FishTankCardinal tetra care: tank size, temperature and tankmates
A deeper red cousin of the neon tetra, with the red stripe running the full length of the body. Cardinals like warmer, softer water than neons and are more delicate when new, so add them to a tank that has been running for a few months.
Quick facts
| Type | Tetra |
|---|---|
| Adult size | About 2 inches |
| Smallest tank | 20 gallons |
| Temperature | 75–82°F |
| Keep | 6 or more |
| Watch for | Peaceful. Keep the right group size. |
How to keep them
Feed small flakes, micro pellets and frozen or live baby brine shrimp. They stay brighter and braver in a big group with plants and dim spots.
Like every fish, they need a cycled tank, a heater set inside their range, and a weekly water change of about 25%. Test for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate before you add them. New to this? Start with how to cycle a fish tank.
Tankmates
Good tankmates
Neon tetra · Ember tetra · Rummynose tetra · Black skirt tetra · Serpae tetra · Harlequin rasbora · Zebra danio · Cherry barb · Tiger barb · Platy · Guppy · Endler's livebearer · Molly · Swordtail · Betta (male) · Honey gourami · Dwarf gourami · Pearl gourami · Corydoras (bronze or peppered) · Pygmy corydoras · Kuhli loach · Otocinclus · Bristlenose pleco · Cherry shrimp · Amano shrimp · Nerite snail · Mystery snail
Possible, with care
- Angelfish: Adult angelfish may eat small fish like cardinal tetras. Add the small fish first, as adults, in a big tank.
Avoid
- White cloud mountain minnow: No shared temperature: cardinal tetras like 75–82°F, white cloud minnows 60–72°F.
- Fancy goldfish: Goldfish need cool water and grow big and messy. Keep them with other goldfish, not tropical fish.
- Common goldfish: Goldfish need cool water and grow big and messy. Keep them with other goldfish, not tropical fish.
Check a whole tank in the fish compatibility checker, or see if they fit with the stocking calculator.
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