Cardinal Tetra For Sale | Paracheirodon axelrodi

Add vibrant color and beautiful schooling movement to your aquarium with the Cardinal Tetra (Paracheirodon axelrodi). Known for its brilliant blue and red coloration that runs across the length of its body, the Cardinal Tetra is one of the most popular freshwater schooling fish for planted and community aquariums.

Cardinal Tetras are peaceful, active, and especially impressive when kept in groups. A school moving together through a planted aquarium creates a stunning display of color and makes these small fish a favorite among aquascapers and freshwater aquarium keepers.

Why Choose Cardinal Tetras?

• Brilliant blue and red coloration
• Peaceful schooling fish
• Excellent choice for planted aquariums
• Active and entertaining to watch
• Great community aquarium fish
• Beautiful contrast against green aquatic plants
• Best kept in groups for natural behavior

Cardinal Tetra Information

• Common Name: Cardinal Tetra
• Scientific Name: Paracheirodon axelrodi
• Type: Freshwater Tetra
• Adult Size: Approximately 1.5–2 inches
• Temperament: Peaceful
• Care Level: Easy to Moderate
• Diet: Omnivore
• Swimming Level: Middle
• Minimum Aquarium: 15–20 gallons
• Best Kept: Groups of 6 or more

Cardinal Tetra Care

Cardinal Tetras do best in a mature, stable aquarium with clean water and plenty of swimming space. They are social schooling fish and should be kept in groups rather than individually.

A planted aquarium with driftwood, subdued lighting, and open swimming areas provides an excellent environment and can help bring out their vibrant natural coloration.

Recommended Water Parameters

• Temperature: 73–81°F
• pH: 5.0–7.5
• Ammonia: 0 ppm
• Nitrite: 0 ppm
• Nitrate: Keep low
• Water Flow: Low to moderate

Stable water quality and regular maintenance are important for keeping Cardinal Tetras healthy and active.

Feeding Cardinal Tetras

Cardinal Tetras are omnivores and readily accept a variety of small foods.

Recommended foods include:

• High-quality tropical flakes
• Nano pellets
• Micro pellets
• Frozen brine shrimp
• Frozen bloodworms
• Daphnia
• Baby brine shrimp
• Small live foods

Feed small portions once or twice daily, giving them only what they can consume within a few minutes.

Tank Mates

Cardinal Tetras are peaceful community fish and can be kept with many similarly sized, non-aggressive species.

Good tank mates include:

• Rummy Nose Tetras
• Neon Tetras
• Ember Tetras
• Harlequin Rasboras
• Chili Rasboras
• Corydoras
• Otocinclus
• Peaceful Gouramis
• Freshwater Shrimp
• Peaceful Snails

Avoid large, aggressive, or predatory fish that may eat or stress these small tetras.

Aquarium Setup

Cardinal Tetras look spectacular in a planted aquarium where their bright colors can stand out against natural greenery.

Recommended features include:

• Live aquatic plants
• Driftwood
• Darker substrate
• Open swimming areas
• Gentle water movement
• Stable filtration
• Shaded areas or floating plants

For the best schooling behavior, keep them in groups of at least 6. Larger schools can create an even more impressive display.

What You'll Receive

• Live Cardinal Tetra
• Carefully selected and professionally packed
• Shipped with Coast Gem USA's Live Arrival Guarantee

Add a brilliant splash of blue and red to your aquarium with Cardinal Tetras for sale from Coast Gem USA.