Cardinal Tetra

Give Your Fish Friend a Happier Home!

Your fish deserves more than just a bowl! Explore our collection of aquariums designed to create a healthier, more vibrant habitat for your aquatic friends. Easy to maintain, visually stunning, and perfect for every home.

Click image to enlarge

Looking for easy to maintain tropical fish combinations?

Scientific Name

Paracheirodon axelrodi

Min. Tank Size

25 gallons

Personality

Peaceful

Temperature

73-82°F

pH

4.0-6.0/5-12°dGH

Size

2"

Diet

Omnivore

Breeding

Egglayer

Compatibility

Best kept in shoals with 6 or more of their own species; can be kept with other Tetras, Pencilfish, Hatchetfish, Dwarf Cichlids, Rasboras, Barbs, Anabantids and Corydoras.

Cardinal Tetra

Often confused with the Neon Tetra, Cardinal Tetras are named for the vivid red coloration on their bodies. These fish exhibit an iridescent blue line running horizontally along the body from the eye to the base of the caudal fin. Below this line, the bodies of these fish take on a vivid red color which extends all the way from the nose to the tail. Cardinal Tetras are native to the Rio orinoco and Rio Negro regions in Brazil, Columbia and Venezuela. These fish tend to inhabit forested areas as well as slow-moving blackwaters. Most of the specimens available in the aquarium hobby are wild-caught, but tank-bred species are slowly becoming more prevalent.

Tank Set-Up

Cardinal Tetras are a very popular species in the aquarium trade and tank-bred specimens are generally hardy and easy to maintain. While wild-caught specimens may take longer to acclimate to tank life, they often thrive in well-maintained tanks. These fish can be kept in planted tanks as well as in biotype tank setups but they tend to appear washed out in sparsely decorated tanks. A dimly lit tank with dark substrate is the recommended setup. A generous portion of floating plants will help to dim the lighting in the tank while black sand will hwlp to darken the tank up a bit more. Because these fish are sensitive to poor water quality, regular tank maintenance – including weekly water changes – is essential.

Feeding

These Tetras are micropredators by nature, feeding on small invertebrates in the wild. In the home aquarium, however, Cardinal Tetras are not fussy eaters. Offer these fish a staple diet of high-quality flakes or granules supplemented with small live and frozen foods such as Daphnia, brine shrimp and Artemia. Feed a diet consisting of a variety of foods on a regular basis to promote the best health and coloration.

Breeding

Unlike many Tetras, Cardinal Tetras can be fairly difficult to breed. These fish are most likely to spawn in a dimly lit tank outfitted with a sponge filter and decorated with plenty of fine-leaved plants. Cardinal Tetras are best spawned in pairs and spawning occurs exclusively in the evening. Because these fish are likely to eat their own eggs, it is best to remove adult fish from the tank after spawning has occurred.