Cardinal tetra
Paracheirodon axelrodi
FishFreshwater
The cardinal tetra reaches up to 5 cm. Its red stripe runs from eye to tail, while the blue stripe is shorter. It is hardier than the neon tetra. A schooling, peaceful and very active fish. It prefers acidic and dark waters. In the aquarium, it is sensitive to sudden parameter changes.
Recommended parameters
| Parameter | Recommended range |
|---|---|
| Temperature | 24–30 |
| pH | 5–6.5 |
| GH | 1–4 |
| KH | 1–3 |
| NO₃ | ≤ 10 |
| PO₄ | ≤ 0.2 |
Care
Difficulty3/5
Dietomnivore
Min. tank80 L
Min. group10
Adult size5 cm
Lifespan5 ans
Temperamentpeaceful
Care notes
Temperature 24–30°C, pH 5.0–6.5, very low hardness. A minimum 80-liter tank for a school of 10. Peat filtration helps maintain acidity. Dim lighting and floating plants are appreciated. Diet: small live or frozen foods, fine flakes. Compatible with other small peaceful characins. Avoid overly active tankmates.