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Cardinal tetras:
Total size: 1 ½ - 2inches
Adaptable temperatures: 78-82 (possible higher)
Swimming range: Mid levels except when eating.
Scientific Name: Paracheirodon axelrodi
Life span: Usually 2 –3 years in home aquariums.
Cardinals (I know if you’ve looked these fish up other places you will get sick of hearing this) resemble neons. I know I hate hearing it over and over again too. And what is next is: “they can be easily mistaken” blah blah. Well cardinals are not neons, and as far as I’m concerned cardinals just better fish. With cardinals, you can either keep them alive, or you can’t. They are hard fish to keep alive, but if you can then you are doing something right. Cardinals are caught from the wild, not breed commercially in pet stores and breeding center (unlike neons) which makes them more money, and some places don’t have warranties on them because of the high death rate. The come from all over Brazil in and around the Amazon basin. They are number one fish kept with discus and “only discus” tanks because they can withstand temperatures of 86 degrees, which discus need. Cardinals are schooling fish, a school is defined of at least 6 fish. But honestly 15 should be the minimum. They are brightly colored, and besides, where else are you going to get color in an Amazon tank? Fish such as rummy nose school WITH cardinals, and a large tetra school looks very interesting when there are 2 or 3 types of similar tetras together. They are one of the smaller tetras and WILL be eaten by large fish such as altum angels, large discus, and large angelfish. If you are one of those neon lovers, than go away. (jk)But neons don’t like water above 78 degrees, and my water is 82 degrees. They are well worth it, so try it once, but make sure you have lots of aquatic plants. If there are no plants then the cardinals will not feel comfortable and not freely swim. I like to keep 2 large thickets of assorted plants from South America on both far corners of my tank, and along the back, this way the tetras have the large swimming space in the front but aren’t far from safety. Another important thing is that all tetras like darker water, it reminds them of good ‘ole home. Driftwood, pete moss, and/or black water dye will create a murky water home. Their colors are brighter in murky water, either due to the little light that gets through the water reflecting off of their scales, or because they are simply happier. Also dim light is appreciated, best with floating plants.
Good tank mates:
Altum angelfish, but will eat them.
Angelfish, but will chase them.
Discus, but may eat them
Other tetras (rummy nose are great, they school with cardinals)
Corydoras
Dwarf cichlids
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