Diamond Tetra

[angel]

These rock! Had 3. got 3 more today.

[oneyoda]

Great pict. Wish my stuff would stay still for me to get good ones

[angel]

This was Dennis' shot. Can't take credit for that one.

[angel]

Different lighting changes the look so much

[jeremyh81]

How big will diamonds get?

[angel]

They get to 2.5 in. so they're about done growing I suppose. They come from Venezuela. How cool is that?!

[jeremyh81]

Sounds like another addition for the 55!

[angel]

I think it would be a perfect addition

[davidtcb1]

I believe there was an article last month about these fish in Tropical Fish Hobbyist magazine, if I remember correctly. If I also recall, they are almost extinct in the wild?

[jeremyh81]

Dec 17, 2009 22:25:48 GMT -6 davidtcb1 said:

I believe there was an article last month about these fish in Tropical Fish Hobbyist magazine, if I remember correctly. If I also recall, they are almost extinct in the wild?

I just read that article last night! I even brought the mag to work today to read the betta article. It's in the January 2010 issue, there's a betta on the cover.

That article did say that diamonds are very near extinction due to pollutants being dumped into the rivers and streams. Another interesting fact I found to contradict some websites is that the pH of the water these were found in was actually 7.8! Many websites and books will say that they prefer acidic water like other SA tropicals. I've even read somewhere that pH can be as low as 5.5!

Being a former paramedic, I know that if the pH in the human body fluctuates more than 0.1 in either direction, that person is very close to death. So it's hard for me to understand how fish can tolerate such a wide range of pH levels.

Maybe it's like how people who live at higher altitudes have adapted to the lower oxygen levels than what is found at sea level (21%).

Back on topic, Diamond Tetras are very beautiful and to those who breed them: THANK YOU!

[angel]

That would be the key. Survival. But consistency is far more important than numbers mimicking in Ph it seems. Fluctuation WILL kill fish, but steady Ph of something other than the ideal for their species they can acclimate to.

[sirknight]

Think about fish like Salmon or Steel Head. They are born in fresh water, grow up and live in the ocean, then go back to fresh water to spawn, and with steel head return to the ocean. unfortunately not Salmon.

Now that is change.

Joe

[angel]

It sure is, and it's amazing that they instinctively sense where to go to get the conditions they feel is necessary for life and for spawn. Fascinating. And it has to be a strain on their bodies. But they do it.