Description
Few tetras change as much with age as the diamond tetra. Young, it is a plain silvery fish; fully grown, at about 6 cm, its reflective scales give it a glassy glitter and the males trail fins with violet highlights. It is endemic to Lake Valencia and its surroundings in Venezuela.
The lake is badly degraded by agricultural and industrial pollution, and nearly every fish reaching the aquarium was born on a farm. It is a good community companion, although it is credited with nipping fins when the group is short.
Behavior
Peaceful and sociable, with a reputation for nipping fins if the group is small. With six to eight fish the squabbles stay inside the shoal, where rival males display to each other. Alone, or as a pair, it becomes skittish.
It lives well with livebearers, danios, rasboras, other tetras, corydoras and small loricariids. Its rounded body and size also let it act as a dither fish for calm, medium-sized cichlids.
Avoid housing it with long-finned, slow fish if the group is small. A brightly lit tank almost bare of decoration does not suit it either.
Habitat
Moenkhausia pittieri lives in the shallow, vegetated parts of Lake Valencia, Venezuela's second largest, and in several slow-flowing tributaries.
In the aquarium it does better with plenty of plants, some shade and wood than with strong light and little decoration.
Tetra diamante is a schooling species, which means that in the wild it lives and moves in large, coordinated groups.
Keep at least 6 individuals so they feel comfortable and their stress level stays low.
Details
🌊 Water parameters
🐠 Minimum tank size
Breeding
It lays its eggs among fine-leaved plants or over a mesh through which they fall, out of reach of the parents, who eat them. Males are larger and more slender, with more reflective scales and long fins with a violet sheen; the females' fins are almost clear.
Raising fry takes a separate tank, with soft, acidic water, very little light and a temperature above that of the main tank.
Diet
An omnivore that accepts almost any food.
- Staple: quality flake or granules.
- Supplement: brine shrimp, daphnia or mosquito larvae, live or frozen, several times a week.
Live or frozen food improves the colour of adults.
What about your tank?
Enter your tank's values to see only the compatible species that fit them. Litres apply to fish.
Compatible fish
General guidance based on water parameters, behaviour and known exceptions; always review the individual animals' and aquarium's specific needs.
They share water: pH 5.5–7 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–27 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7 and 24–28 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 7 and 26–28 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–25 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–27 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–27 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–27 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7 and 24–27 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 25–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7 and 24 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 5.5–7 and 27–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–27 °C.
They share water: pH 7 and 24–28 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 6.5–7 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 25–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 26–28 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–27 °C.
They share water: pH 7 and 24–28 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 5.5–7 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–6.5 and 24–27 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 25–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7 and 24 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 5.5–7 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7 and 24–27 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7 and 24–26 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7 and 24–27 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 7 and 24–26 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 5.6–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7 and 26–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 25–28 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–6.5 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7 and 24–27 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7 and 24–27 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7 and 24–27 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7 and 24–27 °C.
They share water: pH 7 and 24–28 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
Compatible invertebrates
General guidance based on water parameters, behaviour and known exceptions; always review the individual animals' and aquarium's specific needs.
They share water: pH 7 and 24–28 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 5.5–6.5 and 24 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 6.5–7 and 24–27 °C.
They share water: pH 7 and 24–25 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 7 and 24–28 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 7 and 24–28 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 7 and 24–28 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 7 and 24–28 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 6.5–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7 and 24–28 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 5.8–6.8 and 24 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 5.8–6.8 and 24 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 6.5–7 and 24–27 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7 and 24–28 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 6.5–7 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7 and 24–28 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 7 and 24–28 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 6.5–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7 and 24–28 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 7 and 24–28 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 7 and 24–28 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 7 and 24–28 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 7 and 24–28 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 7 and 24–28 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 6.5–7 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7 and 24–28 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 7 and 24–28 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 5.5–6.5 and 24 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
Sources
- FishBaseFroese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2026. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication.
- Seriously FishSeriously Fish. Makunaima pittieri. Ficha de especie; consultada 2026-10.
Water: FishBase gives pH 6-7, 5-12 dH and 24-28 °C; Seriously Fish, pH 5.5-7, 5-12 dGH and 24-28 °C. The profile uses the widest range. Size: 6 cm SL in both sources. Seriously Fish already lists it as Makunaima pittieri; the profile keeps Moenkhausia, the name accepted by GBIF.
Litres per fish and minimum tank height and depth: the profile's own judgement. Seriously Fish gives only the tank base and FishBase gives no tank sizes.
Plan your next aquarium
Is this fish right for you? Plan a suitable aquarium before setting it up.