Diamond Tetra 101: Care Guide, Size, Look, Tankmates. | 2024

This article will give you essential information about Diamond Tetra you should know before buying one. This is not an exhaustive list of important facts; it’s meant to be a quick reference for those familiar with this fish.

I intend to give you enough knowledge so that you can make an informed decision when you choose your community fish.

This small tetra is a member of the Characidae family in the Characiformes order. The genus name for this fish is ‘Moenkhausia,’ which means “same-colored” and refers to this species’ bright red/orange horizontal striping, which runs from its body, under its eyes.

Species Summary

Scientific name	Moenkhausia pittieri
Country Of Origin	Lake Valencia in Venezuela, South America
Maximum Size	2 to 2.4 inches
Lifespan	3-6 years or longer
Care Level	Intermediate to advanced
Tank Size	15 gallons or larger
pH level	5.5 – 6.5
Temperature	72°F – 84°F
Water Hardness	4 – 8 KH
Nature	Semi-aggressive
Feeding/Nutrition	A high-quality flake food
Social Behaviors	Along well with other similar-sized peaceful fish
Breeding/Reproduction	An egg scatterer

Diamond Tetra is a beautiful fish to keep, but it’s also a more challenging fish to take care of. This species prefers slightly soft and acidic water with a pH of 5.5 to 6.5 and a temperature between 72°F to 84°F. They will not breed in hard alkaline water with a pH of 8.0 or higher.

Diamond Tetra has three red/orange horizontal stripes running the length of its body, beginning at the dorsal fin, under the eyes, and then down to its caudal peduncle. The fourth stripe runs across his head just above the dark eyeball marking.

This fish has a silver belly, which is typical of the Characidae family. This species should be housed in an aquarium with plenty of plants to provide protection and security. They will not show their best color if they are kept without any hiding places.

Driftwood branches, Anubias nana, Java moss, your favorite plastic plant, or natural will provide them with the security they need.his fish is not very aggressive but can become nervous in a new environment.

A large aquarium that’s at least 30 gallons or larger will help to keep the stress level down in their tankmates. Diamond Tetra also needs plenty of open swimming space since they are migratory fish and will swim in large schools.

Once acclimated, Diamond Tetra is peaceful and will get along with other larger species of similar-sized fish, such as the cardinal tetra, Roseline sharks, and festivums.

They should not be kept with extremely aggressive community fish because they may get seriously injured or killed by them. Caring for this fish requires that its tank have a tight-fitting cover to prevent it from being carried away by other, larger fish that may want to eat it.

In its natural habitat, it can be found in large schools under ledges and overhangs in streams and rivers. In captivity, Diamond Tetra prefers to eat at or near the bottom of its tank in softer water with clean gravel or sand.

This fish is an omnivore and will eat flakes with spirulina added to it and freeze-dried bloodworms and tubifex.

This is a shoaling fish that will do best when kept with other fish that are similar in size. Their tank should have tight-fitting lids to keep their curious nature from getting them into trouble.

Diamond Tetra gets along well with other peaceful fish but should not be kept with highly aggressive fish that may swallow them. They can be kept in groups of at least six, preferably 10 or more fish.

This is bottom-dwelling and will need rocks, driftwood, or another decor in its tank to hide if it feels threatened. This fish is not aggressive towards humans but, like all fish, should be kept out of reach of children.

Diamond Tetra Lifespan

When cared for properly, Diamond Tetra has a 3 to 5 years lifespan.

Diamond Tetras In The Wild

Diamond Tetra is a hardy fish initially found in Lake Valencia in Venezuela, South America.

They can be seen in large schools under ledges and overhangs in these waters. Diamond Tetra feeds at or near the bottom of its tank in softer water with clean gravel or sand.

Diamond Tetras In Captivity

Diamond Tetra is an egg scatterer and needs a spawning tank with very fine-leaved plants for the eggs to adhere to. After conditioning them with live food such as daphnia and brine shrimp, a breeding pair can be placed in the spawning tank.

Diamond Tetra will only accept the eggs of a female if it is not present or if they are separated from each other. If there is no male to fertilize the eggs, you must use an artificial method to induce spawning.

Diamond Tetra Appearance

Diamond Tetra has a silver body with a black stripe that runs from its nose to the tail. Other markings on this fish are an orange patch on the dorsal fin and red eyes.

The adult female is slightly larger than the male, but both sexes have the same appearance.

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Diamond Tetra Breeding

If you’ve seen a pregnant fish, you’ll know how easy it is for this tetra to get pregnant – the abdomen becomes hugely swollen with eggs, and the scales stand out from the body.

The first thing you need to know about breeding Diamond Tetras is that they are egg scatterers- unlike other varieties that build bubble nests for their fry, this variety releases its eggs into the water so they can be taken away by current or other fish in the tank.

This makes them much easier to breed since you don’t have to worry about building a bubble nest, but it also means they are less likely to take care of their fry, so if you do decide to breed this tetra, take extra special care with the eggs and fry.

There are several theories on how to breed them; some say you should keep them in soft acidic water, while others recommend slightly harder alkaline water.

Regardless of the conditions you choose, it is essential to ensure they are stable because if the water parameters fluctuate during breeding, this will cause stress (which can also affect the health of eggs and fry).

Another important factor in breeding is ensuring the fish are well-conditioned and healthy before you even attempt to breed them. Feed them a nutritious diet of live, frozen, and flake foods for at least four weeks before you try to get them spawning.

This will ensure that when they spawn, there will be enough energy in the body of both parents for the breeding process to be successful. Once you are ready, you can begin actively encouraging them to spawn by creating favorable conditions in the aquarium.

You should remove any other fish from the aquarium because they will probably eat either the eggs or fry, and this is important if you want the breeding attempt to be successful.

Next, prepare a bare-bottomed tank (or one with some spawning medium at the bottom) with slightly acidic to neutral pH water and a temperature between 72° to 84°F. Please ensure many plants are in the aquarium so they have somewhere to deposit their eggs when they spawn.

Once you have set up this bare environment, begin performing significant weekly water changes to encourage the fish to spawn. Small daily feedings are also very beneficial, as they will have more energy for spawning when they are well-fed.

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Usually, within a few days to a week of performing these breeding conditions, the male Diamond Tetra will begin to court the female to persuade her to release her eggs into his care.

During this phase, which can last up to an hour, the male will display his best colors and attempt to entice her into releasing her eggs. When she finally does spawn, she’ll release up to 1000 eggs which he then gathers into his mouth and fertilizes.

After this process, they will begin searching for somewhere safe to deposit the eggs. This will most likely be on the underside of broad-leaved plants, but they could be deposited anywhere in the aquarium if there is a current to take them away.

The male will then begin to fan these fertilized eggs with his fins to provide oxygen and prevent fungus from growing.

At this point, any other fish in the tank will usually begin to eat the eggs; this is especially true if they are hungry, so make sure you remove them before the parents spawn again.

This process may be repeated several times until their energy stores run out, and if all goes well, you’ll soon see tiny wriggling fry swimming around! The fry will be small and need to be fed infusoria for a while.

They can graduate to newly hatched brine shrimp or microworms until they are big enough to eat flake foods.

Diamond Tetras have been successfully bred in aquariums many times before; however, their beauty and ease of breeding are gaining popularity among fish keepers.

As their care requirements become more widely known, it’s only a matter of time before everyone has these gorgeous fish swimming around in their aquariums!

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Diamond Tetra Propagation

Diamond Tetra can lay up to 1,000 eggs per spawn. They will accept a female’s eggs if it is not present or if they are separated from each other. If there is no male to fertilize the eggs, you must use an artificial method to induce spawning.

The orange young stay close together and hide under rocks until they are 5 mm long. They will venture out into open water to feed on small foods until they accept the larger ones.

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Diamond Tetra Sexing

The female of the species is more rounded and carries a black patch on her body near the anal fin. The males are slimmer with a bluish-green sheen and a yellowish-green hue on their dorsal, ventral, and tail fins.

Diamond Tetra Gestation Period And Pregnancy Symptoms

The gestation period usually lasts for 21 days. You may notice the female gaining weight or carrying eggs by gently pressing her abdomen. There are also visible changes in the male’s coloration, which become more intense as spawning time approaches.

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Diamond Tetra Size And Growth Rate

Diamond Tetra can grow up to 2 to 2.4 inches long. The length of this fish is determined by its age, with older fish growing larger than younger ones.

Diamond Tetra has a silver body with a black stripe that runs from its nose to the tail. Other markings on this fish are an orange patch on the dorsal fin and red eyes. The adult female is slightly larger than the male, but both sexes have the same appearance.

Diamond Tetra Habitat & Tank Conditions

Diamond Tetra prefers a tropical environment. If you keep this in mind when trying to replicate their natural habitat, you’ll find these fish adaptable and thrive in various water parameters.

They are shoaling fish by nature and prefer to be in groups of 5 or more. This is because they live around moving waters, like rapids and rivers, in the wild and tend to stick with their shoal (school) for safety and strength in numbers.

This makes them great fish for the community aquarium since they like to be with their kind and often get along well with others.

They can tolerate anything from slightly acidic to moderately complex water. Still, it is essential to note that they thrive best (and are most comfortable) in soft and slightly acidic water around 10 degrees dH.

A pH of 5.0 to 6.5 will suit them perfectly, so it’s best to buy your water from the fish store or another source that can guarantee these conditions if you plan to keep them in an aquarium.

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Diamond Tetra Behaviour

Diamond Tetra is a good fish for beginning aquarists. It will accept food from the hand and become tame enough to handle.

When introduced to their tank, this fish may flare at other, larger fish. It tends to act more aggressively towards other fish during the spawning season, usually from March through May.

Diamond Tetra is an egg-scatterer and will lay its eggs on the substrate of a tank. The female lays about 500 to 1,000 eggs at one time. The eggs stick together in clumps, and the male fertilizes them by releasing his sperm over them.

Diamond Tetra is an omnivore and will eat flakes with spirulina added to it and freeze-dried bloodworms and tubifex. Diamond Tetra is a shoaling fish and will do best when kept with other fish that are similar in size.

Its tank should have tight-fitting lids to keep its curious nature from getting them into trouble. Diamond Tetra gets along well with peaceful fish but should not be kept with highly aggressive fish that may try to pick on them.

Also, check: Bellus Angelfish Care

Diamond Tetra Social Temperament

Diamond Tetra will get along fine with other fish similar in its size. It can be kept in groups of at least six, preferably 10 or more fish. Diamond Tetra is bottom-dwelling and will need to have rocks, driftwood, or another decor in its tank to hide if it feels threatened.

Diamond Tetras prefer a peaceful environment with many plants and hiding places to feel safe. They should be kept in groups of at least six, preferably 10 or more, as long as they all have an area to hide.

This fish should never be kept in a tank with aggressive fish because Diamond Tetra is easily frightened and will not grow if intimidated by tankmates.

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Diamond Tetra Care Guide

Here are the given conditions for the proper care of Diamond Tetra.

Feeding

Diamond Tetra is a peaceful and hardy fish. It will accept food from the hand and become tame enough to handle. In an aquarium setting, it will feed on flake foods, live or frozen brine shrimp, bloodworms, tubifex worms, and small crustaceans.

It should also be fed algae pellets or flakes to help supplement its diet. They will eat just about anything you give them, but their staple food must be a good quality flake or pellet made for omnivores because they need the proteins in this diet.

Some breeders advocate feeding live foods like worms and small insects to Diamond Tetras because it increases their brilliant colors, but this is not necessary for them to thrive.

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Diamond Tetra Tank Mates

Although these tetras are peaceful, a few rules must be followed when choosing tank mates.

Firstly, they should not be housed with larger or aggressive fish because Diamond Tetra will usually be bullied to death. Second, you should not house them with small fish because they will be eaten.

Finally, like all tetras, the diamond variety is a shoaling fish and does best in groups of 5 or more; therefore, make sure your aquarium is big enough to accommodate the schooling behavior of these fish.

Diamond Tetra can get along fine with other fish similar in its size. It can be kept in groups of at least six, preferably 10 or more. Diamond Tetra is bottom-dwelling and will need to have rocks, driftwood, or another decor in its tank to hide if it feels threatened.

It will typically school in the aquarium’s top, middle, and bottom levels. Similar species that would make good tank mates are tetras and characins, such as cardinal tetra, Roseline sharks, pencil fish, hatchet fish, and rummy-nose tetras.

Diamond Tetra Tank Conditions

Diamond Tetras are adaptable to most aquarium conditions; however, they will thrive best in planted tanks with lots of green leafy vegetation and a dark substrate to set the scene for their natural habitat. They prefer subdued light, so try not to have any bright white lights directly on the tank.

Diamond Tetras have been known to nip at plants, so take care when choosing your plants and adequately protect any that you decide to use.

Diamond Tetra Tank Size

A single Diamond Tetra will be happy in a 15-gallon tank, but they are very active, so keep them in groups of 5 or more to ensure that each fish has its territory and enough space to swim around. They should have a tank of at least 10 gallons, but the more significant the tank, is better.

Gravel Requirements

Diamond Tetra should only be introduced to a tank that is already established. It prefers a substrate of small gravel or sand. The tank should have a water filter and an air stone. You might want to add decorations like driftwood, rocks, and live plants.

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Substrate Requirements

Diamond Tetra will get along fine with other fish similar in its size. They can be kept in groups of at least six, preferably 10 or more fish. The substrate for the bottom of the tank should be smooth gravel ranging from 1/4 to 3/8 inch (6 mm to 9 mm) in diameter.

Filter Requirements

Diamond Tetra should only be introduced to a tank that is already established. It prefers a substrate of small gravel or sand. The tank should have a water filter and an air stone. You might want to add decorations like driftwood, rocks, and live plants.

Heater Requirement

It should have an aquarium of at least 15 gallons, but the more significant the tank, the better. A heater is necessary if you reside in a colder area because it can help maintain stable water temperature levels.

Lighting Requirement

Diamond Tetra requires low lighting. The tank should have a water filter and an air stone. You might want to add decorations like driftwood, rocks, and live plants.

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Placement In The Tank

Diamond Tetra will only grow to about 2 inches (5 cm) long. It should have an aquarium of at least 10 gallons, but the more significant the tank is better. A heater is necessary if you reside in a colder area because it can help maintain stable water temperature levels.

Water Requirements

Diamond Tetra should be kept in water with a pH of 5.5 to 6.5, a temperature between 72°F to 84°F, and a water hardness level is 4 to 8 dH or more.

Water changes

The water will need to be changed once every week or two using dechlorinated tap water. Water changes should be performed every two weeks, but 20% of the tank should be changed each time to prevent overstocking.

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Diamond Tetra Potential Fish Diseases

• Velvet: This is caused by a parasitic infestation. It appears as a flaky coating on the fish, which can cause death if not treated. It is also known as Fish Lice and can be easily treated with medication.
• Parasitic Infestations: Anchor worms are tiny white parasites that look like pieces of cotton thread or hair on the body and fins of fish. They are sometimes mistaken for bloodworms. Though they can cause intense itching, they do not usually kill fish.
• Ich: Due to Diamond Tetra’s small size and shoaling behavior, it is very susceptible to outbreaks caused by an excess of ammonia in the water. However, this disease can be treated with medication.
• Internal Bacterial Infections: This fish will get sick if the water is polluted with too many nutrients. The best way to avoid this is to have a good filter and keep the water clean.
• Bromichthys: This parasitic infection causes the fish to eat voraciously and become bloated, lose weight and color, and sometimes even die. It’s caused by Copepods that live in the gills of fish. It can be treated with an antibiotic called Furan-2 or copper sulfate.
• Hexamita: This disease causes the fish to lose its color and mucus coating and results in ulcers and inflammation of the mouth and eyes. It’s caused by a protozoan that can be treated with furan-2 or copper sulfate.
• Ichthyophthirius Multifilis: The fish may display a powdery white coating on its skin and scales sticking out of the body. It’s caused by a protozoan that can be treated with medication.
• Chilodonella: This disease is mainly harmless but causes the fish to lose color and become emaciated slowly. It’s caused by a protozoan that can be treated with furan-2 or copper sulfate.
• Trichodina: The fish will have white cysts on its fins, head, and gills. It’s caused by a parasitic protozoan that can be treated with Furan-2 or copper sulfate.
• Costia: This disease has the same symptoms as Chilodonella, but eggs cause this disease. If you do not have a male, it is possible to induce the fish to spawn by increasing the water temperature and providing a dark substrate in addition to dim lighting.

Eggs can be collected from the tank with a turkey baster, siphon, or net. The eggs must be kept separate from other fish.

• Hole in the Head: Diamond Tetra can contract this disease when stressed due to poor water conditions and improper diet.

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Diamond Tetra Medication And Treatment

Medication should be added to the tank at half strength and can be repeated if necessary. Always follow the instructions on medications carefully. It’s a good idea to test your water before adding medication.

The following medication treatments are best used in a hospital tank or bath:

• Potassium permanganate: 0.15 grams per liter of water.
• Malachite green: 0.5 grams per liter of water for 10 minutes or less, then remove fish to clean water before returning.
• Furan-2: This medication is best used with dechlorinated (or distilled) water at half strength; it can be repeated up to 3 times at a 2- 4 day interval.
• Copper sulfate: This can be used with or without dechlorinated (or distilled) water at a ratio of 1 teaspoon per 5 gallons of water; do not use it if you have invertebrates in the tank. Remove all invertebrates before use.
• ParaGuard: This medication can be used with or without dechlorinated water at half strength; it is effective against most common fish diseases, including ick. Do not use it if you have invertebrates in the tank. Remove all invertebrates before use.
• Maracyn two: This medication is best used with dechlorinated water at half strength; it can be repeated up to 3 times at a 2- 4 day interval.

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Advantages Of Having Diamond Tetra In Your Tank

• Diamond Tetra is a shoaling fish; they are happy in groups of 6 or more.
• They will accept food from your hand and can be easily trained to eat from a plate on the aquarium floor.
• It is a peaceful fish that does not nip at other fish’s fins or eat them up. It will happily live with other fish the same size.
• Diamond Tetra is a very hardy fish that can survive in almost every type of water, from acidic to primary (pH 7).
• Diamond Tetra does not need to be in heated aquariums because they do fine in room-temperature drinking water that has been dechlorinated.
• This fish is not incredibly messy and will only produce slight amounts of waste that can be easily cleaned up with daily water changes.
• Diamond Tetra’s natural habitat is in streams and rivers with slow currents, so this type of water movement will be preferred.
• Diamond Tetra benefits the planted tank by consuming harmful waste products.
• Diamond Tetra is a trendy fish in many aquariums because it swims in schools ranging from 6-15 fish, depending on their size. They are mostly silver with black stripes and will show off their colors when they feel safe and comfortable in the home aquarium.
• Because of their peaceful nature, Diamond Tetra is compatible with most fish tank mates of the same size and type.
• This shoaling fish is excellent for beginners because they are relatively easy to care for as long as you have kept other fish before attempting this one.

Also, it is not hard to train them; you will only need to feed your fish flakes on the bottom of the tank with their nose pointing down. When they come up to eat, it is time for water changes.

If you want to eliminate any excess food that has not been eaten, remove it from the tank right after feeding time because it can cause nitrate levels to rise. It is best to clean the tank weekly and vacuum the substrate as needed to keep your fish happy and healthy.

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Disadvantages Of Having Diamond Tetra In Your Tank

• Diamond Tetra prefers to have some current in the tank, but it is not strong enough to allow them to swim at its maximum speed.
• They do not like to be handled and will become very stressed if you handle them at all.
• Because they are shoaling fish, it is essential not to house them with other types of schooling fish.
• They can become very stressed in a tank with no plants and hiding places since they need shelter to feel safe and comfortable.

This will result in them swimming frantically around your tank, looking for somewhere to hide, which suggests that you have not provided a suitable environment for this type of fish.

• If they have too much stress from their surroundings, they might pick at the slime coat of other tank mates and start nipping fins or picking at scales which can result in disease.
• They prefer an excellent gravel bed as a substrate because it helps keep toxins from building up around the tank.
• Diamond Tetra does not like high nitrate levels, so I would suggest having a filter that can keep all water movement very slow if your tank is small because it will cause nitrates to rise, which can lead to illness.

Nitrates are usually caused by overfeeding, lack of cleaning, or too many fish for your tank size.

• Your Diamond Tetra does not like strong currents in the water, making them go into hiding until the current is gone; this will stress your fish out.
• As with all types of fish, they are prone to disease if their environment is not optimal for them to live in, so it is best to keep on top of water changes and clean the tank.
• Keep in mind that some people think they are easy to take care of, but this is not true as long as you have already kept fish as pets. They do not like sudden movements or loud noise, which will stress them out and cause illness due to lack of eating and hiding.
• If your fish is sick, it will start to pick at the slime coat of its tank mates, which can result in diseases like ick or fungus. Make sure you separate your fish if they are sick because this could be contagious.
• They only need you to feed them once a day, but it is essential to give them the right amount of food because if you overfeed them, the fish will become obese, and that can cause problems with their organs.

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Conclusion

Diamond Tetra is also called the royal blue tetra, blackline tetra, or black-spot characin. They are prevalent because of their beautiful colors, and being housed in almost any temperature range allows these fish to be kept worldwide.

They are found in the lowlands of South America because their natural environment is tropical, but they can now be found worldwide because they are so popular.

Diamond Tetra is a beautiful fish that does not need to be in heated aquariums because it can adapt to almost any type of water, from acidic to primary.

It may not be the easiest fish to take care of, but if you do your research ahead of time and provide it with an optimal environment for this school fish, then you should have a fantastic time with your new fish.