# Cardinal Tetra (*Paracheirodon cardinalis*)

Cardinal Tetras are beautiful little fish with bright red and blue colors! They love to swim in groups and are very peaceful.

- **Category:** [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/fish)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 2/5 · Low
- **Habitat:** Freshwater rivers
- **Also known as:** Cardinal Tetra Fish, Red Tetra

![Cardinal Tetra](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426766/objects/4731.jpg)

## Appearance

The Cardinal Tetra has a vibrant, iridescent blue stripe running above a brilliant red stripe that extends from head to tail. This full-body red stripe distinguishes it from its close relative, the Neon Tetra, making it appear as a tiny, living jewel.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Chordata
- **Class:** Actinopterygii
- **Order:** Characiformes
- **Family:** Characidae
- **Genus:** Paracheirodon

## Interesting facts

- At night, their bright colors disappear to help them hide from predators!
- Cardinal Tetras are like living jewels found only in the Amazon rainforest!
- These tiny fish can swim in rivers so dark, they're called 'blackwater'!
- They look like tiny swimming rainbows, thanks to their shiny scales!

## Special abilities

- **Glimmering Camouflage:** Cardinal Tetra has a bright iridescent stripe that reflects light, helping them blend into their dark river habitats or confuse predators.
- **Nighttime Fade:** Cardinal Tetra can make their bright colors fade at night, helping them hide from lurking predators while they rest.
- **Super Shoaling:** Cardinal Tetra can form huge schools, creating a moving 'superorganism' that makes it harder for predators to pick out one fish.

## Measurements & details

- **Length:** 3-5 cm
- **Weight:** 0.0005-0.001 kg
- **Lifespan:** 1-3 years
- **Swim Speed:** 0.5 km/h
- **Maximum Depth:** 2 m
- **Water Type:** Freshwater

## Diet & Feeding

Tiny predators, they munch on small insects and critters found in the water.

- **Primary Foods:** Zooplankton, Insect larvae, Small crustaceans, Algae
- **Foraging Method:** Foraging

## Ecological connections

- **Eats:** Water Flea (*Daphnia pulex*) — A tiny crustacean that is a primary food source for tetras.
- **Eaten by:** Dwarf Pike Cichlid (*Crenicichla regani*) — A larger predatory fish sharing the same Amazonian habitat.
- **Eaten by:** Wolf Fish (*Hoplias malabaricus*) — A fierce nocturnal predator that ambushes smaller fish like tetras.

## Traits

- [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats.
- [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring.
- [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
- [Piscivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/piscivorous): Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish.
- [Freshwater](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/freshwater): Freshwater habitats include non-saline aquatic environments such as rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands, vital for numerous species.
- [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands.

## Collections

- [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/fish)

## Safety

**Danger:** 2/5 · Low

Watch quietly from a distance and never try to feed or chase wild animals.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Cardinal Tetra?

Look at body shape, where the fins sit and their outline, mouth position, stripes and spots. Young fish and breeding adults can wear different patterns, and aquarium color varieties can look nothing like wild fish. Fish Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How long is Cardinal Tetra?

3-5 cm

### How much does Cardinal Tetra weigh?

0.0005-0.001 kg

### How long does Cardinal Tetra live?

1-3 years

### What does Cardinal Tetra eat?

Tiny predators, they munch on small insects and critters found in the water.

### How fast can Cardinal Tetra swim?

0.5 km/h

### Where is Cardinal Tetra usually found?

Freshwater rivers

### How does Cardinal Tetra hunt?

Foraging

## More Fish

- [Rainbow Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rainbow-trout) (*Oncorhynchus mykiss*)
- [Brown Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-trout) (*Salmo trutta*)
- [Brook Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brook-trout) (*Salvelinus fontinalis*)
- [Lake Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/lake-trout) (*Salvelinus namaycush*)

---

Source: [Cardinal Tetra: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cardinal-tetra)