Cardinal tetra
Paracheirodon axelrodi
Photo: CHUCAO · CC BY-SA 3.0
- Adult size
- 4 cm2 in
- Group
- 6+
- Tank length
- 60 cm24 in
- Lifespan
- 3–6 yrs
- Temperature
- 24–29 °C75–84 °F
- pH
- 4.5–7
- Hardness
- 1–8 dGH
- Diet
- omnivore
Warm soft water and a settled aquarium suit this shoaling fish.Warm soft water and a settled aquarium suit this shoaling fish.
Tank sizes
Good tankmates
Avoid with
Convict cichlidAggression needs a different mixAggression needs a different mix
OscarOscar may eat Cardinal tetraOscar may eat Cardinal tetra
Common goldfishCheck Common goldfish with Cardinal tetraCheck Common goldfish with Cardinal tetra
Fancy goldfishCheck Fancy goldfish with Cardinal tetraCheck Fancy goldfish with Cardinal tetra
Pea pufferAggression needs a different mixAggression needs a different mix
Peppered coryNarrow shared temperature rangeNarrow shared temperature range
Panda coryNarrow shared temperature rangeNarrow shared temperature range
Celestial pearl danioNarrow shared temperature rangeNarrow shared temperature range
Zebra danioNarrow shared temperature rangeNarrow shared temperature range
Chinese algae eaterAggression needs a different mixAggression needs a different mix
Electric yellow labCheck Electric yellow lab with Cardinal tetraCheck Electric yellow lab with Cardinal tetra
Paradise fishNarrow shared temperature rangeNarrow shared temperature range
Sources
| temperature | 24–29 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
|---|---|---|
| ph | 4.5–7 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| gh | 1–8 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| origin | South America | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| notes | Warm soft water and a settled aquarium suit this shoaling fish. | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| beginner friendly | false | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| care level | easy | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| color palette | #BBC7C9, #C43D39 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| activity | moderate | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| swim zone | middle | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| temperament | peaceful | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| fin nipper | false | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| long finned | false | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| territorial | false | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| schooling | true | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| schooling min | 6 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| diet | omnivore | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| lifespan years | 3–6 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| growth to adult months | 12 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| length weight | {"a":0.012,"b":3} | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| planted safe | true | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| min tank length | 60 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| body shape | tetra | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |