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Paracheirodon axelrodi

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Cardinal Tetra
Cardinal Tetra
Species Paracheirodon axelrodi
Family Characidae
Difficulty Moderate
Min. Tank Size 56.781 liters
56,781.177 mL

15 US Gallons (56.8L)

Size 5.08 cm

1.5-2 " (3.8-5.1cm)

sg Freshwater
pH 4.6 - 7.0
Temp. 295.15 K
71.6 °F
531.27 °R

299.15 K
78.8 °F
538.47 °R
22 -26 °C (71.6-78.8°F)

Water Hardness

4-10 °d

Stocking Ratio 2:3 M:F
Availability Very Common
Diet

Omnivore
Pellet Foods
Flake Foods
Live Foods

Life Span

3-8 years

Habitat

South America

This animal is available captive bred

Contents

[edit] Alternative names

Cardinal Tetra, Red Neon Tetra, Large Neon Tetra

[edit] Synonyms

Cheirodon axelrodi, Hyphessobrycon cardinalis

[edit] Sexing

The blue band along the side tends to bend upwards in females. Mature females will be more full in the belly than the males, especially if they have become gravid.

[edit] Breeding

Use Java moss or a synthetic substitute over the bottom of the tank and reduce the lighting. Cardinals usually spawn at twilight. The male embraces the female when spawning and about 500 eggs are scattered among the Java moss. Remove the parents. The eggs hatch in about 24 hours and the fry are free-swimming in about five days. Feed the young on infusoria and later on, newly hatched Brine Shrimp. The Cardinal is not easily bred and most specimens are still imported from their native waters.

[edit] Tank compatibility

The Cardinal Tetra is a peaceful community fish that should be kept in groups of at least 6. Should not be kept with larger predatory fish.

[edit] Diet

Will accept flake and granular foods along with micro pellet, supplemented with small live and frozen foods such as brine shrimp.

[edit] Feeding regime

See also: General Feeding Regime
Feed once to three times a day in small quantities.

[edit] Environment Specifics

Cardinal Tetras can be quite a bit more sensitive than their cousins the Neon Tetra so should therefore not be kept in new tanks. Their tanks should be well matured (at least 6 months old) and they appreciated subdued lighting and some dense planting as well as open swimming space. The tank should be well filtered but without a strong current.

[edit] Behaviour

Peaceful and a good community fish. Will school in groups of probably 6 or more. Other fish use this fish as a spotter fish (dither fish). If there is a predator about, these fish will see it first; therefore other, more timid fish (for example, the Clown Loach) will come out into the open more if you put these fish in your tank. Useful to the aquarist as an indicator fish, if they are closely packed together then they are alarmed and feel threatened. Usually if they are settled, they will disperse over your tank.

[edit] Identification

The fins have no colour and the upper-side is a brownish-red. A wide single stripe extends along each side of the fish from the upper parts of the eye to just below the Adipose fin. This stripe can appear sea-green, yellow-green or turquoise-blue, depending on the angle that the light hits it. Below this stripe is a wide bright Red band that can be seen on the lower half of the body , running from the underside of the mouth including the throat, and all the way back to the base of the Caudal fin. This fish is often confused with the Neon tetra, but in the Neon the bright red band is shorter, only running to the middle of the body.

[edit] Pictures

[edit] Videos

Cardinals in the wild:


[edit] External links

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