Diamond tetra
Moenkhausia pittieri
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 75–82°F
- 24–28°C
- pH
- 6.0–7.5
- Adult size
- 2.4 in
- 6 cm
- Minimum tank
- 20 gal
- 75 L
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Schooling
- Swim level
- Middle
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Breeding
- Egg scatterer · Hard
- Rarity
- Common
- Family
- Characidae
- Origin
- Venezuela
Overview
The diamond tetra is a schooling fish for the middle of a planted community tank. It is easy to keep.
Did you know
Young diamond tetras look plain and gray, which makes them easy to pass over in the shop. The shimmer only fills in as they mature, and the dull juvenile turns into the showy fish people actually want.
Caring for the diamond tetra
Keep diamond tetras in a school of six or more, in 20 gal (75 L) or larger. A planted tank with subdued lighting and a darker bottom makes their sparkle stand out. Leave open water in the middle for them to swim.
Give them soft water at 75 to 82°F (24 to 28°C) and a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. Feed a varied diet of quality flake or pellets, plus live and frozen foods like bloodworms and brine shrimp.
Diamond tetras are mostly peaceful, active swimmers that get along in a calm community. They are egg scatterers that give no parental care, and breeding them is on the harder side.
Good to know
The diamond tetra is a characin in the family Characidae. Its common name comes from the strong silvery, prismatic shimmer that develops across the scales of mature fish.
In the wild
Diamond tetras come from Venezuela, mainly the Lake Valencia basin. They live in clear lakes and slow rivers with heavy plant growth. The water is soft, slightly acidic to neutral and often lightly tinted.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The diamond tetra is a mostly peaceful, schooling species that keeps to the middle. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.
Neocaridina shrimp
Neocaridina davidi
Freshwater1.6 in (4 cm) · 5 gal (19 L)59–84°F (15–29°C)
Guppy
Poecilia reticulata
FreshwaterBrackish2.4 in (6 cm) · 10 gal (38 L)64–82°F (18–28°C)
Neon tetra
Paracheirodon innesi
Freshwater1.5 in (3.8 cm) · 11 gal (40 L)70–77°F (21–25°C)
Vampire shrimp
Atya gabonensis
Freshwater5.1 in (13 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Sterba's cory
Hoplisoma sterbai
Freshwater2.6 in (6.5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Blue panchax
Aplocheilus panchax
Freshwater3.5 in (9 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a diamond tetra need?
A diamond tetra needs at least 20 gal (75 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a diamond tetra need?
A diamond tetra is comfortable at 75–82°F (24–28°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.
What does a diamond tetra eat?
A diamond tetra eats a varied diet of quality flake or pellets. Add live and frozen foods like bloodworms and brine shrimp.
How big does a diamond tetra get?
An adult diamond tetra reaches about 2.4 in (6 cm).
Does a diamond tetra need a group?
Yes. A diamond tetra is a schooling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.
How does a diamond tetra breed?
Diamond tetras are egg scatterers and give no parental care. Breeding them is on the harder side.
Related species
2.8 in (7 cm)28 gal (105 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Red eye tetra
Moenkhausia sanctaefilomenae
2.8 in (7 cm) · 28 gal (105 L)
2 in (5 cm)18 gal (70 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Glass tetra
Moenkhausia oligolepis
2 in (5 cm) · 18 gal (70 L)
2.4 in (6 cm)20 gal (75 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)Cope's tetra
Moenkhausia copei
2.4 in (6 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)
2.4 in (6 cm)20 gal (75 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)Preto tetra
Moenkhausia pretoensis
2.4 in (6 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)
2.2 in (5.6 cm)20 gal (75 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)Dusky tetra
Moenkhausia phaeonota
2.2 in (5.6 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)
2.6 in (6.5 cm)20 gal (75 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Napo tetra
Moenkhausia naponis
2.6 in (6.5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)