Cardinal Tetra - Complete Care Guide
Published: 2026-10-21 · FishyKart Blog
The Cardinal Tetra (Paracheirodon axelrodi) is instantly recognisable by a vivid red stripe running the full length of its body beneath an iridescent blue upper stripe - distinguishing it at a glance from the closely related Neon Tetra, whose red only covers the rear half (see the comparison guide for the full breakdown). It reaches 5 cm, lives 4-5 years, and does best in soft, slightly acidic water.
Photo: CHUCAO - Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Tank Requirements
- Tank size: 15-20 gallons for a proper shoal of 10+
- Temperature: 23-27°C
- pH: 5.5-7.0 - noticeably softer/more acidic preference than Neon Tetra
- Filtration: gentle flow, mimicking their slow-moving native blackwater streams
- Decor: dense planting and driftwood; darker substrate enhances their colour
Feeding
Small, frequent meals of micro pellets or crushed flakes, supplemented with baby brine shrimp or daphnia for colour and conditioning - the small mouth means food particle size matters as much as food type.
Shoaling
Cardinal Tetras show their best colour and least stressed behaviour in a group of 10 or more - smaller groups tend to hide more and display duller colour, even in otherwise good water conditions.
Buy Cardinal Tetra Online
FishyKart's Cardinal Tetras are quarantined and health-checked before listing.