A very underrated tetra

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Rafini

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Jun 24, 2012
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I have 14 of these, does anyone else keep them? They school around quite tightly in my 225 and occasionally break off and form little groups. one of the most beautiful and interesting tetra species I have ever kept.





 

Fishfriend1

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Dec 11, 2009
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I'd also like to say Diamond Tetra. And that they look very pretty.
 

Byron Amazonas

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Yes, that is the Diamond Tetra, Moenkhausia pittieri. They are indeed beautiful in a planted tank that is not brightly lit. Yours are very beautiful and seem well settled. Lovely fish. Floating plants are good, not only for more shade, but this species will very readily spawn among floating vegetation. And they are prolific spawners.

Byron.
 

Rbishop

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Awesome fish!
 

Rafini

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Oh wow, well I have a large floating plant and they are in my 225. I have had them about 2 weeks so I guess they are settled. I just walked into the LFS looking for a schooling fish and took every diamond they had in the tank. They make wonderful shoaling fish for a large tank, I see them displaying to eachother all the time. Is there any chance some of the fry would survive?

Thanks for the kind words guys, I`m working on getting the tank more planted, for now just 2 small java ferns and a large brasil sword. I find Diamonds hate red or pink colored plants and will pull them to pieces
 

Byron Amazonas

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Oh wow, well I have a large floating plant and they are in my 225. I have had them about 2 weeks so I guess they are settled. I just walked into the LFS looking for a schooling fish and took every diamond they had in the tank. They make wonderful shoaling fish for a large tank, I see them displaying to eachother all the time. Is there any chance some of the fry would survive?
Possibly, depending upon the plants (these provide cover and microscopic food) and the other fish plus the Diamonds themselves. I have had fry survive once. Usually the other fish,including the tetra themselves, will eat any eggs they find. I can always tell when a fish is spawning because the other species will be huddled around the site and when the eggs are scattered the feeding frenzy is wild.

Byron.
 

ktrom13

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Feb 4, 2013
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Those are some good looking fish! Ive never seen them around but i sure hope i do.

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tanker

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I too love them. I had a large school of them for a while. The second largest tetras in my tank, after the Bleeding Hearts.
 

XanAvaloni

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Gorgeous. But without the headline I would never have pegged them as tetras, much less what specific kind.
 
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