Care and Compatibility of Cardinal Tetra - Paracheirodon axelrodi


Introduction

Paracheirodon axelrodi, commonly known as the cardinal tetra, is a small, colorful fish native to the rivers of the Amazon basin in South America. It is distinguished by its bright blue and red stripe running along its body, making it a popular and attractive addition to community aquariums.

Behavior

The cardinal tetra is a peaceful and sociable fish that gets along well with other small fish in the aquarium. They prefer to swim in schools and feel more secure and active when in larger groups.

Sexual Dimorphism

Sexual dimorphism in cardinal tetras is subtle. Females tend to be slightly larger and rounder in the abdomen compared to males.

Reproduction

Breeding the cardinal tetra in the aquarium can be challenging due to their specific water requirements and tendency to eat their own eggs. They need a low-light environment with soft, acidic water to successfully breed. Eggs should be protected from the adults to ensure hatching.

Aquarium Conditions

To keep cardinal tetras, a well-planted aquarium with shaded areas and soft, acidic water is recommended. They prefer temperatures between 23°C and 27°C and benefit from gentle filtration to mimic their natural habitat.

Feeding

The cardinal tetra is omnivorous, feeding on small invertebrates, algae, and plant material. In the aquarium, they accept flake foods, pellets, and frozen or live foods such as daphnia and brine shrimp.

Complexity

The cardinal tetra is relatively easy to care for, making it suitable for aquarists of all levels. They are hardy and adapt well to community aquariums when kept in schools of at least six individuals.


In case you need more help, or if you want to know into any topic related to the Paracheirodon axelrodi (Cardinal Tetra) and even any other species you can use the forums to ask what you need.

To do an analysis more detailed about coexistence and behavior of Paracheirodon axelrodi (Cardinal Tetra) use the Aquarium simulation tool, if you do this you can test different ways to combine the Cardinal Tetra with other fishes giving the dimensions and space on you aquarium, on this way you can known the optimal configuration for keep the fishes that you want.

You can also find out the 99 species compatible with the Paracheirodon axelrodi (Cardinal Tetra) can live together.

Note: The parameters of the water such as PH and temperature are also used to calculate the compatibility of the species.


Compatible species (99)

Compatible (52 Species)

Compatible without any restriction


Royal Pleco - Panaque nigrolineatus

Royal Pleco

Panaque nigrolineatus

Pictus Catfish - Pimelodus pictus

Pictus Catfish

Pimelodus pictus

Lacustris Rainbowfish - Melanotaenia lacustris

Lacustris Rainbowfish

Melanotaenia lacustris

Yoyo Loach - Botia almorhae

Yoyo Loach

Botia almorhae

Goldeneye Dwarf Cichlid - Nannacara anomala

Goldeneye Dwarf Cichlid

Nannacara anomala

Tiger Barb - Puntius tetrazona

Tiger Barb

Puntius tetrazona

German Blue Ram - Microgeophagus ramirezi

German Blue Ram

Microgeophagus ramirezi

Bleeding Heart Tetra - Hyphessobrycon erythrostigma

Bleeding Heart Tetra

Hyphessobrycon erythrostigma

Dwarf marbled catfish - Microglanis poecilus

Dwarf marbled catfish

Microglanis poecilus

Hatchet Fish - Thoracocharax stellatus

Hatchet Fish

Thoracocharax stellatus

Glassy Perchlet - Parambassis ranga

Glassy Perchlet

Parambassis ranga

Semifasciolatus Barb - Puntius semifasciolatus

Semifasciolatus Barb

Puntius semifasciolatus

Female Siamese Fighting Fish - Betta Splendens Female

Female Siamese Fighting Fish

Betta Splendens Female

Red-eyed Tetra - Moenkhausia sanctaefilomenae

Red-eyed Tetra

Moenkhausia sanctaefilomenae

Apple Snail - Pomacea bridgesii

Apple Snail

Pomacea bridgesii

Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid - Apistogramma viejita

Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid

Apistogramma viejita

Congo Tetra - Phenacogrammus interruptus

Congo Tetra

Phenacogrammus interruptus

Moenkhausia Pittieri - Moenkhausia pittieri

Moenkhausia Pittieri

Moenkhausia pittieri

Stiphodon Ornatus - Stiphodon ornatus

Stiphodon Ornatus

Stiphodon ornatus

Dwarf Gourami - Colisa lalia

Dwarf Gourami

Colisa lalia

Zebrafish - Danio rerio

Zebrafish

Danio rerio

Black Skirt Tetra - Gymnocorymbus ternetzi

Black Skirt Tetra

Gymnocorymbus ternetzi

Harlequin Rasbora - Trigonostigma Heteromorpha

Harlequin Rasbora

Trigonostigma Heteromorpha

Emperor Tetra - Nematobrycon Palmeri

Emperor Tetra

Nematobrycon Palmeri

Three lined Pencilfish - Nannostomus Trifasciatus

Three lined Pencilfish

Nannostomus Trifasciatus

Bamboo Shrimp - Atyopsis moluccensis

Bamboo Shrimp

Atyopsis moluccensis

Otocinclus Catfish - Otocinclus Affinis

Otocinclus Catfish

Otocinclus Affinis

Ember Tetra - Hemigrammus Rhodostomus

Ember Tetra

Hemigrammus Rhodostomus

Serpae Tetra - Hyphessobrycon Eques

Serpae Tetra

Hyphessobrycon Eques

Cherry Barb - Barbus titteya

Cherry Barb

Barbus titteya

Filamented Rainbowfish - Iriatherina Werneri

Filamented Rainbowfish

Iriatherina Werneri

Black Phantom Tetra - Hyphessobrycon Megalopterus

Black Phantom Tetra

Hyphessobrycon Megalopterus

Forktail Blue-Eye - Pseudomugil furcatus

Forktail Blue-Eye

Pseudomugil furcatus

Amano Shrimp - Caridina multidentata

Amano Shrimp

Caridina multidentata

Lemon Tetra - Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis

Lemon Tetra

Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis

Cardinal Tetra - Paracheirodon axelrodi

Cardinal Tetra

Paracheirodon axelrodi

Glowlight Tetra - Hemigrammus Erythrozonus

Glowlight Tetra

Hemigrammus Erythrozonus

Black Neon Tetra - Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi

Black Neon Tetra

Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi

Red-Backed Tetra - Hyphessobrycon bentosi

Red-Backed Tetra

Hyphessobrycon bentosi

Ruby Tetra - Axelrodia riesei

Ruby Tetra

Axelrodia riesei

Green Neon Tetra - Paracheirodon Simulans

Green Neon Tetra

Paracheirodon Simulans

Boraras Brigittae Fish - Boraras Brigittae

Boraras Brigittae Fish

Boraras Brigittae

Espei Rasbora - Trigonostigma espei

Espei Rasbora

Trigonostigma espei

Blue-Eyed Pseudomugil - Pseudomugil paskai

Blue-Eyed Pseudomugil

Pseudomugil paskai

Dwarf Tetra - Hasemania nana

Dwarf Tetra

Hasemania nana

Red Cherry - Neocaridina davidi

Red Cherry

Neocaridina davidi

Galaxy Rasbora - Danio margaritatus

Galaxy Rasbora

Danio margaritatus

Blue Bee Shrimp - Paracaridina sp

Blue Bee Shrimp

Paracaridina sp

Medaka Fish - Oryzias latipes

Medaka Fish

Oryzias latipes

Dwarf Swordtail - Heterandria formosa

Dwarf Swordtail

Heterandria formosa

The cardinal tetra (Paracheirodon axelrodi) and the neon tetra (Paracheirodon innesi) are popular aquarium fish due to their bright colors and peaceful nature. The main difference lies in their coloration: the cardinal tetra has a red stripe that runs the length of its body, while the neon tetra's red stripe only extends halfway, with the blue stripe being more prominent in the neon tetra. In terms of behavior, both are peaceful and sociable, preferring to swim in large schools. However, the cardinal tetra can be more demanding regarding water conditions and is less prolific in captivity compared to the neon tetra, which is easier to breed and maintain.


Neon tetra fish - Paracheirodon innesi

Neon tetra fish

Paracheirodon innesi

With Reservation (1 Species)

Compatible in some cases, it depends on the nature and personality of the fish.


Considerable size difference (33 Species)

They can coexist while they are similar in size or the size difference is not very abysmal, since as the fish grows it increases the chances of eating its partner that did not grow much.


Sun Catfish - Horabagrus brachysoma

Sun Catfish

Horabagrus brachysoma

Bala Shark - Balantiocheilus melanopterus

Bala Shark

Balantiocheilus melanopterus

Mije Fish - Leporinus fasciatus

Mije Fish

Leporinus fasciatus

Clown Loach - Chromobotia macracanthus

Clown Loach

Chromobotia macracanthus

Gray bichir - Polypterus senegalus

Gray bichir

Polypterus senegalus

Galaxy Plecostomus - Leporacanthicus sp L240

Galaxy Plecostomus

Leporacanthicus sp L240

Blue Acara - Satanoperca daemon

Blue Acara

Satanoperca daemon

Suckermouth Catfish - Gyrinocheilus Aymonieri

Suckermouth Catfish

Gyrinocheilus Aymonieri

Striped Raphael Catfish - Platydoras costatus

Striped Raphael Catfish

Platydoras costatus

Discus fish - Symphysodon aequifasciatus

Discus fish

Symphysodon aequifasciatus

Electric Blue Cichlid - Andinoacara pulcher

Electric Blue Cichlid

Andinoacara pulcher

False Discus - Heros severus

False Discus

Heros severus

Boeseman's Rainbowfish - Melanotaenia Boesemani

Boeseman's Rainbowfish

Melanotaenia Boesemani

Lemon Catfish - Hemiancistrus subviridis

Lemon Catfish

Hemiancistrus subviridis

Altum Angelfish - Pterophyllum altum

Altum Angelfish

Pterophyllum altum

Stick Catfish - Farlowella acus

Stick Catfish

Farlowella acus

Freshwater angelfish - Pterophyllum scalare

Freshwater angelfish

Pterophyllum scalare

Severum Cichlid - Heros efasciatus

Severum Cichlid

Heros efasciatus

Silver Dollar Fish - Metynnis argenteus

Silver Dollar Fish

Metynnis argenteus

Red-tailed Black Shark - Epalzeorhynchus frenatus

Red-tailed Black Shark

Epalzeorhynchus frenatus

Denison Barb - Puntius denisonii

Denison Barb

Puntius denisonii

Flag Cichlid - Mesonauta festivus

Flag Cichlid

Mesonauta festivus

Clown Pleco - Panaqolus maccus

Clown Pleco

Panaqolus maccus

Red Rainbowfish - Glossolepis incisus

Red Rainbowfish

Glossolepis incisus

Siamese Algae Eater - Crossocheilus Siamensis

Siamese Algae Eater

Crossocheilus Siamensis

Pearl gourami - Trichogaster leerii

Pearl gourami

Trichogaster leerii

Coolie loach - Pangio kuhlii

Coolie loach

Pangio kuhlii

Leopard Cactus Pleco - Hypancistrus Furunculus L199

Leopard Cactus Pleco

Hypancistrus Furunculus L199

Empire Gudgeon - Hypseleotris compressa

Empire Gudgeon

Hypseleotris compressa

Kribensis Cichlid - Pelvicachromis pulcher

Kribensis Cichlid

Pelvicachromis pulcher

Elephant Fish - Gnathonemus petersii

Elephant Fish

Gnathonemus petersii

Weather Loach - Misgurnus spp

Weather Loach

Misgurnus spp

Food competition (9 Species)

They can live together but you have to be careful since it is likely that the fastest fish will take all the food and leave nothing for their partners who are slow swimmers, so you have to make sure that everyone can eat.


Suckermouth catfish - Hypostomus plecostomus

Suckermouth catfish

Hypostomus plecostomus

Glass Catfish - Kryptopterus bicirrhis

Glass Catfish

Kryptopterus bicirrhis

Upside-Down Catfish - Synodontis nigriventris

Upside-Down Catfish

Synodontis nigriventris

Spotted Dora Catfish - Agamyxus pectinifrons

Spotted Dora Catfish

Agamyxus pectinifrons

Ember Tetra - Hyphessobrycon Amandae

Ember Tetra

Hyphessobrycon Amandae

Anentome Helena - Anentome helena

Anentome Helena

Anentome helena

Florida Dwarf Crayfish - Cambarellus diminutus

Florida Dwarf Crayfish

Cambarellus diminutus

Pearlscale Goldfish - Carassius auratus VI

Pearlscale Goldfish

Carassius auratus VI

Pez ventosa de borneo - Sewellia lineolata

Pez ventosa de borneo

Sewellia lineolata

Compatible if space is enough (4 Species)

They can coexist together if the aquarium they share is large and spacious enough for both species to feel good, as some fish may attack others to feel that they have little space and try to eliminate the competition.


Male siamese fighting fish - betta splendens male

Male siamese fighting fish

betta splendens male

Dwarf Cichlid - Apistogramma borellii

Dwarf Cichlid

Apistogramma borellii

Myanmar Darío - Dario sp Myanmar

Myanmar Darío

Dario sp Myanmar

Filamentous Tetra - Dicrossus filamentosus

Filamentous Tetra

Dicrossus filamentosus

Cardinal Tetra

Paracheirodon axelrodi

Cardinal Tetra - Paracheirodon axelrodi
  • Ph: 4.5 - 6.5
  • Temperature (c°): 23 - 27
  • Measures: 3 cm - 5cm
  • Aquarium Capacity:
    8 Liters - 2 Gallons
  • Alimentación: Omnivores
  • Comportamiento: Active, Peaceful, Shoal
  • Habitad: American
  • Preferencias del Acuario: Natural plants
  • Tamaño: Very small
  • Taxonomía: Fish
  • Tipo de Agua: Sweet water
  • Velocidad de nado o movimiento: Fast
  • Zona de Nado: Horizontal Swim, Swim in the middle of the aquarium