Home / Fishes / Tetras, piranhas and pacus / Diamond tetra
No federal permit to keepDiamond tetra
Moenkhausia pittieri
Fishes › Tetras, piranhas and pacus (Characiformes) › Characidae (Tetras)
The diamond tetra (Makunaima pittieri) is a species freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the family Acestrorhamphidae, the American tetras.
Care at a glance
Species-specific aquarium care
- Tank: At least 24 in long and 12 in front to back for one adult (adults commonly reach about 2.4 in / 6 cm).
- Water: Freshwater.
- Temperature: 75–82°F (range recorded for this species).
- pH: 6–7.
- Hardness: 5–12 dGH.
- Layout: Uses both the bottom and open water: give open swimming space plus cover near the substrate.
- Diet: A predator: feed meaty foods sized to its mouth (frozen fish, shrimp, worms); it will eat tankmates that fit in its mouth. FishBase classes it as a carnivore.
Calculated from this species' own FishBase record: tank size from its typical adult length and swimming zone, water values from its recorded ranges. The group guide below fills in general care.
Care guide
Species care notes
- Tank: a base of at least 24 × 15 in (roughly 18 US gallons); space needed is rated “modest tank”.
- Water: soft, acidic water, 75–82 °F, pH 5.5–7, 5–12 dGH.
- Behaviour: a shoaling fish best kept in a group of six or more.
- Difficulty: Moderate (Seriously Fish rating).
Short excerpts from the species profile:
- Setup: “Quite an adaptable species that will thrive in most well-maintained tanks, although it doesn't like very brightly lit or sparsely decorated environments.”
- Tankmates: “A good choice for the 'general' community setup.”
- Breeding: “Can be spawned in a similar way to many other tetras.”
From the Seriously Fish profile for this species, which has the full habitat, maintenance, diet, behaviour and breeding write-up 167
Tetras
Applies to most species in this group. Habitat: The covered characids include South American river and tributary fishes, from vegetation-shaded bloodfin habitats to sandy flowing rivers occupied by Exodon. [fg156-bloodfin, fg156-exodon]. Individual species can differ, so compare with the species numbers above and the linked sources.
Housing & setup
- For glass bloodfins, use at least 60 × 38 × 30 cm (24 × 15 × 12 in), retaining open upper-water swimming space.
- Provide planted margins and floating vegetation for bloodfins; fit a tight lid for Aphyocharax anisitsi.
- For bucktooth tetras use at least 120 × 45 × 45 cm (48 × 18 × 18 in), efficient filtration and planted refuges from bullying.
- For glass bloodfins maintain pH 6.0–7.5; for Exodon, pH 5.5–7.5.
Climate & lighting
| Water | 73.4–80.6°F |
Diet
- Small dried foods for glass and ordinary bloodfins.
- Daphnia, Cyclops and bloodworms for glass bloodfins.
- For Exodon, chopped prawns, mussels, earthworms and fish rather than live feeder fish.
Social life
- Glass bloodfins need 6–8 or more; ordinary bloodfins at least six. Exodon requires a species aquarium and at least 12 introduced together; small groups can kill one another.
Health watch
- Freshwater ich (white spot disease), a general aquarium risk.
- Bacterial infections associated with stress and poor water quality.
- Fin and scale damage from aggression, especially Exodon.
Understanding the animal
About this animal
About this animal
This species is found in and around Lake Valencia in Venezuela.
Quoted from the Wikipedia article “Diamond tetra” (CC BY-SA 4.0) 174
In the wild
In the wild
From this species’ own FishBase record (habitat, bottom type, water and breeding data), not its family. Good care copies these conditions.1
| Where it lives | Lives in freshwater. Uses both the bottom and open water. Feeds on worms, crustaceans and insects. |
| Water it lives in | Freshwater, 75–82 °F (24–28 °C), pH 6–7, hardness 5–12 dH. |
| Climate | Tropical climate. |
| Wild diet | Hunting macrofauna (predator). |
| Behavior to plan for | Breeding: open water/substratum egg scatterers. |
What this means for care
- Keep water within its wild range, 75–82 °F.
Native climate (measured)
Native climate (measured)
| Warm-season highs | about 86°F (up to 89°F in the hottest sampled areas) |
| Cool-season lows | about 64°F (down to 56°F in the coldest sampled areas) |
| Average temperature | 69–79°F across sampled records |
| Relative humidity | 75–78% on average (driest month about 70%) |
| Rainfall | about 1033 mm a year |
Measured at 5 wild occurrence records sampled against WorldClim 2.1 climate data (1970–2000 averages). Air conditions in the range are ecological context, not enclosure settings: microhabitats such as burrows, leaf litter or basking rocks can be cooler, warmer or more humid.
From the sources
From the sources
Quoted from the matching sections of reputable sources for this exact species. Specialist databases are used first; Wikipedia (community-edited, CC BY-SA 4.0) only fills gaps. Other sources are short credited quotes.
| Overview | The diamond tetra (Makunaima pittieri) is a species freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the family Acestrorhamphidae, the American tetras. This species is found in and around Lake Valencia in Venezuela. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Where it lives | Home ranges Population dynamics Growth parameters Max. ages / sizes Length-weight rel. Length-frequencies Mass conversion Recruitment Abundance Life cycle Reproduction Maturity Maturity/Gills rel. — FishBase |
| Appearance and size | Male diamond tetras tend to be larger than the females, and have a greater number of the reflective scales that the common name of this species refer to. As these fishes mature their pelvic, dorsal and anal fins become elongated, developing a violet sheen in males and being translucent in females. This species has a maximum standard length of 6.0 cm. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Biology | Feeds on worms, crustaceans and insects. Aquarium keeping: in groups of 5 or more individuals; minimum aquarium size 80 cm. — FishBase |
| History and naming | The diamond tetra was first formally described as Moenkhausia pittieri in 1920 by the German-born American Carl H. Eigenmann, with its type locality given as "Concejo, Río Tiquirito, Venezuela". This species is now classified in the genus Makunaima, which was proposed by Guillermo Enrique Terán, Mauricio F. Benítez and Juan Marcos Mirande in 2020. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
Data and studies
The numbers
The numbers
Each bar is what one source reports. Where several sources weigh in, the dashed gold band marks their average.
Adult length
Maximum recorded length. Measured as standard length (snout to the base of the tail, not counting the tail fin). Fish in home aquariums often stay smaller than wild records.
Water temperature
Range the species tolerates in nature; aim for the middle.
Minimum tank footprint
Seriously Fish recommends a tank base of at least 24 × 15 in (about 18 US gallons).
Veterinary & husbandry research
Veterinary & husbandry research
- A tale of false origins: Hyphessobrycon scholzei Ahl, 1937 and its junior synonym, Hyphessobrycon fernandezi Fernández-Yépez, 1972 (Teleostei: Characifomes: Acestrorhamphidae) Lima FCT et al., Zootaxa 2025
Peer-reviewed papers that mention this species alongside captivity, zoos, veterinary care or aquaculture. Some cover several species or mention it only in passing, so check the abstract. 170
Sources for this sheet
- FishBase (Froese & Pauly, eds.), version 24.07 Peer-reviewed researchThe global scientific database on fishes, maintained by a consortium of research institutions; every value is referenced.
- Seriously Fish species profiles Experienced keeper or breederLong-running aquarium reference written and peer-checked by experienced fishkeepers and ichthyologists; each profile covers habitat, tank size, water, diet, behaviour and breeding.
- Seriously Fish: Prionobrama filigera Experienced keeper or breederAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Seriously Fish: Exodon paradoxus Experienced keeper or breederAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Seriously Fish: Aphyocharax anisitsi Experienced keeper or breederAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Disorders and Diseases of Fish Zoo, university or veterinaryAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Wikipedia (species article) Community referenceFree encyclopedia; useful overviews with their own citations. Intro text is quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- PubMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine) Peer-reviewed researchIndex of peer-reviewed veterinary, zoo and husbandry research.
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