Tetras · Paracheirodon
Cardinal tetra
Paracheirodon axelrodi · Rio Negro and upper Orinoco, Brazil and Venezuela
Photo: Paolo Neo, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
At a glance
Water temperature
23–29 °C 73–84 °F
pH
4.5–7 soft, acidic water
Adult size
4 cm 1.6 in
Swims
Mid-water mostly in open water
Keep together
6 or more a shoal feels safe
Current
Calm still or slow water
Food
Eats most foods
Temperament
Peaceful
≈ Every value here is an estimate from typical hobby ranges. We're checking them against sources.
Where it comes from
Home water
Rio Negro and upper Orinoco, Brazil and Venezuela
Negro, Orinoco
Lives in blackwater stream habitat.
The dot is placed on its home rivers, not an exact collecting site. Map: Natural Earth.
Tank mates
Checked against a roomy 300 L planted tank with low flow and plenty of caves. Your own tank may change the answer: try it in Your tanks.
Good together
-
Candy stripe L015
Plecos · 10 cm · bottom -
Leopard frog L134
Plecos · 11 cm · bottom -
Amano shrimp
Shrimp & snails · 5 cm · bottom -
Boeseman's rainbowfish
Rainbowfish · 10 cm · mid-water -
Bolivian ram
Cichlids · 8 cm · bottom -
Bronze corydoras
Corydoras · 7 cm · bottom -
Celestial pearl danio
Rasboras & danios · 2.5 cm · mid-water -
Cherry barb
Barbs · 5 cm · mid-water
Keep apart
-
Will eat the cardinal tetra
-
Aggressive and will eat the cardinal tetra
-
Want fast, strong current
Angelicus L136Big white spot L142Blue phantom L128Butterfly hillstream loachColombian zebra L129Dwarf snowball L471
In the hobby
In stock now
Not in stock at any store we track.
Tanks with this fish
From keepers
They school tightest when the lights first come on.
Questions keepers ask
How big does a Cardinal tetra get?
About 4 cm (1.6 in) as an adult.
What temperature does a Cardinal tetra need?
23–29 °C (73–84 °F).
What pH does a Cardinal tetra need?
pH 4.5–7.
Does a Cardinal tetra need to be kept in a group?
Yes. Keep at least 6.
Is the Cardinal tetra aggressive?
No. It is peaceful with fish that suit the same water.
What does a Cardinal tetra eat?
It eats most foods: flakes, small pellets and frozen foods.
Where does the Cardinal tetra come from?
Rio Negro and upper Orinoco, Brazil and Venezuela.
What fish can live with a Cardinal tetra?
Good tank mates include Candy stripe (L015), Leopard frog (L134), Amano shrimp, Boeseman's rainbowfish, Bolivian ram.
All the numbers
| Temperature min (°C) | 23 | Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature max (°C) | 29 | Estimate |
| pH min | 4.5 | Estimate |
| pH max | 7 | Estimate |
| Adult size (cm) | 4 | Estimate |
| Flow | Low | Estimate |
| Habitat | blackwater | Estimate |
| Smallest happy group | 6 | Estimate |
| Temperament | Peaceful | Estimate |
| Diet | Omnivore | Estimate |
| Typical price min (CAD) | 3 | Estimate |
| Typical price max (CAD) | 7 | Estimate |
Some values are estimates from typical hobby ranges and haven't been checked against a source yet.
