Cardinal Tetra care guide
Paracheirodon axelrodi · Characidae
Cardinal Tetra (Paracheirodon axelrodi) is an aquarium animal. It belongs to the Characidae family. It is native to The rio Negro and Orinoco drainages of Brazil, Colombia and Venezuela; the two populations differ in colour pattern. Now bred on a large scale, but a significant share of trade fish is still wild caught or comes from community-led projects such as Project Piaba.. Water temperature: 23°C – 29°C. pH: 3.5 – 7.5. Care difficulty: Easy to moderate.
How do you care for Cardinal Tetra?
| Temperature | 23°C – 29°C |
|---|---|
| pH | 3.5 – 7.5 |
| Placement | A mid-water shoaling fish; a tank of at least about 60 × 30 cm (~54 litres), soft water (1–12 dGH). Good with similar-sized characins, small catfish and peaceful cichlids. |
| Growth | Small: about 3.5 cm (1.4 in) standard length. |
| Difficulty | Easy to moderate (likes soft, clean water; wild-caught fish can be more sensitive) |
| Family | Characidae |
How do you trim and propagate Cardinal Tetra?
Omnivorous: small invertebrates, crustaceans, filamentous algae and fallen fruit in nature. It can survive on dried food but does best with frozen or live bloodworm, mosquito larvae, Daphnia and Moina as well.
What problems affect Cardinal Tetra?
The main risk is the origin of the stock: wild-caught fish can arrive stressed or carrying disease.
How do you fix Cardinal Tetra problems?
Pick fish that are feeding, quarantine them and add them to a cycled tank; keep the water soft and stable.
Where does Cardinal Tetra come from?
The rio Negro and Orinoco drainages of Brazil, Colombia and Venezuela; the two populations differ in colour pattern. Now bred on a large scale, but a significant share of trade fish is still wild caught or comes from community-led projects such as Project Piaba. · Biotope regions: South America.
What should you know before buying Cardinal Tetra?
A shoaling fish: keep a group. Generally peaceful and suits a community of non-aggressive fish.
Sources
- Paracheirodon axelrodi (Cardinal Tetra) — Seriously Fish
- Paracheirodon axelrodi — FishBase
Care details checked against these sources on 2026-10-29.
Last updated · Open the interactive 3D guide · All species care guides