Cardinal Tetra (Paracheirodon axelrodi)

Description

 

🔴 Cardinal Tetra – Radiant Red Beauty for Your Aquarium 🐟❤️

Bring the vivid colors of the Amazon River straight to your tank with the stunning Cardinal Tetra (Paracheirodon axelrodi). Known for their brilliant blue and bright red stripe that extends the full length of their body, Cardinal Tetras are a showstopper in any freshwater community aquarium.

Peaceful and schooling by nature, these elegant fish thrive in planted tanks and add vibrant movement and harmony to your aquascape.

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🌟 Why Choose Cardinal Tetras?

Cardinal Tetras stand out with a more intense and longer red stripe than Neon Tetras, making them highly sought after by aquarists who want a splash of bold color. Their natural Amazonian habitat inspires ideal care conditions for hobbyists aiming for authentic biotope setups.

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🐠 Key Features

• ❤️ Vivid Full-Body Red Stripe: Extends from head to tail, paired with a shimmering electric blue stripe.
• 👫 Peaceful Schooling Fish: Thrive in groups of 6 or more, creating mesmerizing synchronized swimming.
• 🌿 Ideal for Planted Tanks: Their colors pop against lush greenery and dark substrates.
• 🔄 Moderate Care Requirements: Best suited to aquarists comfortable with maintaining soft, slightly acidic water.
• ⏳ Lifespan: Live up to 4–6 years with consistent care.

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📏 Size & Lifespan

• 🔹 Adult Size: 3 – 5 cm (1.2 – 2 inches)
• ⏳ Lifespan: 4 – 6 years

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🌊 Ideal Water Parameters

• 💧 Temperature: 23°C – 27°C (73°F – 80°F)
• 💎 pH: 5.5 – 7.0
• 🌡 GH: 1 – 5 (soft water preferred)
• ⚖️ KH: 0 – 3
• 💦 TDS: 100 – 150 ppm

Stable, soft, and slightly acidic water replicates their natural Amazon River environment.

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🍽️ Diet & Feeding

Cardinal Tetras are omnivores with modest feeding needs. Their diet includes:

• 🐟 High-quality flake or micro pellet foods
• 🦐 Frozen or live brine shrimp, daphnia, bloodworms
• 🌿 Occasionally finely chopped vegetables or algae wafers

Feed small amounts 1–2 times daily to avoid overfeeding.

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🧑‍🔧 Care Guide

Create the perfect environment for your Cardinal Tetras with these tips:

Care Aspect	Recommendation
✅ Tank Size	Minimum 40L; larger groups (6+) recommended
🧽 Filtration	Gentle, well-oxygenated filter
🌿 Decor	Dense plants, driftwood, leaf litter for cover
💡 Lighting	Low to moderate, avoiding harsh bright lights
🚫 Avoid	Sudden water parameter changes, aggressive fish
🔄 Maintenance	Weekly 15–20% water changes, stable water quality

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🤝 Compatible Tank Mates

Cardinal Tetras get along well with many peaceful species:

✅ Safe Tank Mates	❌ Avoid These
🦐 Amano, Cherry Shrimp	🐟 Large or aggressive cichlids
🐟 Neon Tetras, Rasboras	🦀 Crayfish, large predatory inverts
🐟 Corydoras, Otocinclus Catfish	🐟 Tiger Barbs, aggressive loaches
🐌 Nerite & Mystery Snails	🐟 Fish known for nipping or fin-nipping

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💡 Pro Tips

• Keep in schools of at least 6 to reduce stress and display natural behaviors.
• Use black or dark substrates to make their vibrant colors stand out.
• Add Indian almond leaves or driftwood to slightly tint the water and mimic natural tannins.
• Regular water changes and monitoring are critical to keep parameters within their narrow range.

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🛍️ Perfect For:

✅ Soft water biotope tanks
✅ Peaceful community aquariums
✅ Planted and natural-style setups
✅ Intermediate hobbyists comfortable with water maintenance

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Elevate your aquarium’s beauty with the elegant and colorful Cardinal Tetra — a true jewel of the freshwater world. 🔴🐟✨

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🐟 Neon Tetra vs Cardinal Tetra – Which One is Right for Your Aquarium? 🌈

Both Neon and Cardinal Tetras are beloved small freshwater fish known for their dazzling colors and peaceful nature. While they look similar, there are some important differences that can help you decide which one suits your tank best.

Feature	Neon Tetra (Paracheirodon innesi)	Cardinal Tetra (Paracheirodon axelrodi)
Color Pattern	Bright neon blue stripe with a shorter red stripe only on the rear half of the body.	Neon blue stripe with a long, continuous bright red stripe running from head to tail.
Size	2.5 – 4 cm (1 – 1.5 inches)	Slightly larger: 3 – 5 cm (1.2 – 2 inches)
Lifespan	5 – 8 years with proper care	4 – 6 years
Water Temperature	21°C – 24°C (70°F – 75°F)	Slightly warmer: 23°C – 27°C (73°F – 80°F)
pH Range	6.0 – 7.0	5.5 – 7.0
Water Hardness	Soft to moderately hard (3 – 8 GH)	Prefer softer water, 1 – 5 GH
Behavior	Peaceful, active schooling fish	Peaceful, schooling, sometimes a bit shyer
Tank Size	Minimum 40L; better with groups of 8+	Minimum 40L; better with groups of 6+
Diet	Omnivorous: flakes, micro pellets, frozen/live foods	Same diet, may accept larger food particles
Breeding Difficulty	Moderate – requires soft, slightly acidic water	More challenging – needs very soft, acidic water and dim lighting
Price & Availability	Generally more affordable and widely available	Typically more expensive and slightly harder to find

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✅ Which Should You Choose?

• Choose Neon Tetras if:
  You want a hardy, colorful, and easy-to-care-for schooling fish suitable for most community tanks and beginners.
• Choose Cardinal Tetras if:
  You want a slightly larger, more vibrant red color that runs the full length of the body and have a tank with soft, warm water conditions.

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💡 Tips for Keeping Both

• Both species do best in groups (6–10 or more) to reduce stress and show natural schooling.
• Provide planted tanks with plenty of hiding spots and dim lighting to mimic their natural habitat.
• Maintain stable, clean water conditions with gentle filtration.
• Avoid keeping with aggressive or large predatory fish.

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Adding either Neon or Cardinal Tetras will bring stunning color and peaceful activity to your aquarium—just pick the one that best fits your tank’s conditions and your aquascaping goals!

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