{"product_id":"cardinal-tetra-paracheirodon-axelrodi-freshwater","title":"Cardinal Tetra (Paracheirodon axelrodi) - Tank Raised","description":"\u003cdiv style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif;color:#1a1a1a;max-width:860px;line-height:1.7;\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"background:#E0F2F5;border-left:4px solid #0B7285;padding:10px 14px;margin:0 0 10px;font-size:0.95em;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFresh out of quarantine.\u003c\/strong\u003e These just cleared our in-store QT: observed, treated preventatively, and eating prepared food before they hit the sales floor.\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"background:#E3F2FD;border-left:4px solid #1E88E5;padding:10px 14px;margin:0 0 14px;font-size:0.95em;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIn-store pickup only.\u003c\/strong\u003e Your order is reserved, we hold off on bagging until you arrive so it stays healthy in its display tank.\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eCardinal Tetra\u003c\/strong\u003e (\u003cem\u003eParacheirodon axelrodi\u003c\/em\u003e) is the fish people picture when they picture a planted tank. A band of electric blue runs the length of the body with a deep crimson stripe beneath it, and in a school of a dozen against dark substrate and green plants there is genuinely nothing better looking for the money. These are \u003cstrong\u003etank raised\u003c\/strong\u003e and graded \u003cstrong\u003emedium to large\u003c\/strong\u003e, so they are past the fragile stage and already coloured up. Browse the rest of our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/collections\/fresh-water\"\u003efreshwater fish\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #1E88E5;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eCardinal or Neon? Look at the Red\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese two get mixed up constantly, and the difference is easy once you know it. On a \u003cstrong\u003eCardinal Tetra the red stripe runs the entire length of the fish\u003c\/strong\u003e, nose to tail. On a Neon Tetra the red only covers the back half, from mid-body to the tail. Cardinals also get a little larger, hold their colour better as adults, and prefer slightly warmer water.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #1E88E5;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eWhy Tank Raised Matters Here\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWild Cardinals come out of Amazon blackwater that is soft and acidic, and they can sulk or fail in ordinary hard tap water. Tank-raised fish are bred and grown in normal aquarium conditions, so they take average tap water without complaint, eat prepared food from day one, and arrive carrying far fewer parasites. For most people this is the difference between a school that thrives and a school that slowly disappears.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #1E88E5;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eCare Guide\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBuy a real school:\u003c\/strong\u003e six is the bare minimum, ten or more is where they actually behave like Cardinals. In small numbers they hide, stay pale, and stress. In a proper group they hold the open water and colour up hard.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTank size:\u003c\/strong\u003e 20 gallons and up for a school of ten. Length matters more than height.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWater:\u003c\/strong\u003e 75 to 82°F, pH 6.0 to 7.5. They like it a touch warmer than Neons. Tank-raised stock is tolerant of moderately hard water, but stability beats chasing numbers.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAquascape:\u003c\/strong\u003e dark substrate, planted background, and some driftwood. Colour is partly behavioural, and a fish that feels covered shows far more red and blue than one in a bare bright tank.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDiet:\u003c\/strong\u003e small mouths. Crushed flake, micro pellets, frozen daphnia, baby brine, and frozen bloodworms. Feed small amounts once or twice a day.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTemperament:\u003c\/strong\u003e completely peaceful. They will not bother anything, including shrimp and snails.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNew tank caution:\u003c\/strong\u003e Cardinals are sensitive to unstable water. Add them to a cycled, settled aquarium rather than a brand new one.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #1E88E5;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ctable style=\"border-collapse:collapse;width:100%;max-width:640px;\"\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCommon name\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eCardinal Tetra\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eScientific name\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eParacheirodon axelrodi\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSourcing\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eTank raised, medium to large\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eUpper Orinoco and Rio Negro basins, South America\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCare level\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eBeginner (tank raised)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTemperament\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003ePeaceful, schooling\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAdult size\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eAbout 1.5 to 2 inches\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMinimum group\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e6, ideally 10 or more\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMinimum tank\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e20 gallons\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTemperature\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e75 to 82°F\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003epH\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e6.0 to 7.5\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDiet\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eOmnivore, small foods\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLifespan\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e3 to 5 years\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater type\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eFreshwater\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #1E88E5;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eCompatibility\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIdeal in a peaceful planted community: \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/panda-cory-corydoras-panda-freshwater\"\u003ecorydoras\u003c\/a\u003e, other small tetras such as \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/tank-raised-rummynose-tetra-hemigrammus-bleheri-freshwater\"\u003eRummynose\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/von-rio-flame-tetra-hyphessobrycon-flammeus-freshwater\"\u003eVon Rio Flame Tetras\u003c\/a\u003e, rasboras, small rainbowfish, honey gouramis, and bristlenose plecos. Completely safe with \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/amano-shrimp-caridina-multidentata-freshwater\"\u003eAmano Shrimp\u003c\/a\u003e, nerite snails, and live plants.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAvoid anything with a mouth big enough. A two-inch Cardinal is a snack for an adult \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/koi-angelfish-pterophyllum-scalare-freshwater\"\u003eangelfish\u003c\/a\u003e, an oscar, or a larger cichlid, and it will get picked off eventually even if the two coexist at first. Also skip known fin-nippers like tiger barbs and serpae tetras.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #1E88E5;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eRecommended Foods \u0026amp; Supplies\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/ocean-nutrition-freshwater-community-formula-flake\"\u003eOcean Nutrition Freshwater Community Flake\u003c\/a\u003e, crushed small, as the daily staple\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFrozen daphnia, baby brine shrimp, or bloodworms a few times a week for colour\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/amazon-sword-echinodorus-grisebachii-potted-freshwater-plant\"\u003eAmazon Sword\u003c\/a\u003e and other \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/collections\/freshwater-aquarium-plants\"\u003elive plants\u003c\/a\u003e for cover, which is what brings the colour out\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/seachem-flourish-comprehensive-supplement\"\u003eSeachem Flourish\u003c\/a\u003e to keep those plants going\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #1E88E5;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eFAQ\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat does \"fresh out of QT\" mean?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eEvery fish we bring in spends time in our in-store quarantine before reaching the sales floor. We observe it, treat preventatively, and confirm it is eating prepared food. These just graduated, so they are settled and feeding rather than straight out of a shipping bag.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow is this different from a Neon Tetra?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe red stripe. On a Cardinal it runs the full length of the body; on a Neon it covers only the back half. Cardinals also grow slightly larger and prefer marginally warmer water.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow many should I buy?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSix minimum, ten or more if the tank allows. This is not upselling. Cardinals are a schooling fish and a group of three will hide in the corner and look washed out.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDo I need soft acidic water?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNot with tank-raised fish. Wild Cardinals want blackwater conditions, but these were bred and raised in ordinary aquarium water and do fine in typical tap. Keep it stable and clean.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy do they look pale in the bag?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eStress and bright light both wash the colour out temporarily. Give them a settled planted tank with darker substrate and the red and blue come back within a day or two.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAre they safe with shrimp?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes. Adult shrimp are ignored entirely. Very small shrimplets may occasionally get eaten, as with any small fish, but a planted tank with moss gives them cover.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Squeaky's Aquatics","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49069040369883,"sku":"FW1-F7958","price":4.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0767\/5209\/3403\/files\/856faba6-02f9-4330-99a6-b8f39de07996.jpg?v=1785970587","url":"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/cardinal-tetra-paracheirodon-axelrodi-freshwater","provider":"Squeaky's Aquatics","version":"1.0","type":"link"}