Though often sold as juveniles when they tend to appear rather dull, Diamond Tetras are a stunning species. These fish have an overall metallic silver coloration which catches the light, giving them the appearance of sparkling like diamonds. The fins in this species are usually translucent, though they may have a purplish hue in some specimens. Diamond Tetras are endemic to Lake Valencia and the surrounding waters in Venezuela where the water quality is often poor due to pollution. These fish tend to inhabit the shallow waters of the lake but may also be found in the slow-moving tributaries. Males can be distinguished from the females by the longer dorsal fin.