| Cardinal Tetra: |
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Paracheirodon axelrodi |
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6.0-7.4 Prefers softer lower pH water |
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76-80 deg. F. |
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2 inches / 5 cm. |
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Do not place in tanks smaller than 10 gallons, 20+ gallons is preferred, especially since they do so well in schools of four and up. |
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Egg-layers |
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Mainly Flake. |
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Just about everyone's beginner fish, they love to be in schools of four or more. |
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Bright, but not direct sunlight. |
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Peaceful, very good community fish and an excellent choice for beginners whose natural source water is at neutral pH or lower. |
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A great durable starter fish for the little ones in the house, or for any beginner. They love to be in large schools of 6 or more, swimming in and around plants. Besides the Cardinal Tetra pictured here, there are also close relatives of Neon Tetras, False Neons and Black Neons, just as soon as I get pictures of these I will post them. |
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The easiest way for the hobbyist to tell the difference between the Neon Tetra and the Cardinal Tetra is to look closely at the Red Lateral line along the body. The Neon Tetra the line runs up about halfway up the body from the tail, for the Cardinal Tetra the Red Line runs along the complete side of the body. |
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Only one warning about this fish, there is a disease specific to these tetras that affects no other fish. For this reason it is commonly referred to as "Neon Disease", its actual name is Plistophora. To read more about this disease, click here. Unfortunately once you get this disease, until you boil everything ( including the tank! ) you will always have it. Luckily however this disease does not seem to bother any other fish than the Neons. |