Cardinal Tetra Group EXPERT ONLY
(Paracheirodon axelrodi)
Please Note: Due to variations within species, your item may not look identical to the image provided. Approximate size range may also vary between individual specimen.
Please Note: Due to variations within species, your item may not look identical to the image provided. Approximate size range may also vary between individual specimen.
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Cardinal Tetra Group EXPERT ONLY
(Paracheirodon axelrodi)
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Quick Stats
Care Level
Expert Only
Temperament
Peaceful
Color Form
Blue, Red
Diet
Omnivore
Water Conditions
73-81° F, KH 2-6, pH 5.5-7.5
Max. Size
2"
Family
Characidae
Minimum Tank Size
10 gallons
What do these Quick Stats mean? Click here for more information
Care Level
Expert Only
Temperament
Peaceful
Color Form
Blue, Red
Diet
Omnivore
Water Conditions
73-81° F, KH 2-6, pH 5.5-7.5
Max. Size
2"
Family
Characidae
Minimum Tank Size
10 gallons
What do these Quick Stats mean? Click here for more information
Overview
The Cardinal Tetra brings delicate beauty to any home freshwater aquarium. It has a bright blue stripe contrasted by a lower red stripe that runs the entire length of its body. This coloration differs from its cousin, the Neon Tetra, which has a red stripe that runs only halfway down the body. Equally as peaceful as Neon Tetras, Paracheirodon axelrodi will school together for a brilliant display of activity and color to dress small to large aquarium systems.
Native to the slow moving waters of the various, well-vegetated tributaries in South America, the Cardinal Tetra needs at least a 10-gallon aquarium that is densely planted with areas of low or subdued lighting. The Cardinal Tetra does best in soft, acidic water with few fluctuations in water parameters. The Cardinal Tetra should be kept in groups of six or more and be housed with equally peaceful tankmates.
Breeding the Cardinal Tetra requires very soft water in the 1-2 dH range, a pH of 5-6, and low lighting levels. The female may lay as many as 130 eggs and the adults should be removed at this time. The eggs will hatch in about 24 hours and will become waterborne in approximately five days. Feed the fry baby brine shrimp and other suitable small foods.
The Cardinal Tetra will accept many small foods such as brine shrimp or daphnia, freeze-dried bloodworms and tubifex, micro pellet food, and high quality flake food.
Approximate Purchase Size: 3/4" to 1-1/2"
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Please note: We guarantee that ALL aquaria species we offer will arrive alive and in good condition. However, because of the increased level of care required for this particular species, it has been designated as "Expert Only." This species is recommended only for the expert aquarist, zoo, or research institution. “Expert Only” aquatic life is exempt from our extended guarantee after their arrival. |
More Aquatic Life
Customer Testimonials
John L
Miami , FL
This is my favorite freshwater fish and has been since I was a kid. I currently have a school of 20 of them in a 20 gallon tank with some live plants and some red guppies. They are very colorful and healthy. I would not say they are exactly easy to keep because they need an aquarium that is very well established and that receives regular water changes as they do not tolerate any ammonia or nitrite in their water. They also prefer water on the warmer (at least 78, preferably 80+ side so a tank with a heater is necessary. They are absolutely stunning in large school in a well maintained planted aquarium. Extremely peaceful and do not bother anybody.
Alex M
Grove City , OH
This is the most colorful fish I have in my tank. We have 4 of them. They look cool swimming in a school.
S. Anderson
Tampa , FL
Very, very cute and not aggressive to each other. Also seem quite hardy though I have a set-up specifically for tetras (UV sterilizer with wet-dry; pH 6.0 and hardness less than 10). Only problem - they arrive as fry and very, very small. Be careful if you have anything larger than an inch in the tank or they might become a quick meal!
David D
Antrim , NH
A beautiful schooling fish. Like the Neon, very colorful and hardy.
Lional
Saunderstown , RI
In order to increase survival rates, acclimate for a week by keeping them shallow. By maintaining them for a week at the top of your tank, they do not succumb to the increased pressure at the bottom of large tanks (my case 55 gallon), an area they naturally prefer to swim in but are not ready for upon receipt.
Adrienne W
Mesa , AZ
I had 6 Cardinals in my 55 gallon tank and liked them so much I decided to order 4 more from LiveAquaria. They are so beautiful especially when they all swim in a school together.
I was worried about ordering fish online but the Cardinals and all the other fish I ordered came in good shape and are all still doing very well.
Layne D
IN
My favorite fish! I have a shoal of 45
and they're great! Not the hardiest fish, experience is required. Overall, pretty amazing fish.
Deana
Wonderful fish. Very good for a community aquarium. This is one of my favorite fish.
Karactus Blome
Janesville , WI
It says "experts only", but I used to have a whole shoal of them as a kid and I don't remember them being all that difficult. They even had babies, not even in a breeder tank but in my regular tank. Now I'm getting back into aquariums as a hobby and I'm looking at cardinal tetras again. Maybe I'm forgetting something but I remember them being easy.
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