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Paracheirodon
Paracheirodon are small, brilliantly coloured South American tetras best known for Neon and Cardinal Tetras. They are schooling fish suited to planted community aquariums.
3 species indexed
What is Paracheirodon?
Paracheirodon is a genus of small South American tetras that includes Neon Tetras and Cardinal Tetras. They are peaceful shoaling fish that prefer soft, slightly acidic water.
Typical habitat and water envelope
Native to blackwater and clearwater tributaries of the Amazon and Orinoco basins, Paracheirodon species inhabit shaded forest streams with soft, acidic water.
| Temperature (typical) | 23 to 28 C |
| pH (typical) | 5.5 to 7 |
| Hardness band (typical) | very_soft to soft |
| Flow (typical) | low |
Informational only: compatibility logic remains species-level.
Compare species in Paracheirodon
3 species shown
| Name | Size | Temperament |
|---|---|---|
![]() Cardinal Tetra Paracheirodon axelrodi | 3.5 | peaceful |
![]() Green Neon Tetra Paracheirodon simulans | 3.0 | peaceful |
![]() Neon tetra Paracheirodon innesi | 4.0 | peaceful |
| Species | Size (cm) | Temp (C) | pH | Hardness | Flow | Temperament |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() Cardinal Tetra Paracheirodon axelrodi | 3.5 | 23.0 to 27.0 C | 5.0 to 7.0 | very soft to soft | low | peaceful |
![]() Green Neon Tetra Paracheirodon simulans | 3.0 | 24.0 to 27.0 C | 5.5 to 6.5 | very soft to soft | low | peaceful |
![]() Neon tetra Paracheirodon innesi | 4.0 | 20.0 to 26.0 C | 5.5 to 7.5 | very soft to medium | low | peaceful |


