TankStockingCardinal Tetra Tank Mates
Cardinal tetras are stunning, peaceful schoolers — like neons, but a touch larger and happier in warm, soft water.
They are gentle and easy to stock around, with the same one caveat as neons: keep them away from anything big enough to eat them. The engine clears small, peaceful community fish and flags larger predators. A big school in a planted tank is one of the hobby's great sights.
Cardinal Tetra key facts
The sourced figures the engine uses to judge Cardinal Tetra pairings.
| Adult size | 3 cm |
|---|---|
| Minimum tank | 15 US gal |
| Minimum group | 6+ (shoal) |
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Temperature range | 23–29°C |
| pH range | 4–7.5 |
| Bioload | Low |
| Swim level | Midwater |
| Beginner-friendly | Yes |
Sources & confidence (11 species)
These back the Cardinal Tetra figures and the recommended tank mates above. Each figure is read from the TankStocking species database (v2026.06); below is the care reference behind it and how confident we are in that data. Confidence reflects the source quality, not whether any pairing is safe. Full source list and the welfare model are on the methodology page.
- Cardinal Tetra Paracheirodon axelrodi — Seriously Fish (seriouslyfish.com/species/paracheirodon-axelrodi) high confidence
- Amano Shrimp Caridina multidentata — Aquarium Co-Op amano shrimp care; Aquadiction high confidence
- Assassin Snail Clea helena (Anentome helena) — The Shrimp Farm (theshrimpfarm.com/posts/assassin-snail-care) high confidence
- Black Neon Tetra Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi — Seriously Fish / Aqua-Fish (Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi) high confidence
- Black Phantom Tetra Hyphessobrycon megalopterus — Seriously Fish (Hyphessobrycon megalopterus) high confidence
- Bleeding Heart Tetra Hyphessobrycon erythrostigma — Seriously Fish (Hyphessobrycon erythrostigma) high confidence
- Celestial Pearl Danio Celestichthys margaritatus — Seriously Fish (seriouslyfish.com/species/celestichthys-margaritatus) high confidence
- Checker Barb Oliotius oligolepis — Seriously Fish — Oliotius oligolepis (https://www.seriouslyfish.com/species/oliotius-oligolepis/) high confidence
- Cherry Barb Puntius titteya — Seriously Fish (Puntius titteya) seriouslyfish.com/species/puntius-titteya high confidence
- Cherry Shrimp Neocaridina davidi — Aquarium Co-Op cherry shrimp care; The Shrimp Farm high confidence
- Chili Rasbora Boraras brigittae — Seriously Fish (seriouslyfish.com/species/boraras-brigittae) high confidence
Your tank
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Verdict
Top Cardinal Tetra tank mates
A ranked shortlist: the species the engine clears with Cardinal Tetra and that suit its size and temperament best — tap any to load the exact pairing in the planner.
| Species | Adult size | Temp range | Min group | Swim level | Why it works |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amano Shrimp | 5 cm | 18–27°C | 3+ (pair/group) | All levels | Peaceful temperament, similar adult size |
| Assassin Snail | 2 cm | 18–25°C | 1 | Bottom | Uses the bottom zone, peaceful temperament, similar adult size |
| Black Neon Tetra | 3.5 cm | 23–27°C | 6+ (shoal) | Midwater | Peaceful temperament, similar adult size |
| Black Phantom Tetra | 3.6 cm | 20–28°C | 6+ (shoal) | Midwater | Peaceful temperament, similar adult size |
| Bleeding Heart Tetra | 6 cm | 21–28°C | 8+ (shoal) | Midwater | Peaceful temperament, similar adult size |
| Celestial Pearl Danio | 2.1 cm | 20–26°C | 8+ (shoal) | Midwater | Peaceful temperament, similar adult size |
| Checker Barb | 5 cm | 20–25°C | 6+ (shoal) | Midwater | Peaceful temperament, similar adult size |
| Cherry Barb | 5 cm | 23–27°C | 6+ (shoal) | Midwater | Peaceful temperament, similar adult size |
| Cherry Shrimp | 3 cm | 18–28°C | 6+ (pair/group) | All levels | Peaceful temperament, similar adult size |
| Chili Rasbora | 2 cm | 20–28°C | 8+ (shoal) | Midwater | Peaceful temperament, similar adult size |
Other engine-cleared options (not necessarily ideal)
These clear TankStocking's hard welfare checks with Cardinal Tetra, but are larger, bolder, or otherwise less ideal than the shortlist above — read up before committing.
Anabantoids (Bettas/Gouramis)
Corydoras
Invertebrates
Livebearers
Loaches
Oddball
Plecos & Catfish
Rasboras
Possible with care
These can work, but the engine flags something to watch — read the reason before you commit.
- Betta (Siamese Fighting Fish) — Territorial
- Paradise Fish — Aggression
- Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid (Apisto Cacatuoides) — Territorial
- Kribensis (Rainbow Krib) — Territorial
Best avoided
A hard welfare check fires for each of these — don't mix them with Cardinal Tetra.
- Chocolate Gourami — Species-only fish
- Kissing Gourami — Predation risk
- Licorice Gourami — Species-only fish
- Snakeskin Gourami — Predation risk
- Three-spot (Blue/Opaline/Gold) Gourami — Predation risk
- Bala Shark — Predation risk
- Denison Barb (Roseline Shark) — Predation risk
- Rosy Barb — Predation risk
- Tinfoil Barb — Predation risk
- Convict Cichlid — Predation risk, Aggression
- Electric Blue Acara — Predation risk
- Firemouth Cichlid — Predation risk, Territorial
- Freshwater Angelfish — Predation risk
- Green Severum — Predation risk
Cardinal Tetra community ideas
Each build is scored by the same engine as the planner — tap one to load it.
Cardinal + cory
✓ Good starter plan10× Cardinal Tetra, 6× Bronze Corydoras
A glowing mid-water school over a bottom shoal — a planted-tank classic.
Load this build in the planner ↑Cardinal + ram
✓ Good starter plan10× Cardinal Tetra, 2× German Blue Ram
A dwarf-cichlid pair with a cardinal school, all thriving in warm, soft water.
Load this build in the planner ↑Common questions
What fish can live with cardinal tetras?
Small, peaceful community fish: corydoras, rasboras, dwarf cichlids such as rams, honey gouramis, and peaceful shrimp. Keep tankmates small enough that they cannot eat a cardinal.
Are cardinal tetras the same as neon tetras?
They are similar but distinct: cardinals are slightly larger, have red running the full length of the body, and prefer warmer, softer water. They are also a little hardier once settled.
How many cardinal tetras should I keep?
At least six, and a dozen or more for the best effect. Cardinals are shoaling fish that colour up and behave naturally only in a proper group.
More on Cardinal Tetra
Related guides on TankStocking — each scored by the same welfare engine as the planner.
Can Cardinal Tetra live with…?
Cardinal Tetra stocking by tank size
Compatibility is a planning estimate: individual temperament, tank layout, and group sizes all matter. Cycle the tank, add fish gradually, and watch how they behave. See the methodology or browse the full freshwater fish list.