Fish comparison
Cardinal Tetra vs Rummynose Tetra
How the Cardinal Tetra and Rummynose Tetra compare on care, size, water and temperament, and which fish suits your tank.
By Mike ElmiraUpdated
TL;DR, Cardinal Tetra vs Rummynose Tetra
The Cardinal Tetra and the Rummynose Tetra come up together a lot when people are choosing a fish, and they are close enough to weigh side by side. Both are happy somewhere around 23 to 27 °C and pH 5.5 to 6.5, so a single tank can suit either one. Neither is harder than the other to keep, so the choice comes down to look and stocking rather than skill. Read the full care notes on each below and pick the one whose look and pace fit the tank you're building.
Group compatibility overview
Excellent fit
Every key parameter overlaps and no major conflicts surfaced.
4 notes
Temperature
- Cardinal Tetra23–27 °C
- Rummynose Tetra22–27 °C
pH
- Cardinal Tetra4.5–6.5
- Rummynose Tetra5.5–7
Hardness
- Cardinal Tetra1–6 dGH
- Rummynose Tetra2–8 dGH
What to plan for
- Cardinal Tetra schools, stock at least 8You've planned for 1 cardinal tetra. Cardinal Tetra need a group of at least 8 to feel safe and shoal naturally, below that they're stressed and lose colour. Dial up the count, or remove the species.
- Rummynose Tetra schools, stock at least 10You've planned for 1 rummynose tetra. Rummynose Tetra need a group of at least 10 to feel safe and shoal naturally, below that they're stressed and lose colour. Dial up the count, or remove the species.
- No bottom teamNo bottom-dwelling fish or shrimp. A small group of corydoras or a shrimp colony picks up leftover food and keeps detritus in check.
- 100% of your fish swim in the midHeavy concentration in a single zone. Spreading stocking across all three levels makes the tank read fuller for the same bioload.
Full attributes
Every parameter, side by side| Parameter |  FishCardinal TetraParacheirodon axelrodi |  FishRummynose TetraHemigrammus rhodostomus |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Fish | Fish |
| Origin | Upper Orinoco and Rio Negro basins | Lower Amazon basin, Brazil |
| Family | Characidae | Characidae |
| Temperature | 23–27 °C | 22–27 °C |
| pH | 4.5–6.5 | 5.5–7.0 |
| Hardness (dGH) | 1–6 | 2–8 |
| Flow rate | Low | Medium |
| Min tank | 75 L | 75 L |
| Adult size | 4–5 cm | 4.5–5.5 cm |
| Difficulty | 3 / 5 | 3 / 5 |
| Lifespan | 4–6 yrs | 5–8 yrs |
| Diet | Omnivore | Omnivore |
| Water column | Mid | Mid |
| Schooling | Yes | Yes (tight shoal) |
| Plant safe | Yes | Yes |
| Shrimp safe | Mostly (may eat shrimplets) | Mostly (may eat shrimplets) |
Frequently asked questions
Direct answers to the questions search engines and AI assistants surface most often about this species.
Can you keep Cardinal Tetra and Rummynose Tetra together?
Yes. Their temperature and pH ranges overlap around 23 to 27 °C and pH 5.5 to 6.5, so one set of water conditions keeps both comfortable. Match group sizes and cover the usual planted-tank basics and they share a tank fine.
Which is easier to keep, the Cardinal Tetra or the Rummynose Tetra?
They sit at the same care level, both middle-of-the-road, so neither is the obvious beginner pick. The decision is really about the look you're after.
Do Cardinal Tetra and Rummynose Tetra need the same water?
Close to it. Aim for 23 to 27 °C and pH 5.5 to 6.5 and you're in the shared sweet spot for both. Full ranges are in the table above.
What's the main difference between the Cardinal Tetra and the Rummynose Tetra?
It comes down to look, size and pace rather than one being flatly better. The table above lays the numbers out row by row.