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Cardinal tetra (Paracheirodon axelrodi) — Characidae

Cardinal tetra

Paracheirodon axelrodi
Family: Characidae
NE · Not Evaluated

The Cardinal tetra (Paracheirodon axelrodi) is a freshwater fish of the family Characidae that grows up to 3 cm.

Length
2.5 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Open water
Danger
Harmless
Range
Northern South America
Edibility
Not eaten

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Description

The cardinal tetra is a small, spectacularly coloured characin from fresh water of northern South America, in the Orinoco and upper Rio Negro basins. The species grows to about 3 cm and has a body with a brilliant blue-green light stripe along the whole flank and a bright red lower half. It schools in large numbers in blackwater streams and feeds on small zooplankton and insect larvae. It is one of the most popular aquarium fishes in the world. The IUCN has not evaluated the species.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Cardinal tetra?

The Cardinal tetra has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly blue and shows a horizontal stripes pattern. Brilliant blue-green light stripe and a red lower half; popular aquarium fish

Where does the Cardinal tetra live?

The Cardinal tetra lives in fresh water and is mostly found around open water. Northern South America

How big does the Cardinal tetra get?

The Cardinal tetra grows to a maximum of about 3 cm.

Is the Cardinal tetra dangerous to humans?

No, the Cardinal tetra is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

Is the Cardinal tetra edible?

The Cardinal tetra is not usually eaten.

More photos

Cardinal tetra (Paracheirodon axelrodi) — Characidae — 2
Weitzman, Stanley H. (CC0 1.0) via GBIF — USNM
Cardinal tetra (Paracheirodon axelrodi) — Characidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) daisi_d, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Cardinal tetra (Paracheirodon axelrodi) — Characidae — 4
Wikimedia Commons — User:CTho (CC BY-SA 2.5)
Cardinal tetra (Paracheirodon axelrodi) — Characidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) saraalien1, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Cardinal tetra verified
Scientific name
Paracheirodon axelrodi
Family
Characidae
Other names
Cardinal tetra; Neon; Neon tetra; Red neon; Scarlet characin verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
2.5 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Blue sourced
Pattern
Horizontal stripes sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Terminal sourced
Lips
Thin sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
Two separate sourced
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Open water sourced
Natural range
Northern South America verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Small zooplankton and insect larvae inferred
Social behaviour
Schooling sourced
Territorial
No sourced
Activity
Diurnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced
Seasonality
Schooling blackwater tetra; present year-round. sourced
Special features
Brilliant blue-green light stripe and a red lower half; popular aquarium fish sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Not a target species for angling; at most an incidental catch or usable as baitfish. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Paracheirodon

Neon tetra (Paracheirodon innesi) — Characidae
Neon tetra
Paracheirodon innesi
Characidae

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