Diamond Tetra - Moenkhausia pittieri

Diamond Tetra (Moenkhausia pittieri)

The Diamond Tetra, Moenkhausia pittieri, is a peaceful South American tetra admired for its sparkling, diamond-like scales, soft silver body and elegant extended fins in mature fish. Also known as Pittier’s Tetra or the Lake Valencia Tetra, this species becomes more impressive with age, especially in planted aquariums with subdued lighting and darker décor. It is a calm shoaling fish that suits mature community aquariums with peaceful tank mates and stable tropical water.

Common Name:
Diamond Tetra, Pittier’s Tetra, Lake Valencia Tetra.

Scientific Name (Latin):
Moenkhausia pittieri
Also listed by FishBase as Makunaima pittieri.

Maximum Size:
Usually around 5–6 cm.

Water Type:
Freshwater

Origin / Natural Habitat:
Native to Venezuela, especially the Lake Valencia basin and surrounding tributaries. In the wild, Diamond Tetras are associated with slow-moving freshwater habitats, streams and vegetated margins where leaf litter, aquatic plants and calmer water provide cover.

Water Parameters:
Temperature: 24–28°C
pH Range: 6.0–7.2
Hardness or Salinity: Soft to moderately hard freshwater; FishBase lists pH 6.0–7.0 and hardness around 5–12 dH for the species.

Temperament:
Peaceful and sociable. Diamond Tetras are good community fish when kept in groups, but mature males may display, flare fins and lightly spar with one another. This is usually harmless when the group is large enough and the aquarium has space.

Diet:
Omnivorous micro-predator. In nature, Diamond Tetras feed on small worms, crustaceans and insects. In the aquarium, offer quality tropical flakes, micro pellets, fine granules, frozen daphnia, brineshrimp, cyclops, small bloodworm and other suitably sized foods. A varied diet helps maintain condition and enhances the reflective scale sheen.

Minimum Tank Size:
A minimum of 90 litres is recommended for a group, with larger planted aquariums preferred. FishBase aquarium guidance recommends keeping them in groups of at least 5 and using an aquarium around 80 cm in length.

Behaviour & Activity:
A mid-water shoaling tetra that becomes more confident and attractive when kept in numbers. Keep at least 6 individuals, with 8–10 or more preferred. Mature males may develop longer dorsal and anal fins and show stronger sparkle, while females are usually slightly rounder and less extended in the fins. They appreciate open swimming areas alongside plants, wood and shaded cover.

Aquarium Category:
Community Fish
Suitable with peaceful tetras, rasboras, pencilfish, Corydoras, Otocinclus, small to medium gouramis, dwarf cichlids with care, peaceful rainbowfish and other calm community fish. Avoid large predators, aggressive cichlids, persistent fin-nippers and very boisterous fish that may stress them or damage extended fins.

Special Requirements or Care Notes:
Best kept in a mature, planted aquarium with stable water quality, gentle to moderate flow and regular water changes. Floating plants, darker substrate and shaded areas help reduce stress and show the sparkling body scales well. Young fish can look plain, but adults colour and shine strongly when settled. Avoid keeping singly or in pairs, as they are much more confident in groups.

Suitable for:
Beginner to intermediate fishkeepers

Availability:
Common to occasional in trade / Captive-bred or farmed where relevant

All images are a visual representation of the fish you will receive, made to be as accurate as possible. Please note that Mother Nature is a wonderful thing, and variation in patterns and colours will occur — that is part of the unique beauty of these animals.