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Diamond tetra, photographed on a transparent background

FreshwaterIn the market130 coinsUncommon

Diamond tetra

Moenkhausia pittieri

Its scales shift color with the light; in numbers it turns slow and showy.

The Diamond tetra (Moenkhausia pittieri) is a tropical freshwater fish of the family Acestrorhamphidae. It swims in midwater, close to the bottom. Adults grow to about 6 cm. The IUCN Red List rates it Endangered. In the aquarium it needs a tank at least 75 cm long and water at 23–28 °C.

Size
6 cm
Smallest tank
75 cm
Temperature
23–28 °C
Care
Easy

In the aquarium

Temperature23–28 °C
pH5.5–7.5
Hardness1–12 °dGH
Temperament
Semi-aggressive
Diet
Omnivore
Activity
Moderate
Water layer
Mid water
Group
Happiest in a group of 8 or more
Plants
Plant safe
Drawn to scale in a 75 cm tank

These values are compiled from real species data, and the LumaReef simulation is built to keep them true to life.

Which tank it fits

  • Nano60 cm · 65 litresToo small
  • Standard90 cm · 180 litres36 of them
  • Wide120 cm · 300 litres60 of them
  • Living room180 cm · 650 litres130 of them
  • Showcase250 cm · 1,200 litres240 of them
  • Gallery300 cm · 1,440 litres288 of them

Who it lives with

In the wild

Water type
Freshwater
Climate zone
Tropical
Habitat
Midwater, close to the bottom
Aquarium trade
Traded commercially

Conservation status

Classification

  1. OrderCharaciformes
  2. FamilyAcestrorhamphidae
  3. GenusMoenkhausia
  4. SpeciesMoenkhausia pittieri
  5. Described byEigenmann, 1920

In other languages

German
Brillantsalmler
Dutch
Briljantzalm
Russian
Бриллиантовая мюнхаузия

Quick answers

Diamond tetra size: how big does it get?
Adults reach about 6 cm. Record sizes among the 4 Moenkhausia species on LumaReef: 5 cm (Ceros Tetra) to 10 cm (Glass Tetra).
Diamond tetra tank size: what is the minimum?
A tank at least 75 cm long. In LumaReef that is the Standard tank or larger.
Diamond tetra water parameters: what does it need?
Temperature 23–28 °C, pH 5.5–7.5, hardness 1–12 °dGH. Close to what most Moenkhausia on LumaReef need (24–26 °C).
Diamond tetra tank mates: what can it live with?
It gets along with 64 of the 99 freshwater species in the catalogue, such as Silver hatchetfish, Pearl danio, and Bronze corydoras.
Diamond tetra: alone or in a group?
Keep at least 8 together.
Diamond tetra and plants: is it plant safe?
Yes, it leaves plants alone.
Diamond tetra: is it endangered?
The IUCN Red List rates it Endangered. Threatened among the 4 assessed Moenkhausia species on LumaReef: 1.

All Acestrorhamphidae speciesAll species A–Z

Sources

Diamond tetra: compiled from these references.