Cardinal Tetra

The cardinal tetra is a small characin in the family Characidae, native to the upper Orinoco and Negro river basins of South America. It is one of the most beautiful aquarium fish, with a brilliant iridescent blue stripe running the full length of the body over a matching band of deep red below. It is a peaceful shoaling fish that must be kept in a group, ideally a dozen or more, where it forms a shimmering school in the midwater. It is timid when kept in small numbers. It thrives in soft, acidic, well-planted blackwater-style aquariums with subdued lighting and calm tank mates such as other small tetras and dwarf cichlids. It eats small prepared and frozen foods. Breeding is challenging, requiring very soft, acidic water and dim conditions, so most fish are wild-caught or commercially bred.