Fish that can Cohabit with Cardinal Tetras This species is pretty, easy to care for, and quite peaceful. Though these Cardinal Tetras should fare well if properly acclimated, this is not the fish to add to a new aquarium. Additionally, the neon’s tetras bright blue stripe is located along its top or middle. It runs the entire length of the body and even bleeds into the transparent tail. The cardinal tetra (Paracheirodon axelrodi) is a freshwater fish of the characin family (family Characidae) of order Characiformes.It is native to the upper Orinoco and Negro Rivers in South America. The water needs to be slightly acidic and very soft. The average Cardinal Tetra size is around two inches in length when fully grown. This is especially true around breeding season. Such waters are topic to heavy shading by the rainforest timber, and nearly no daylight reaches them. Cardinal Tetras are a wonderful freshwater fish that often get overlooked. These fish come from slow-moving waters in South America where the environment is warm, clear, and heavily shaded. This applies to peaceful species, too. This guide will teach you the fundamentals of Cardinal Tetra care, so you’ll be fully prepared once you decide to buy some. Get a reliable and accurate test kit and be sure everything is suitable before introducing this species to their new home. They make a wonderful addition to a Discus Community Tank. Table of Contents show. Add your bonded pair and condition them with live foods. Speaking of which, you’ll need a lot of plants! You’ll learn things like ideal water parameters, tank mates, diet, size, and even breeding tips! However, these fish do have high vitamin needs! The Cardinal Tetra (Paracheirodon axelrodi) is a social fish from the Characidae family.They are sometimes referred to as Red Neon Tetra due to their similarity to the famous Neon Tetra.. Cardinal Tetras are growing in popularity and can be found in most pet stores for as little as $2. Cardinal Tetra Overview. Above the red stripe is an iridescent blue stripe that pairs with the red line parallel down the fish, stopping just before the tail with no bleeding. Directly below the blue stripe is a thicker band of bright red. It can be difficult to differentiate the male from the female but there is speculation that the females are a little bit larger than the male. The belly is usually white. Slowly mix in a little water from your tank to the bag they came in over a period of an hour or more. Also, avoid any larger fish that could eat them (obviously). They are willing to accept a wide variety of foods which makes feeding them easy. Give them a tank with low light levels and lots of aquarium plants. Feed the fry brine shrimp. As long as you have the right information, Cardinal Tetra care shouldn’t be too difficult to manage. The vegetation is important for blocking out light and providing shelter, but that open swimming area is crucial, too. The cardinal tetra only grows up to 2” in size and only lives an average of four years. Again, better than the six or so neons I have. When kept in captivity, Cardinal Tetras need stable conditions to live long lives. Cardinal Tetras stick to the middle of the aquarium, but that doesn’t mean that you can ignore the substrate. Author Note: This isn’t a species that you can just plop into a newly established tank. A larger school will help the fish feel confident and help keep it healthy. They will accept all sorts of tropical fish food, including flakes, frozen and freeze dried foods and definitley live foods. Aquarium Source is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. There are many different types of aquarium catfish out there. Photo Credit : Photos copyright JJPhoto.dk, © FishLore.com - providing tropical fish tank and aquarium information for freshwater fish and saltwater fish keepers.About FishLore | Your best option would be fine sand. Additionally, the neon’s tetras bright blue stripe is located along its top or middle. It’s a parasitic disease that’s often brought into tanks through other infected fish or infected live foods. In many areas, they’re believed to be an annual species with a very short lifespan!