Diamond tetra

Identity and search names

This profile applies to Makunaima pittieri. Confirm trade identity and preserve breeder, supplier or locality records where relevant.

Environment and housing

Mature planted aquarium with shaded margins, leaf litter or wood and open central swimming room

Feeding and nutrition

Feeding ecology: Omnivore; small aquatic invertebrates and varied fine prepared foods

Feeding routine: Offer small varied meals once or twice daily without allowing dominant fish to monopolise food

Breeding and reproduction

Plant-spawning egg scatterer; remove adults or protect eggs for controlled breeding

Parental care: No parental care; adults may eat eggs and fry

System demands

Filtration: Use mature biological filtration sized for the adult stock and feeding load, with guarded intakes and a flow pattern the species can use without continual effort.

Aeration: Maintain strong gas exchange and stable dissolved oxygen, especially overnight, during warm weather, medication, crowding or any interruption to filtration.

Maintenance: Test ammonia and nitrite after changes or abnormal behaviour; remove waste from the occupied zone and perform regular water changes matched to temperature and mineral chemistry.

Detailed husbandry

Identity scope

This profile applies to Makunaima pittieri. Confirm trade identity and preserve breeder, supplier or locality records where relevant.

Adult size and space

Up to about 6 cm standard length. At least 100 L with an 80 cm or longer swimming length for a mature group. Plan around adult dimensions, activity, group size, aggression and waste production rather than sale size.

Social structure

Keep at least 8–10, preferably more, with both sexes represented

Swimming zone

Primary zone: Mid water. Keep that zone usable for movement, feeding and refuge.

Feeding ecology

Omnivore; small aquatic invertebrates and varied fine prepared foods

Feeding plan

Offer small varied meals once or twice daily without allowing dominant fish to monopolise food

Water stability

Maintain 24–28 °C; pH 6.0–7.5; hardness/minerals: Soft to moderately hard. Stable oxygenation and nitrogen-cycle control matter more than chasing one exact number.

Habitat structure

Mature planted aquarium with shaded margins, leaf litter or wood and open central swimming room

Compatibility plan

Peaceful community fish of similar size; avoid persistent fin-nippers and very boisterous feeders

Breeding plan

Plant-spawning egg scatterer; remove adults or protect eggs for controlled breeding. Parental care: No parental care; adults may eat eggs and fry.

Quarantine

Quarantine new fish in a separate cycled aquarium with dedicated equipment. Match temperature and mineral chemistry gradually, confirm feeding and normal respiration, and never add transport water to the established aquarium.

Welfare checks

Maintain the stated adult space and social structure, verify feeding and intervene early when injury, exclusion, weight loss, abnormal respiration or altered behaviour appears. The accepted name is now Makunaima pittieri; Moenkhausia pittieri is a former combination. This range-restricted Venezuelan fish should come from documented captive stock, not unverified wild collection.

Biosecurity and release

Never release fish, fry, eggs, aquarium water, sediment, plants or live foods into drains, dams or natural waterways. Confirm current Australian import conditions and South Australian possession, trade and movement rules before acquisition or transfer.

Main risk

The accepted name is now Makunaima pittieri; Moenkhausia pittieri is a former combination. This range-restricted Venezuelan fish should come from documented captive stock, not unverified wild collection.

Adult Projected Load

Moderate for a proper shoal because deep-bodied adults, active feeding and display behaviour create more waste and space demand than small juvenile sales stock suggests.

Filtration

Use mature mechanical and biological filtration with protected intakes and enough turnover for the adult group while preserving species-appropriate current and refuge.

Aeration

Provide strong gas exchange and backup aeration; increase oxygen support before warm weather, heavy feeding, crowding, medication or filter interruption reduces the safety margin.

Maintenance

Remove uneaten food and bottom waste, clean prefilters before flow falls, test ammonia and nitrite after changes, and perform regular temperature- and chemistry-matched water changes.

Overridable Warnings

Shoal size, adult swimming room, plant cover, stable water and quarantine cannot be overridden.

Welfare and risk

Maintain the stated adult space and social structure, verify feeding and intervene early when injury, exclusion, weight loss, abnormal respiration or altered behaviour appears. The accepted name is now Makunaima pittieri; Moenkhausia pittieri is a former combination. This range-restricted Venezuelan fish should come from documented captive stock, not unverified wild collection.

Sources

• Eschmeyer’s Catalog of Fishes — Makunaima pittieri — Accepted-name, synonym and taxonomic-placement cross-check
• Eschmeyer’s Catalog of Fishes — Makunaima pittieri — Current accepted combination, synonymy and Lake Valencia distribution
• IUCN Red List search — Makunaima pittieri — Conservation-status and wild-provenance cross-check
• Australian Government — importing live ornamental fish — Australian import pathway and biosecurity requirements
• PIRSA — South Australian noxious fish list — South Australian possession, trade and release context
• Eschmeyer’s Catalog of Fishes current search — Makunaima pittieri — Current accepted-name, synonym, distribution and habitat cross-check