Edit Petitella georgiae

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Name

Scientific name

Petitella georgiae

Described by

Not recorded

Family

Characidae

Common names

False Rummy-nose

Photograph credits

All 1 credited

Summary

The false rummy-nose, Petitella georgiae, is a small tetra from the Rio Purus in Peru and Brazil and the Rio Negro and Rio Madeira in Brazi…

Size and aquarium

Maximum size

50mm, standard length

Aquarium size

Not recorded

Water

Water conditions

Temperature 22–26°C, pH 5.5–7

Hardness

1–12dGH

Conductivity

Not recorded

Behaviour

Temperament

Peaceful

Community suitability

Not recorded

Where it lives

Countries, regions, rivers and lakes

Brazil, Peru, Negro

Writing

Etymology

Petitella, from the French –ella, a diminutive connoting endearment; in honor of zoologist-anatomist Georges Petit (1892-1973). The species epithet georgiae ho…

Distribution

Native to the Rio Purus in Peru and Brazil, as well as the Rio Negro and Rio Madeira in Brazil.

Habitat

Mainly found in clear water tributaries and small rivers.

Aquarium size

This is a species that should be maintained in groups numbering 10 or preferably more, and its active swimming nature requires a tank length of 36 inches/90 cm…

Maintenance

Prefers dim lighting and will show its colours better over a dark substrate. It looks superb in a heavily planted setup decorated with pieces of bogwood and tw…

Water conditions

Temperature: 22 – 26 °C pH: 5.5 to 7.0 Hardness: 1 to 12°H

Diet

Any food offered must be small enough for its tiny mouth. It will take dried foods, but these should be of a small grade or ground down before being added to t…

Behaviour and compatibility

It's a very peaceful species that won't compete well with boisterous or much larger tankmates. Ideally keep it with other South American species, such as other…

Sexual dimorphism

Mature females are noticeably rounder in the body than males.

Reproduction

Can be quite tricky to breed. You'll need to set up a dedicated tank if you want to raise decent numbers of fry. Something around 18" x 10" x 10" in size is fi…

Can be quite tricky to breed. You'll need to set up a dedicated tank if you want to raise decent numbers of fry. Something around 18" x 10" x 10" in size is fine. This should be very dimly lit and contain clumps of fine-leaved plants such as java moss or spawning mops, to give the fish somewhere to deposit their eggs. Alternatively you could cover the base of the tank with some kind of mesh. This should be of a large enough grade so that the eggs can fall through it, but small enough so that the adults cannot reach them. The water should be soft and acidic in the range pH 5.5-6.5, gH 1-5, with a temperature of around 24 – 26.5 °C75 – 80 °F. Filtering the water through peat is useful, as is the use of RO water. A small air-powered sponge filter bubbling away very gently is all that is needed in terms of filtration.

It can be spawned in a group, with half a dozen specimens of each sex being a good number. Condition these with plenty of small live foods and spawning shouldn't present too many problems. The adults can be removed once eggs are noticed, or in a very heavily planted tank left in situ and fry siphoned from the tank as they're noticed.

In terms of productivity it's best spawned in pairs. Under this technique the fish are conditioned in male and female groups in separate tanks, or via the use of a tank divider. When the females are noticeably full of eggs and the males are displaying their best colours, select the fattest female and best-coloured male and transfer them to the spawning tank in the evening. They should spawn the following morning. If no eggs have appeared after a couple of days remove them and try a different pair.

In either situation the adults will eat the eggs given the chance and should be removed as soon as eggs are noticed. These will hatch in 24-36 hours, with the fry becoming free swimming a 3-4 days later. They should be fed on an infusoria-type food for the first few days, until they're large enough to accept microworm or brine shrimp nauplii. The eggs and fry are light sensitive in the early stages of life and the tank should be kept in darkness if possible.

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Where does this come from?

My own experienceFor example, I've kept twelve in a planted 60 cm tank since March 2024.A website I sawFor example, an IUCN Red List assessment, a museum catalogue or a FishBase page.A paperFor example, Marshall et al. (2011), Water temperature differences in interfluvial palm swamp habitats of Paracheirodon axelrodi and P. simulans.A book, or something not onlineFor example, Tappin (2010), Rainbowfishes: their care and keeping in captivity.Something already on the pageFor example, the Behaviour and compatibility section already says this.

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DOI

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Authors

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Year

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Pages

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Notes

This is one of three species commonly sold under the name "rummy-nose tetra". The commonest of these is the firehead tetra, Hemigrammus bleheri, whilst the "tr…

References

3 on this profile

Name

Scientific name

Described by

Family

Common names

Photograph credits

Summary

Size and aquarium

Maximum size

Aquarium size

Water

Water conditions

Hardness

Conductivity

Behaviour

Temperament

Social needs

Community suitability

Where it lives

Countries, regions, rivers and lakes

Writing

Etymology

Distribution

Habitat

Aquarium size

Maintenance

Water conditions

Diet

Behaviour and compatibility

Sexual dimorphism

Reproduction

Notes

References

References