Diamond Tetras

[pahansen]

Hi. I'm looking for some new fish for the aquarium, and one of the ones I'm considering is the diamond tetra. (I'm also looking at rainbow fish -- I need more "sparkly" in my life!) Unfortunately, I'm getting a great deal of conflicting information on these fish. That makes it very difficult to make an informed decision (and to keep from harming innocent fish by putting them into a tank not suitable for them). So, can anyone tell me:

1) What is the minimum number of fish I would need for the tetras to be happy? (I have read as few as 2 -- which I doubt -- to no fewer than 8 -- which seems like a lot.)

2) How big do they grow? (I have seen conflicting sizes, although many sites say 2 1/2")

3) What mix of male/female would I need to keep the peace?

4) Will they bother my African Butterfly Fish, who sits on the top of the tank with some long fins hanging down, pretending to be dead (much to our amusement)?

5) Do they produce a great deal of waste relative to their length? They do seem to be full(er)-bodied fish.

I think that's it. I'm up to speed on all of the other more technical stuff, like water conditions, etc. It's just all of the "personality" issues that I can't get a handle on! Whether or not I get them, they sure are pretty fish!

Thanks in advance,
Pamela

 

[MegTheFish]

I would like to know too, as we have some in at work and they look so pretty when the light shines on them a certain way and brings out that rainbow sparkle in them.

 

[TammyLiz]

Hi pahansen and Meg! I have diamond tetras. Hopefully I can be of some help.

1) What is the minimum number of fish I would need for the tetras to be happy? (I have read as few as 2 -- which I doubt -- to no fewer than 8 -- which seems like a lot.)

Originally I bought 4 because I had heard that you shouldn't have more males than females, and they only had two females in the store. They nearly ripped each other apart, so I wouldn't reccommend that! I bought an additional two females, so now I have six with a 1/2 m/f ratio, and they are fine.

2) How big do they grow? (I have seen conflicting sizes, although many sites say 2 1/2")

I can't confirm on that one. Mine are def. not 2 1/2 inches but who knows if they will grow more? They have grown a little since I got them. Right now I'm not looking at them but I think the largest ones are 2 inches including caudal. Those haven't grown in a couple of months and they seem fully grown to me, but they might surprise me based on your information.

3) What mix of male/female would I need to keep the peace?

As above, 1 male to 2 females has worked fine for me.

4) Will they bother my African Butterfly Fish, who sits on the top of the tank with some long fins hanging down, pretending to be dead (much to our amusement)?

I doubt it but you never know. So far they have completely ignored any tankmates in my tank but I haven't had anything with long fins. They mainly pay attention to each other.

5) Do they produce a great deal of waste relative to their length? They do seem to be full(er)-bodied fish.

Not too bad. A little more than some tetras because as you say they're a little thick/tall.

Just to add, for tank size I would reccommend a minimum of 20 gallons. I have mine in a 20 high. I quarantined them in a 10 gallon tank and it seemed way too small.

 

[pahansen]

Thanks for the first hand experience, Tammy Liz! I took your advice and got a group of four females and two males. (At least, I'm crossing my fingers that they're all females and that there aren't juvenile males mixed in.) We'll see how it goes.

Thanks a bunch!
Pamela