Occurs mainly in shoals in the middle water layers. Feeds on worms and small crustaceans . Breeding in captivity is possible but difficult and most specimens in the aquarium trade are caught in the tributaries of the Rio Negro and Orinoco. Eggs hatch in 24 to 30 hours and fry are free-swimming after 3 to 4 days in captivity . One of the most popular and beautiful aquarium fishes. Aquarium keeping: in groups of 5 or more individuals; minimum aquarium size 60 cm .
Physical description for Cardinal tetra is currently being compiled.
Behavioural data for Cardinal tetra is currently being reviewed.
Freshwater; pelagic; pH range: 4.0 - 6.0; dH range: 5 - 12; non-migratory. Tropical; 23°C - 27°C South America: Upper Orinoco and Negro River basins.
worms and small crustaceans (Ref
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | cardinal tetra · red neon · Scarlet characin |
| 🇸🇦Arabic | كاردينال تترا |
| 🌍BRE | Kardinal |
| 🌍BUL | Червен неон |
| 🌍CES | Neonka červená |
| 🇩🇰Danish | Rød neon |
| 🇩🇪German | Roter Neon |
| 🇫🇮Finnish | Kardinaalitetra |
| 🇫🇷French | Neon |
| 🇭🇺Hungarian | Vörös neonhal |
| 🇮🇹Italian | Cardinale |
| 🇯🇵Japanese | カージナルテトラ |
| 🌍LIT | Raudonasis neonas |
| 🇳🇱Dutch | Kardinaaltetra |
| 🇵🇱Polish | Neon czerwony · Neon czerwony a. neonek Axelroda |
| 🇵🇹Portuguese | Cardinal · Neon · Tetra cardinal · Tetra-cardeal |
| 🇷🇺Russian | Krasnyi neon · Кардинальская тетра · Красный неон |
| 🇪🇸Spanish | Cardenal · Pez Cardenal |
| 🇸🇪Swedish | Kardinaltetra |
| 🌍THA | ปลาคาร์ดินัล |
| 🌍UKR | Неон червоний |
| 🇨🇳Chinese | 宝莲灯鱼 · 寶蓮燈 · 阿氏霓虹脂鯉 |
The following diseases are known to affect Cardinal tetra.
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 5 records indexed .
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