Cardinal tetra
Paracheirodon axelrodi
Photo: CHUCAO · CC BY-SA 3.0
- Tank length
- 60 cm24 in
- Group
- 6+
- Temperature
- 24–30 °C75–86 °F
- pH
- 5.5–7.5
- Adult size
- 4 cm2 in
- Lifespan
- 3–6 yrs
Warm soft water and a settled aquarium suit this shoaling fish.Warm soft water and a settled aquarium suit this shoaling fish.
Tank sizes
Good tankmates
Avoid with
Common goldfishCheck Common goldfish with Cardinal tetraCheck Common goldfish with Cardinal tetra
Electric yellow labCheck Electric yellow lab with Cardinal tetraCheck Electric yellow lab with Cardinal tetra
Fancy goldfishCheck Fancy goldfish with Cardinal tetraCheck Fancy goldfish with Cardinal tetra
- Acei cichlid
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Brevis shell dweller
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Caudopunctatus
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Multies
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Pindani
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Rusty cichlid
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Saulosi cichlid
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Similis shell dweller
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Afra cichlid
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
Data used by the planner
| Temperature | 24–30 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · low confidence |
|---|---|---|
| pH | 5.5–7.5 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · low confidence |
| Hardness (dGH) | 1–15 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · low confidence |
| Origin | South America | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Beginner friendly | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Care level | easy | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Activity | moderate | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Swimming level | middle | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Temperament | peaceful | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Nips fins | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Long fins | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Territorial | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Lives in groups | Yes | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Minimum group | 6 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Diet | omnivore | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Lifespan (years) | 3–6 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Months to adult size | 12 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Safe with plants | Yes | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Minimum tank length | 60 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |