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Cardinal Tetra
Paracheirodon axelrodi
Family: Characidae
📍 Rio Negro & Orinoco, South America
Often confused with the neon tetra, the cardinal tetra has a longer red stripe extending the full length of the body. It prefers soft, acidic blackwater conditions and looks stunning in large schools against dark substrate and dense planting.
Keeping this species
- diet
- Omnivore – micro pellets, flake, daphnia, micro worms
- lifespan
- 4–5 years
- max size
- 5 cm (2 in)
- tank size
- 20 gallons minimum
- school size
- 6+
- temperament
- Peaceful, schooling
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Tips from the community 💡
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Water it likes
- ph
- 4.5–6.5
- ammonia
- 0 ppm
- nitrate
- <10 ppm
- hardness
- 1–6 dGH
- temperature
- 73–81°F (23–27°C)
Natural Habitat Temperature
77°F — 81°F seasonal range · (Jul low, Feb high)