Tank setup
Size the aquarium to Cardinal Tetra's adult size and activity level. Match décor to natural behaviour — plants, rockwork, or open swimming room as needed.
Where to buy
Compare prices from SA aquarium shops listing Cardinal Tetra.
What Cardinal Tetra costs in South Africa
14 price points from 10 shops over 90 days
R38
cheapest of 9 shops today
↤ R42med R50R55
Great price−24%Up 11.1% versus the previous two months
SA median R50 across 10 shops over the last 90 days.
10 shops
S
Silverstream Aquatics
South Africa
R38
In stock
4
4M Fish
South Africa
R45
In stock
H
Heldereef
South Africa
R45
In stock
S
Saturn Shrimp
South Africa
R45
In stock
A
Aquatic Pets SA
South Africa
R50
In stock
S
Sacred Aquatics
South Africa
R50
In stock
A
Aqua Empire
South Africa
R50
In stock
M
MC Merwe
South Africa
R55
In stock
A
Aqua Atlantis
South Africa
R60
In stock
C
Coastal Pets
South Africa
R40
Sold out
Community Marketplace
Fellow hobbyists may also be selling Cardinal Tetra.
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Overview
What to know before you buy.
Similar to the Neon Tetra, the Cardinal Tetra boasts a more extensive red stripe that runs the full length of its body. They are slightly larger and prefer warmer, softer water, making them a stunning centerpiece school. Cardinals are best kept in large groups to showcase their brilliant coloration and natural behaviors.
Key traits
peaceful
schooling
community
nano
moderate
omnivore
Compatibility
Select a tank to see how this species fits.
Care guide
Everything you need to keep Cardinal Tetra healthy in a South African setup.
Water parameters
Keep pH 5.5–7 and 23–28°C. Stable parameters matter more than chasing perfect numbers — acclimate new arrivals slowly.
Feeding
Cardinal Tetra is an omnivore. Feed a varied diet appropriate for freshwater fish — quality flakes, pellets, or frozen foods sized to the mouth.
Behaviour
Cardinal Tetra is generally peaceful. Keep in a group where possible for natural behaviour.
Tankmates
Pair with similarly sized peaceful tankmates in freshwater fish. Avoid fin-nippers or species that outgrow this fish.
Breeding
Breeding notes for Cardinal Tetra vary by line and water chemistry — ask your local shop about proven pairs in SA.
Settling this fish in?
Condition the tap water, seed the filter, test through the first weeks — most early losses trace back to one of those.
3-PIECE KIT
Availability confirmed with the distributor before dispatch · free delivery over r750
Community photos
From hobbyists across SA.
Photo by FishHubAdmin
Market intelligence
Price trends and buyer demand — data only FishHub tracks.
Price history — last 90 days
SA price range this month: R35–60 · Average: R48
This data is unique to FishHub
Demand by province
No active alerts for Cardinal Tetra yet. Be the first to set one.
Often kept with
Real pairwise verdicts for Cardinal Tetra, not a same-category guess. Always confirm adult size and your tank's specifics before buying.
- Often kept together
Pristella Tetra
Pristella maxillaris
- Often kept together
Black Ruby Barb
Pethia nigrofasciata
In a 75L+ tank
- Often kept together
Giant Gourami
Osphronemus goramy
In a 1000L+ tank
- Often kept together
Crystal Black Shrimp
Caridina cantonensis var. 'Crystal Black'
- Often kept together
Corydoras Julii
Corydoras julii
- Often kept together
Red-bellied Pacu
Piaractus brachypomus
In a 1500L+ tank
- Often kept together
Orange Sakura Shrimp
Neocaridina davidi var. 'Orange Sakura'
- Often kept together
Black Phantom Tetra
Hyphessobrycon megalopterus