Freshwater Fish Cardinal Tetra

The freshwater tropical fish from the Tetras groups below is including the most popular aquarium fish species in aquascape world. Usually kept in in groups of six or more and be housed with equally peaceful tankmates. They live and swim in groups such as commanded thus yielding interesting attraction.

Currently, Cardinal Tetra is the number one, most popular and widely kept in nature aquariums. Not only in groups of fish tetras, when compared with other fish species, the Cardinal Tetra is still the most widely used in the aquascape aquarium. Cardinal Tetra became a favorite because it has the most striking color of the group members other tetra fish.

Appearance of fish species that has name Paracheirodon axelrodi brings delicate beauty to any home freshwater aquarium. It has a bright blue stripe contrasted by a lower red stripe that runs the entire length of its body. This coloration differs from its cousin, the Neon Tetra, which has a red stripe that runs only halfway down the body. Equally as peaceful as Neon Tetras, Paracheirodon axelrodi will school together for a brilliant display of activity and color to dress small to large aquarium systems.


Though relatively hardy, the Cardinal Tetra does best in soft, acidic water with few fluctuations in water parameters. Breeding the Cardinal Tetra requires very soft water in the 1-2 dH range, a pH of 5-6, and low lighting levels. The female may lay as many as 130 eggs and the adults should be removed at this time. The eggs will hatch in about 24 hours and will become waterborne in approximately five days. Feed the fry baby brine shrimp and other suitable small foods.

The Cardinal Tetra will accept many small foods such as brine shrimp or daphnia, freeze-dried bloodworms and tubifex, micro pellet food, and high quality flake food.