Cardinal tetra
Paracheirodon axelrodi
The cardinal tetra comes from the upper Orinoco and the Rio Negro, from forest streams with acidic, dark water. It eats small invertebrates. It is one of the most popular aquarium fish. Much of the trade comes from ornamental fishing in these basins, but today it is also farmed commercially, including gold and albino forms. The female is rounder.
- Scientific name
- Paracheirodon axelrodi
- Family
- Acestrorhamphidae
Fact sheet
General
- Water
- Freshwater
- Group
- Fish
Taxonomy
- Family
- Acestrorhamphidae
- Order
- Characiformes
- Synonyms
- Cheirodon axelrodi, Hyphessobrycon cardinalis
Origin
- Native region
- América do Sul
Water
- Temperature
- 23–29 °C
- pH
- 4.5–7.5
- General hardness (GH)
- 1–12 °dGH
Size and lifespan
- Adult size
- 3.5 cm
- Minimum tank (volume)
- 54 L
- Minimum tank (length)
- 60 cm
Behavior
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social life
- School
- Minimum group
- 8
- Swimming level
- Middle
- Diet
- Carnivore
Care
- Care difficulty
- Easy
Reproduction
- Breeding strategy
- Egg scatterer
Conservation and trade
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
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