There are a wide array of fish species to choose from to add to your community tank. Amongst the many fantastic creatures out there, you will not regret your decision to choose Petitella Georgiae.
It is also called the false rummy nose tetra.
This fish species is one of the most popular tetras amongst the huge fans of the aquascape.
As you look at this fish for the first time, you will agree that it resembles three different fish put together. That seems bizarre, but it is indeed one of the reasons why many aquarists are in love with this little buddy.
If you are an avid tetra fan, you will probably want to tag this fish along in your community tank.
It is a peaceful fish with shoaling characteristics, which is pretty friendly with most of the other tank mates.
To keep this in captivity at home or office, there are some specifics that you need to pay attention to before proceeding.
Keep on reading to find out what you need to prepare to treat and care for this fish well.
Species Overview
| Level of Care | Easy to moderate |
| Temperament | Mostly peaceful |
| Appearance | not as brightly colored, but there is still some red present |
| Life Expectancy | 5 to 8 years |
| Size | 4,5-5 cm |
| Diet | Omnivore |
| Family | Characidae |
| Tank Size | 20 gallons |
| Tank environment | Setup similar to black water conditions |
| Tank Mates | Cardinal Tetra, Electric Blue Ram, Peppered Cory & more. |
The false rummy nose tetra fish have been available from the top reputable breeders in many countries. It is now easier to pick up a group of buddies and put them in your aquarium without any hassle. These are the things to know first before starting to care for and maintain these fish.
Characteristics
The first physical sign that you will see is its bullet shape and dorsal side. The body coloration is mainly glossy silver. There are some green blots on their scales, although each fish could have different characteristics. The tail fin has horizontal stripes in white and black. The white stripes are usually more numerous than the black stripes.
The head coloration is bright red. This color also covers the eyes. When it comes to sex, there are no visible signs that you can read to differentiate males from females. You could take time to observe and see the difference in the shape of the abdomens. The females tend to have a rounded swelling in their abdomens.
Lifespan
The key to its longevity is to mimic the natural habitat of the fish. Moving the petitella georgiae from their original habitat is a bold move. Not all specimens can adapt to the new environment. That’s why the life expectancy in the cavity is usually much shorter than in the wild. The same thing also goes for the other fish species.
In a well-conditioned tank and with a great diet, you can expect your tetras to live as long as six years or more. Some owners report that they can make their tetras live up to a decade or more. However, it was just their claim. We still don’t know whether it is true or not.
Wild Habitat
The false rummy nose tetra inhabits the Amazon and its tributaries. This quiet, calming pool has a small stream running through it.
There are plenty of rocks and sticks beside the stream. Plantlife surrounds the beaches, both on land and underwater.
The river is brown from the amount of decomposing plants.
The false rummy nose tetra is found in the Atlantic Ocean. The brilliant rummy nose tetra is found in the blackwater tributaries of Brazil’s Rio Negro and Colombia’s Rio Vaupes.
The rivers in Brazil and Peru are also home to the false rummy nose tetras.
Size
It will also depend on the diets and lifestyle habits of your false rummy nose tetras. The fish will reach four to 6.5 cm or more. If you keep feeding them great diets and maintain the water parameters routinely, they will likely grow more.
Behavior & Temperament
This species loves huge groups. Keeping them in a small group encourages enthusiasm and relaxation. We suggest a minimum of six specimens, but a larger group would be beautiful.
This species can not be kept in isolation. The tension caused by such a situation may harm your fish’s health.
Also, keep in mind that many species can be influenced by loud noises or other activities outside of their tanks while choosing a location.
Its calm nature makes it a great choice for a social aquarium. To investigate or escape, they like to congregate on the middle levels.
Care & Tank Setup
How many gallons to add? What are the tank mates? How about the setup? You will find all of the important answers here.
Tank Size
You could start setting up your tank with as small as a 10-gallon nano tank. For each 10-gallon tank, you could add around five to six tetras. If you add another group of the same number, do not hesitate to add 10 more gallons to the tank. Consider avoiding overstocking your tank because it will only make all of the fish stressed and anxious.
Décor
You could add the darker sand to the bottom of the tank. Consider focusing on the sandy substrate, not the coarse one. The darker sand can help illuminate the color of your petitella georgiae fish.
These schooling fish like to hide in the shades. Consider adding driftwood and rocks for them to hide and rest. You can also add some live plants which can reach the top of the aquarium.
These will not only make the lighting dimmer but also provide great shelters and shades for all of the fish.
Water Parameters
Keep the temperature warm, between 22 and 29° Celcius.
The hardness level of water should be between 2 and 8 KH. The pH level should be between 5.5 and 6.8.
It is important to keep the water conditions prime for the fish and their mates.
Change at least 10% of the water twice a week to keep the water fresh and clean. Maintaining the water quality regularly will ensure your fish are fit and well all the time.
You could also improve the water quality by adding Indian almond leaves and alder cones. This will help provide shade and make the water great for the fish. Remove the leaves in two weeks and replace them with new ones to maintain the quality of the environment.
Heater
If the water is too cold, you will need to install a heater in your aquarium. Choose an external filter to control nitrate and ammonia levels. Then you could see the water movement as well.
Keep the water soft by using a peat filter.
False Rummy Nose Tetra Tank Mates
Select tank mates who have similar sizes and temperaments, and pick those who are used to the water conditions.
Consider not adding too active species since they could affect your tetras’ emotions.
Your false rummy nose tetras can live with neon tetras. They are easy to care for and maintain. Not to mention that they can live in the same water and tank conditions.
Other pairs that can be great for your petitella georgiae are:
- Other tetras
- Zebra danios
- Mollies
- Celestial pearls
- Loaches
- Shrimps
- Peppered cory
- Snails
- Electric blue rams
Do not add more aggressive fish to the same community tank.
Food & Diet
They are not picky eaters.
You can use various live and frozen meals and they won’t protest. Just make sure to focus on foods that have good nutrients and quality.
Live bloodworms are a favorite. You could also give them live mosquito larvae.
To balance their nutrient intake, you could also give them dried flakes, granules, or fish commercial pellets.
Feed them twice a day. The food will end in two minutes. Get rid of uneaten foods to prevent contamination of the water.
Breeding Guidelines
Setup a breeding tank (approximately 10 gallons) with an external filter system in community aquariums.
It is recommended that you keep your water hardness between 4 and 6 KH. Softening the water is accomplished through peat filtering. The optimal pH range is 6.2 to 6.7.
Java moss, plants, and spawning mops can assist your fish in laying eggs. The eggs and fry are light sensitive. With these specifications, your fish will be able to spawn without any problem.
The female lays her eggs on leaves or the spawning mop, depending on where she is located. Parents should be removed after the male has hatched the eggs.
The fry should hatch in 24–36 hours. After three to six days in their egg sacs, they will be able to swim freely.
Commercial fried food or infusoria can now be prevalent for your fish pets. If you want to use baby brine shrimp or micro worms as they grow, you can do so.
A false rummy nose tetra fry grows more slowly than another tetra fry. Initially, they will be small, with a limited number of food sources. Until they are six months old, keep the fry in a separate breeding tank.
Ensure that you examine the water’s quality before you enter it. Water, stability, and warmth are essential. The water should be replaced every two days by replacing a tenth of it.
