How much does a cardinal tetra cost per fish, and how does it differ from the neon tetra in mixed keeping and care?

The cardinal tetra, also known as the sunbeam tetra, new red neon tetra, and red-bellied neon tetra, is a gem among tropical fish. It gets its name because it resembles the neon tetra, and it has high ornamental value. So how much does an ornamental cardinal tetra cost per fish on the market? What fish is it good to keep it with? How do you care for it? What is the difference between it and the neon tetra?

The latest market price:

Compared with the neon tetra, the cardinal tetra is a bit more expensive. For two otherwise similar fish of the same size, the cardinal tetra tends to cost one to two yuan more than the neon tetra. This is because the cardinal tetra has more vivid, brighter and more beautiful body coloration than the neon tetra, and the cardinal tetra is also somewhat harder to breed than the neon tetra. A 1.5cm cardinal tetra costs about 3 yuan. A 2-2.5cm cardinal tetra costs about 7 yuan. A 2.5-3cm wild cardinal tetra costs about 8 yuan.

Fish that can be kept with it:

1. German blue ram: Adult German blue rams are 6-9 cm long. The male's fins have beautiful red edges, and the black spots on its back plus its red eyes are very beautiful. This fish is gentle in temperament and likes to live in weakly acidic soft water at a water temperature of 25-28 degrees Celsius. It is a carnivorous fish and often moves in the middle and lower layers of the water.

2. Golden algae eater: The golden algae eater is golden all over and can reach 180 mm in length. It likes to live in weakly acidic water. The suitable water temperature is 15-30 degrees Celsius. It is gentle in temperament and suitable for living in waters with aquatic plants or driftwood.

3. Zebrafish: The zebrafish has an elongated body that is slightly spindle-shaped, a small and somewhat pointed head, a relatively short snout, and multiple dark blue longitudinal stripes all over its body like a zebra. It is relatively gentle in temperament. The rearing water temperature is 20-23℃. It does not have high requirements for water quality and is relatively easy to keep.

Keeping tips:

1. Before buying cardinal tetras, you should first determine a suitable placement location in your home and the size of the aquarium, buy a suitable aquarium, and also prepare all related aquarium auxiliary equipment such as a heater, thermometer, water pump, and filter. After the aquarium is set up, bring the cardinal tetras home and keep them.

2. The cardinal tetra is somewhat difficult to keep and has strict requirements for water temperature. It is suitable for living in a water environment of 22-26 degrees Celsius and likes slightly acidic water quality. Therefore, before releasing the fish, the water quality environment should be adjusted to within the standard range suitable for the fish to live in. This avoids other accidents caused by the fish being unable to quickly adapt to the water environment.

3. During the keeping process, the keeper should pay attention to observing the fish's living condition and monitor changes in the water quality environment. It is necessary to keep the water environment stable and clean and provide a good living environment for the cardinal tetra. The cardinal tetra likes to move in the lower layer. The water does not need to be changed every day; changing it once every 3-5 days is enough. However, note that the water temperature must not fluctuate greatly. It is advisable to plant aquatic plants in the keeping tank, as this can provide shading. If the fish is found to have abnormal behavior or appearance, attention must be paid to it, and diagnosis and treatment should be carried out to prevent the fish from dying.

4. During keeping, you should also give it food regularly and in fixed amounts every day. For bait, choose some small live bait to feed it, as this can make the fish's body color more brilliant. However, to avoid hidden disease risks caused by unclean live bait and hidden parasite hazards, it is recommended to use high-quality artificial bait products.

Differences from the neon tetra:

1. Appearance: The cardinal tetra is larger in body width than the neon tetra, and the cardinal tetra is brighter in color than the neon tetra. The biggest difference is that the neon tetra's middle red band is shorter, only reaching from the tail to the abdomen, with the abdomen being white; while the cardinal tetra's red band extends from the tail all the way to the head.

2. Different schooling habits: The cardinal tetra is more disciplined than the neon tetra and loves to school.

3. Also, the cardinal tetra is a bit hardier than the neon tetra and easier to keep.

4. Most importantly, the cardinal tetra is not as easy to breed as the neon tetra. The neon tetra can now be artificially bred, while most cardinal tetras can only be wild fish caught from their place of origin, the Amazon River.