Rummy nose tetras not swimming around

[Jarrito]

I’ve had 3 rummy nose tetras in a 10 gallon tank for a little over a week and I’ve noticed they stay in the bottom right corner of my tank all the time besides feeding. Is there something wrong or are they just adjusting to the new tank?

 

[Naughts74 146]

They look pale. What are your water test results? Are there any other fish in there?

FWIW, Rummies need a much bigger tank and a bigger shoal.

Petitella rhodostoma (Rummy-nose tetra)

Formerly Hemigrammus rhodostomus. The rummy-nose tetra, Hemigrammus rhodostomus, is a characin from blackwater rivers of the Rio Orinoco and lower Amazon basin in Venezuela and Brazil. This is the 'real' rummy-nose. Most fish sold under the name are the firehead tetra, H. bleheri, and the...

www.seriouslyfish.com

 

[Byron]

Agree. First issue, they are likely still adjusting to a new environment. This is quite a sensitive species, we have had so many threads over the past years about new rummys dying. But having said that, other factors are important too, and one is the space and the number. This is a shoaling species and it needs a lot of them, I would never go below 12. I had 23 in my 70g for years. It is one of the most tightly shoaling tetras, and quite a sight as the larger group swim lengths, they are active. However, you need at minimum a 3-foot/90cm long tank; volume is not important (within reason obviously) but length to swim is important.

 

[Colin_T]

Hi and welcome to the forum

You need more rummynose and less light. Add some floating plants like water sprite (Ceratopteris thalictroides/ cornuta) and increase the number of rummynose.

Put a picture on the back of the tank if you don't already have one.

Don't do water changes for a couple of weeks and keep feeding down to a minimum until they settle in.

 

[Jarrito]

I think the picture is making them a lot more pale than they really are in person and I’ve been watching them for a while without standing right in front of them and they seem to be swimming around a lot more up and down the tank

 

[Jarrito]

I already have a lot of duckweed on top of the tank and was going to get some more in 2 weeks or so since it’s a new tank

 

[Jarrito]

And one of them seems to stay on its own and whenever the other two come by it tries to chase them away/ nip them is it just territorial?

 

[FranciscoB]

The apparent territoriality will disappear by having a larger group. Agree on the benefit of having a shoal of them.

 

[Jarrito]

I will be getting more but don’t think I can get a lot due to the size of the tank

 

[Byron]

I will be getting more but don’t think I can get a lot due to the size of the tank

My advice here is to help you understand and provide for the well-being of your fish. We all started out making mistakes, and we learned.

You need a group of 10-12 absolute minimum, just 3 or 4 or 5 will be seriously stressed. If you tank does not have enough room,then return these to the store and explain why you cannot keep them. There is no beating around the bush here...these fish have a need and it has to be fulfilled or they will not be in good health, and likely aggression to each other and other fish will result.

 

[Jarrito]

What would you recommend I get then if not rummy nose tetras

 

[Beastije]

Really depends on your tank dimension and water parameters, like pH and KH I did post a list of suitable tankmates for a 10 gallon, once you know the parameters, it will be easy to choose

 

[Essjay75 190]

And GH (or hardness). Some fish need soft water, others need hard water and this seems to be more important for small fish suited to a 10 gallon tank. Your water provider's website should have this info, but if you are on a well you can take a sample of tap water to a fish store and ask them to test GH.
Is the tank the standard size for 10 gallons, 20.25 x 10.5 x 12.5 inches?

 

[Jarrito]

Tank dimensions are 12 x 15 x 13
I will test the water and post results

 

[Glenn407]

I love the look of that substrate.