Cardinal Tetra

The cardinal tetra is a freshwater fish of the family Characidae of order Characiformes. It is native to the upper Orinoco and Negro Rivers in South America. Mature cardinal tetras reach two inches in length, with an average mass of 0.13 grams. Females are bigger than males. Cardinal tetras have an average life expectancy of between four and five years in captivity, although some cardinal tetras have lived for up to 10 years. In the wild, these fish have an average lifespan of one year. Well-fed cardinal tetras living in ideal tank parameters are more likely to experience long lives.