{"product_id":"golden-cardinal-tetra-paracheirodon-axelrodi","title":"Golden Cardinal Tetra | Paracheirodon axelrodi","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Golden Cardinal Tetra is a soft-gold strain of the jewel of the planted tank, still carrying the cardinal's glowing red belly-stripe. Reaching around 5 cm, it is peaceful and dazzling, and it shines brightest in a big shoal in soft, warm, dark water.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Cardinal Tetra comes from the blackwater tributaries of the upper Rio Negro and Orinoco basins in South America — tannin-stained, very soft, acidic waters that run dark as tea beneath the rainforest canopy. It lives in enormous shoals among submerged roots and leaf litter.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe standard cardinal blazes an unbroken neon-blue line above a full-length red stripe; this golden strain softens the body to a pale gold sheen while keeping the signature red. A small, slender tetra reaching about 5 cm, with both sexes colourful and females a little deeper-bodied.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThoroughly peaceful and best kept in a shoal of eight or more, where it feels secure and colours up beautifully. It suits a calm, soft-water community and should not be housed with boisterous or large, predatory fish.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA micro-omnivore. Feed small, high-quality flakes and micro-granules with regular frozen and live foods such as daphnia, cyclops, baby brine shrimp and micro bloodworm to bring out its best colour and condition.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eCardinals are sensitive to water chemistry and best suited to a mature, stable aquarium — acclimatise slowly. They thrive in soft, warm, gently-filtered blackwater with driftwood, leaf litter and subdued lighting. Steady water quality matters more to them than to hardier tetras.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eChallenging in the home aquarium. It is an egg-scattering, non-guarding spawner that needs very soft, acidic water and dim light, and the eggs and fry are light-sensitive. A dedicated blackwater breeding setup is required for any success.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eParacheirodon axelrodi\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGolden Cardinal Tetra\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eUpper Rio Negro and Orinoco basins, South America\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifespan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e4–5 years (occasionally longer)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePeaceful (schooling)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIntermediate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMinimum Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e60 litres\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e90+ litres\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOmnivore (micro)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e23–29 °C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e4.5–7.0 (soft, acidic)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1–8 dGH (soft)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSalinity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable (freshwater)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSuitable For\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMature, soft-water planted and blackwater community tanks\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlant Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eYes\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eOther small, peaceful soft-water fish such as rasboras, pencilfish, small tetras, dwarf cichlids (rams, apistogramma), corydoras and freshwater shrimp.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eLarge or boisterous fish, fin-nippers, and anything big enough to eat a small tetra, such as angelfish, larger cichlids and predatory catfish.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm)","offer_id":55232816185635,"sku":"AA2025","price":9.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/Gold_Cardinal_Tetra.jpg?v=1781484073","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/golden-cardinal-tetra-paracheirodon-axelrodi","provider":"Nicks Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","version":"1.0","type":"link"}