A brilliant Amazon tetra distinguished from the neon by a full-length crimson stripe, harvested largely from wild stocks.
Where it lives
Cardinal tetras inhabit the upper Rio Negro and parts of the Orinoco — soft, acidic blackwater streams shaded by jungle canopy. They form vast shoals in slow side channels and flooded forest pools during the high-water season.
How to recognise it
Slightly larger than the neon tetra, the cardinal has an iridescent blue stripe paired with a red stripe — but the red extends the full length from snout to tail base, not just the rear half. The body is otherwise translucent with a slight greenish back.
Diet & behavior
Cardinals pick microcrustaceans, tiny worms, fallen insect larvae, and bits of plant matter from leaf litter and the open water column. Like neons, they are obligate shoalers. Spawning is seasonal in the wild, tied to falling water and warm rains.
Fisheries & Conservation
Globally Least Concern. Uniquely among major aquarium species, much of the cardinal tetra trade still comes from sustainable wild capture along the Rio Negro — a model “Project Piaba” fishery that provides livelihoods for thousands of riverside families.