Diamond Tetra

Moenkhausia pittieri

Also known as: Pittier's tetra, Diamond characin

Water Parameters

• Temperature: 23–28°C
• pH: 5.5–7.5
• Hardness (GH): 36–214 ppm (2–12 dGH)

Values above are general hardness (GH). For carbonate hardness (KH), the buffer that keeps pH stable, see the water parameters guide.

Care Summary

A tetra that earns its name only in maturity: adult diamond tetras are scattered with gold, blue, and green iridescent scales that flash like sequins, set off in males by long, trailing, faintly violet fins. The catch is patience, because juveniles in the shop are a plain, forgettable grey and develop the sparkle and finnage only over months in a settled group, so the fish is often overlooked on the shelf. Hardy and undemanding once past that stage, it is an easy schooling fish for a peaceful planted community, best kept in a group of six or more under lighting angled to catch the shimmer. Mildly nippy toward long-finned tankmates only when kept in too few numbers. An underrated and genuinely dazzling mid-water schooler.

Tankmates

A peaceful, adaptable schooler for a planted community of similarly-sized calm fish. Best kept in a group of six or more, which keeps it settled and spreads any mild fin-nipping (a tendency that only shows in under-sized groups) within the school. Safe with adult cherry shrimp, though fry may be eaten. Avoid dedicated fin-nippers such as tiger barbs and serpae tetras, and any fish large enough to treat it as food.

Compatible with

• Neon Tetra
• Harlequin Rasbora
• Bronze Corydoras
• Bristlenose Pleco
• Congo Tetra
• Pearl Gourami
• Otocinclus
• Cherry Shrimp

Avoid keeping with

• Betta
• Tiger Barb
• Serpae Tetra
• Fin Nippers
• Large Cichlids

Common Problems

• being passed over as a drab juvenile before it colours up
• mild fin nipping in groups smaller than six
• washed-out sparkle under flat or dim lighting
• ich

Sources: seriouslyfish.com, fishbase.org · Last updated: 2026-06-20