Cardinal Tetra

Paracheirodon axelrodi

Brighter and larger than the neon tetra. Prefers soft, slightly acidic blackwater conditions.

Care Parameters

Adult size

5 cm

Min tank

60 L

Temperature

23–27°C

5.5–7

1–10 dGH

Diet

Omnivore

Temperament

Peaceful

Water zone

Middle

Difficulty

Intermediate

Schooling

School of 6 or more.

Suitable Plants

Rotala sp. h'ra

A stunning stem plant that develops intense orange-red coloration under high light and CO2. Narrow leaves arranged in whorls create a striking background accent in aquascapes.

Monte Carlo

Care profile for Monte Carlo: high light, medium CO₂, intermediate difficulty.

Duckweed

The smallest flowering plant — a tiny floating fern that doubles its coverage in days. Excellent nutrient absorber but extremely difficult to remove once established. Use with caution.

Hornwort

Care profile for Hornwort: low light, none CO₂, beginner difficulty.

Alternanthera reineckii

Care profile for Alternanthera reineckii: medium-high light, medium CO₂, intermediate difficulty.

Compatible Invertebrates

Blue Diamond Shrimp

A selectively bred color morph of Neocaridina davidi with solid, opaque blue coloration. Hardy and easy to breed, making them popular for planted tanks.

Great Ramshorn Snail

The large, coiled ramshorn that doubles as a cleanup crew and a living water-quality alarm. Every individual is hermaphroditic, so any pair can breed - populations explode only when overfeeding creates a feast, and they shrink right back once feeding is cut back.

Zebra Nerite Snail

A striped, hard-working algae grazer that never overpopulates: its eggs are laid all over the glass but only hatch in brackish water, so they simply stay put. Prefers harder water (GH 6-20 dGH) with calcium for a healthy shell; watch for escapes, as it can climb out of open tanks.

Vampire Shrimp

A large, impressive freshwater shrimp with fan-like appendages used to filter feed from the current. Can grow up to 15 cm and requires strong water flow and clean, well-oxygenated water.