Freshwater Fish
Cardinal Tetra.
The brighter, fuller cousin of the neon — a neon-blue and full-red stripe running the whole body. Stunning in a large school against dark substrate and plants. Peaceful and community-safe; it shows best in soft, slightly acidic water in a 20-gallon-plus tank.
Live fish are priced per supplier batch — prices may vary. Call to confirm current pricing.
- Condition
- new
- Fulfillment
- Local pickup — Erie, PA
Every animal is acclimated and health-checked in-house before it reaches the sales floor. This is a species we carry — it's most likely in the tanks around delivery days, but live stock changes daily. Please call (814) 456-9445 to confirm availability before you drive in.
Care at a glance
What to know before you take one home.
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Community
- Community safe
- Adult size
- 2"
- Min tank size
- 20 gallons
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Scientific name
- Paracheirodon axelrodi
Good tank mates
Cardinals are peaceful and community-safe, so they fit right into a calm community tank. Good matches are other small, peaceful fish: tetras, rasboras, corydoras, peaceful gouramis, and small livebearers like guppies and platies. A few real examples that work well are neon tetras, harlequin rasboras, and bronze cories. Keep them away from fin-nippers like tiger barbs and from larger or aggressive fish, and avoid anything big enough to fit a one-inch cardinal in its mouth, like an oscar or a larger cichlid.
Good to know
The cardinal tetra's red stripe runs the full length of the body, unlike the closely related neon tetra, whose red covers only the back half.
Stock and individual temperament vary — call (814) 456-9445 for pairing advice before you buy.
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Visit the store
660 East 14th Street,
Erie, PA.
Mon–Fri 12–6 · Sat 11–4 · Sun closed. Call ahead on livestock — what's on the floor rotates.