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The Cardinal Tetra is one of the aquarium hobbies most popular schooling fish. This is due to their striking blue and red color that stands out great in any aquarium. They look closely to a Neon Tetra yet the differences are evident. The Cardinal tetra is a bit larger than the Neon Tetra to start. Cardinals come from warmer water than Neon Tetras. In coloration, the Cardinal Tetra’s red line runs the whole length of the body. The red in the Neon Tetra only goes from the tail to about the middle of the body then the color changes to silver. Finally, Cardinal Tetras enjoying warmer water makes them a great choice for aquariums that house Discus (Symphysodon aequifasciatus) or one of the many color strains of Rams (Mikrogeophagus ramirezi). They are a stunning addition to aquariums because of their high contrast against planted tanks and dark substrates. We recommend them to anyone that wants an easy to care for and beautiful fish. They prefer to be kept in schools of 5 or more to make them feel the most comfortable.
The Cardinal Tetra originally came from the warmer streams of South America. To replicate their natural habitat, the use of rock work, plants, and driftwood should be included in the aquarium. They also enjoy tannins in their water, so the use of Indian Almond or Guava leaves is highly recommended. We would not recommend keeping this fish with shrimp colonies due to the likeliness of the cardinal tetra eating baby shrimp and potentially picking at adult shrimp.
The scientific name for the cardinal tetra is: Paracheirodon axelrodi
We feed our Cardinals a mix of frozen foods including daphnia, baby brine, cyclops, and Bloodworms.
Our Tank Parameters
Tank Recommendations
I’ve been wanting Cardinal tetras for a while but no one within 300 miles of me has them. I was nervous to order them as Cardinals are can be sensitive. I ordered 21 and they sent 4 extra. On arrival, I had 4 DOA, and 21 survived so I got what I paid for. It’s been a couple weeks and they are all alive and thriving! I will be ordering from flip aquatics again!
Very pleased with the Cardinal Tetras from flips all arrived alive i ordered 9 got a bonus guy and 2 weeks later they are still all accounted for and doing great they are all o beautiful and a great addition to my tank!
All I can say Is Wow! I ordered 15 received 18. All are growing fast and instally showed color after putting them in the tank. Except for the smallest one I didn't see that was left in the bag. I've had wild caught Cichlids for several years when I was breeding fish. These are a lot cheaper & just as top notch quality as the fish that were imported from Africa. I'm definitely plan on doing business in the future. Thanks for a wonderful experience!
I absolutely love my cardinal tetras, They are doing great and growing, they arrived very healthy and vigorous, swimming all over and enjoying their tank. I’m planning my next order, hopefully soon.
Team was very responsive to my questions. Cardinal tetras arrived in great shape and adapted and are thriving in their new home! Very quick, efficient and helpful process well done! Definitely going to be a return customer!
Awesome! Ordered 20 of these cardinal tetras and every one of them arrived healthy and active/lively. Definitely good, quality stock. Thank you so much for the continued high quality aquatic life and great customer service!
My Cardinal Tetras arrived safely and were in very good health.
I’ve never been to a pet shop and saw Cardinals selling for $8.99 a piece. I can buy them everyday for $2.00 . I have an order placed for 20 Cardinals, and 20 Rummy noses, @$2.00 ea.
All fish are healthy and happy. 2nd time ordering from Flip Aquatics. Thanks again.
All fish and plants arrived in good condition. Already acclimated into community tanks
I received what appeared to be two happy and healthy fish. they continue to thrive after the recommended acclamation, they’re still going through quarantine right now, but do you plan to shop again with flip aquatics.
Already looking colorful and doing great!!
Great fish! They were all healthy and they are still doing very well :) very happy with my purchase!
very nice colors, and all fishnarrived healthy
All fish arrived perfectly healthy and on time, even had one ‘freebie’ of each species, so I anticipated a death or two from stress. Pleased and will order again. Plants also arrived well and are thriving
Cardinal tetras have great color and size. They are doing really well with 100% surviving. This is the first time I have bought from Flip and very impressed with the whole process from ordering through delivery.
Arrived alive and well and then had an outbreak of the ich within days. All of them died
Absolutely beautiful and so lively. I am brand new to the aquarium world and two weeks later they are still swimming around looking beautiful and healthy. I will definitely order from Flip aquatics again!
Was a Little (actually a lot ) worried when they got here 7 hours late due to shipping delays. The bags were at 68.5 degrees. But I did exactly as the little instruction card said and DIDN’T float the bags and just let them sit till they almost matched the room temperature.
Didn’t have a drip acclimation kit so I winged it by putting them in the plastic pitcher I only use for the aquarium and added tank water a little at a time. Then poured the whole thing through a large net , put them in the tank and only one didn’t make it out of 22. But pretty sure he came that way but I just didn’t notice. One of the bags had a + 1 on it so I got exactly the quantity I ordered.
You guys think of everything.
Ps
They’re all zipping around and schooling quite nicely and to quote my mother in law…
They look happy and lively.
Probably going to order more fish from you guys …
Because my granddaughter wants to see 100 fish !!! LOL
Thanks again. YOU GUYS ARE AWESOME !!!
We ordered 3 cardinal's they are all young. Showed up healthy with bright coloration. All three ate right away and have been fully intergraded into their new school.
Cardinal Tetra | Paracheirodon Axelrodi
All came healthy and happy
They,re doing very well
Thank you
A bit smaller than expected, but very healthy.
I ordered 8 Cardinals, Flip kindly sent me 9. They are all healthy, active, and acclimated quickly. They are eating well. This is amazing since I live in the Monterey Bay area of California, and they came from Ohio!
Flip's method of packing and shipping works great. It's unfortunate that the overnight cost is so high, but I'm 78 and can't get to fish stores. So at least I can still enjoy my life-long hobby, thanks to good sources like Flip Aquatics. 😊
I received 15 of these guys and they all arrived healthy; they were already schooling and eating food within several hours of being in the aquarium...a really great fish!!!
They're beautiful and healthy!!
I ordered 12 Cardinals along with two Kulhi Loach and everything arrived in excellent condition. They were a great addition to my tank and watching their schooling habits.
Fish all arrived alive and healthy!!
