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Rummy Nose Tetras are egg scatterers. And although they’re not the easiest egg scattering fish to breed in the home aquarium it’s not impossible to do. So, as long as you have both males and females you’re in with a chance of increasing the population.
Because Rummy Nose Tetras are an egg scattering fish it means that the eggs are fertilized externally. As the female is releasing her eggs the male fertilizes them with his milt (semen). The eggs then fall amongst plants, onto tank decorations, or into the substrate. The fertilized eggs then hatch and develop into Rummy Nose Tetra fry (babies).
If they’re happy with the tank conditions Rummy Nose Tetras will breed regularly. Whether the eggs or the fry will survive is a different matter though.
So let’s take a closer look at how Rummy Nose Tetras breed and how best to protect the eggs and fry
How Can I Tell If My Rummy Nose Tetra Is Male Or Female?
The first thing you need to know when it comes to breeding Rummy Nose Tetras is whether you’ve got both males and females in your tank. I know that this sounds like and obvious statement but sexing these Tetras isn’t simple.
Telling the difference between male and female Rummy Nose Tetras isn’t always easy. In fact it can be quite difficult.
However, there a few generally accepted pointers for telling males from females.
- Males are slimmer than the females
- Males are usually a bit smaller than females
- Females have a more rounded belly than males so they have room to carry eggs
The differences between male and female Rummy Nose Tetras can be subtle. Which means that it can be really hard to tell them apart. Although it can become a little easier the longer you keep these fish because you’re more likely to spot the differences between the two over time.
The best solution to getting both sexes at the start is to ask for a mix of both males and females when you buy them. But don’t be surprised if even your Pet Store or Aquatic Dealer get it wrong despite their best efforts. It really is that difficult to determine their sex, particularly when they’re young.
Another way to increase your chances of getting both males and females is to keep them in a decent sized group. Because Rummy Nose Tetras are a shoaling fish they prefer to live in a group of at least 6. The more you keep together the happier they will be and the greater the chance you’ll have of them breeding.
And because they’re a shoaling fish they create a stunning display when kept in larger numbers.
How Will I Know That My Female Rummy Nose Tetra Is Ready To Breed?
When a female Rummy Nose Tetra is ready to breed her belly will swell. So you’re going to notice that she looks fatter than usual. And unless you’ve been overfeeding your tank it’s a good indication that your female Rummy Nose Tetra is in breeding mode.
Her swollen belly is due to the eggs she is carrying ready for their release during mating (spawning). And because Rummy Nose Tetras are egg scatterers the eggs are unfertilized at this point. Which means that you can’t describe the female as being pregnant. Nonetheless, she is ready to reproduce young.
What Does Rummy Nose Tetra Breeding Behaviour Look Like?
Once your female Rummy Nose Tetra is plump with eggs and ready to breed you will notice a change in the behaviour of the males. Although they’re always a lively fish the males will now become super energetic in their efforts to breed with the female.
The males will energetically chase the female(s) until one male and one female become a mating pair. Once the paring has been established the serious business of spawning begins.
Rummy Nose Tetra Spawning Behaviour
Spawning is the time when a female Rummy Nose Tetra releases her eggs so that they can be fertilized by the male. The male encourages the female to release her eggs by his energetic courting behaviour. The female will swim to an area in the tank that is sheltered. The sheltered area can be created by plant leaves or a spawning mop. The female then rolls over onto her back and releases the eggs. As she is releasing the eggs the male fertilizes them with his milt (semen).
Because spawning usually happens at first light, or in the early hours of the morning, it can be difficult to get the chance to see it happening. So unless you’re an ‘early bird’ you might not even know that it’s happened.
Some Rummy Nose Tetra keepers say that the female sometimes loses her colour for a short while after spawning. And she is likely to rest amongst the plants for a time before returning the the main stream of the tank.
What Do Rummy Nose Tetra Eggs Look Like?
Rummy Nose Tetra eggs look like minute pearls and are generally just about a millimetre in diameter. They are visible to the naked eye if you know what to look for. Whether you will be able to see them or not will depend on where the eggs land.
Rummy Nose Tetra eggs can be difficult, if not impossible, to spot amongst the plants and substrate of an aquarium. So don’t be too surprised if the first thing you notice after your they have spawned is the tiny fry swimming around the tank looking for food.
How Many Eggs Do Rummy Nose Tetra Scatter/Lay At A Time?
Rummy Nose Tetras produce about 5-8 eggs at a time during spawning. Whether the eggs will be fertilized successfully will depend on the ability of the male to fertilize each egg as it is released. So you may find that some, or all of the eggs, are not viable.
However, as the saying goes ‘practice makes perfect’. So, even if the first few spawns are unsuccessful, you may find that over time your Rummy Nose Tetras get it right.
How Long Does It Take For Rummy Nose Tetra Eggs To Hatch?
As a general rule, and depending on tank conditions and temperature, it takes about 1-3 days for Rummy Nose Tetra eggs to hatch. When they have hatched these tiny fish are only about 2 millimetres long and are called wigglers. The reason for this name is because that when Rummy Nose Tetra fry hatch they wiggle rather than swim.
During their time as wigglers they feed off their yolk sac. Once their yolk sac is used up, which can be up to 4- 6 days ,they become free-swimming and are then called fry. This is when they set off in their search for food.
When Rummy Nose Tetra Fry are swimming freely in the aquarium they are easier to see. Which means you’ll have a better idea of how many new fish you have in the tank. And also how much extra food you will need to put into the tank.
All food for Rummy Nose Tetra fry needs to be small enough for them to eat. If you would like more information about what to feed your Rummy Nose Tetra fry, and also what to feed the adults, take a look at my article ‘What Do Rummy Nose Tetra Eat?‘
Do Rummy Nose Tetras Eat Their Own Eggs And Fry?
Rummy Nose Tetras do eat their own eggs and fry. In fact a breeding pair will eat the eggs as soon as they are released during spawning. Any eggs that escape being eaten and hatch out into wigglers will also be eaten if they are caught by the adult fish. The same goes for the tiny free-swimming fry too.
So if you want to save as may Rummy Nose Tetra eggs/fry as possible there’s a few tips below that will help you to do that.
Tips For Saving Rummy Nose Tetra Eggs/Fry
- Set Up A Breeding Tank – The best way to save as many eggs and fry as possible is to set up a separate cycled breeding tank. The tank can have a a grid platform at the bottom that allows the eggs to fall through it but won’t let the adults get at the eggs. Fish keepers also use marbles, round pebbles or a spawning mop instead of a grid. Put your breeding pair into the tank and let them spawn. Once all the eggs have been released remove the adult Rummy Nose Tetras and put them back in their original tank. The breeding tank can then be used as a hatchery and nursery until the fry are too big to be eaten.
- Use A Breeder Box – Another way to protect the eggs/fry is to put a breeder box into the main tank. Plastic breeder boxes generally come with a removeable grid platform that let the eggs fall through to the bottom to keep them safe. Once the breeding pair of Rummy Nose Tetras have finished spawning you can put them back into their original tank. The breeder box will then act as a hatchery and a nursery. Although you do need to bear in mind that the fry will outgrow the breeder box far quicker than they would a nursery tank. However, breeder boxes are cheap to buy and can also be used to separate an injured/sick fish. They also come in handy as temporary housing for eggs/fry while a separate tank is being cycled.
- Have Densely Planted Areas – Having densely planted areas in your aquarium will give eggs/wigglers/fry safe places to hide in while they grow. So if you don’t want to set up a breeding/nursery tank, or use a breeder box, plants help to make your main tank as safe as is possible for new arrivals.
- Cover Filter Intakes – Aquarium filter intakes are another danger to Rummy Nose Tetra wigglers/fry. Open gridwork filter intakes and open ended intake tubes can suck in and kill these tiny little fish. So as a precautionary measure it’s best to cover the intakes. How you do this will depend on the type of filter you are running. For example, if you have an open intake filtration tube you can put a pre-filter sponge cover over the end. If you have an internal ‘box type’ filter with a grid inlet you can cover it with a fine mesh (such as ladies tights/pantyhose). If you have a sponge filter run by an air pump you won’t need to do anything because this type of filter is fry-friendly.
If you would like more information about sponge filters read my article ‘What Is An Aquarium Sponge Filter?‘
Other Frequently Asked Questions
How Long Do Rummy Nose Tetra Fry Take To Grow?
Rummy Nose Tetra wigglers/fry take about 6-8 months to reach adult size. They are a slower growing tetra compared to some other tetras but nonetheless they are an attractive easy-care fish.
How Big Do Rummy Nose Tetras Get?
The average length of a full size adult Rummy Nose Tetra is approximately 2-2.5 inches/5.08-6.35 cm. The males are generally a little shorter and more slender than the females but their colouration is the same.
At What Age Do Rummy Nose Tetras Breed?
Rummy Nose Tetras are likely to start breeding between the age of 8 months to 1 year. When they will actually breed though will depend on the individual fish and the tank conditions that they live in.
How Long Do Rummy Nose Tetras Live For?
The lifespan for Rummy Nose Tetras is anywhere between 4-8 years if they have been kept in good tank conditions and fed a healthy diet. However, the average lifespan for these fish, even when well looked after, is generally between 4-6 years in an aquarium.
