Bronze Corydoras | 7 cm | 22–26°C | 6+ (shoal) | Bottom | Uses the bottom zone, peaceful temperament, similar adult size |
| Cardinal Tetra | 3 cm | 23–29°C | 6+ (shoal) | Midwater | Peaceful temperament, similar adult size |
Other engine-cleared options (not necessarily ideal)
These clear TankStocking's hard welfare checks with Rummynose Tetra, but are larger, bolder, or otherwise less ideal than the shortlist above — read up before committing.
Anabantoids (Bettas/Gouramis)
Barbs
Cichlids
Oddball
Plecos & Catfish
Rasboras
Possible with care
These can work, but the engine flags something to watch — read the reason before you commit.
- Betta (Siamese Fighting Fish) — Territorial
- Paradise Fish — Aggression
- Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid (Apisto Cacatuoides) — Territorial
- Convict Cichlid — Aggression
- Jewel Cichlid — Aggression
- Kribensis (Rainbow Krib) — Territorial
- Rainbow Shark — Aggression
- Redtail Black Shark — Aggression
Best avoided
A hard welfare check fires for each of these — don't mix them with Rummynose Tetra.
- Chocolate Gourami — Species-only fish
- Kissing Gourami — Predation risk
- Licorice Gourami — Species-only fish
- Snakeskin Gourami — Predation risk
- Bala Shark — Predation risk
- Rosy Barb — Temperature clash
- Tinfoil Barb — Predation risk
- Discus — Temperature clash
- Electric Blue Acara — Predation risk
- Firemouth Cichlid — Predation risk, Territorial
- German Blue Ram — Temperature clash
- Green Severum — Predation risk
- Multifasciatus Shell-Dweller — Territorial, Species-only fish
- Oscar — Predation risk, Aggression
Rummynose Tetra community ideas
Each build is scored by the same engine as the planner — tap one to load it.
Rummynose + angelfish
✓ Good starter plan12× Rummynose Tetra, 1× Freshwater Angelfish
A fast, large-enough school that coexists with an angelfish — a planted-tank showpiece.
Load this build in the planner ↑Rummynose + cory
✓ Good starter plan10× Rummynose Tetra, 8× Bronze Corydoras
A tight mid-water school over a big cory group for a 29-gallon.
Load this build in the planner ↑Common questions
What fish can live with rummynose tetras?
Peaceful community fish of similar or larger size: corydoras, rasboras, dwarf cichlids, peaceful gouramis, and even angelfish (rummynose are too big to be easy prey and fast enough to keep clear).
Why do rummynose tetras lose their red colour?
A faded nose signals stress — poor water quality, a too-small school, or a not-yet-settled tank. A vivid red nose is a good sign your water and stocking are right.
How many rummynose tetras should I keep?
At least eight, and ideally a dozen or more. They are among the tightest-schooling tetras, so a big group is both calmer and far more striking.
More on Rummynose Tetra
Related guides on TankStocking — each scored by the same welfare engine as the planner.
Can Rummynose Tetra live with…?
Compatibility is a planning estimate: individual temperament, tank layout, and group sizes all matter. Cycle the tank, add fish gradually, and watch how they behave. See the methodology or browse the full freshwater fish list.