Cardinal Vs Neon

[busterbrit]

Neon's are half the price at my lfs. But I like the way the cardinal tetras look.

I have a tank that is fishless cycling right now and I was told to not add neon's for 6 months.

The problem is I don't want to add anything else in case they do well and then I can't add the neons (only 60L tank).

So the question is are the cardinals hardier and can they be added to a new tank? Also what would the minimum be in a tank?

Thanks!

 

[aussieant32]

i wouldnt keep either to be honest, just my opionion, but they should be kept in large shoals in aquariums no smaller than 80L. You can stil keep them in your tank but nowhere near the number to have the great look. Cardinals are generally hardier than neons, unfortunately most lfs advise neons as the perfect starter fish and they are far from it!

i would go no more than 5 or 6 in that set up. I keep 25 in my 400L (allowing about 15L per fish)

Also make sure if your adding other fish in there to put plenty of plants in as the Cardinals like to retreat to them if they feel any sort of threat

Good Luck!!

 

[busterbrit]

i wouldnt keep either to be honest, just my opionion, but they should be kept in large shoals in aquariums no smaller than 80L. You can stil keep them in your tank but nowhere near the number to have the great look. Cardinals are generally hardier than neons, unfortunately most lfs advise neons as the perfect starter fish and they are far from it!

i would go no more than 5 or 6 in that set up. I keep 25 in my 400L (allowing about 15L per fish)

Also make sure if your adding other fish in there to put plenty of plants in as the Cardinals like to retreat to them if they feel any sort of threat

Good Luck!!

What do you recommend instead?

This is what I was planning originally:
8 neon tetras
3 guppies
1 dwarf gourami
3 cherry shrimp

I need a good mid level fish.

 

[crazychris]

What do you recommend instead?

This is what I was planning originally:
8 neon tetras
3 guppies
1 dwarf gourami
3 cherry shrimp

I need a good mid level fish.

I wouldn't get neons. They're just delicate fish. I bought 10 about 6 weeks ago and have 2 left but am not buying any more. A nice Tetra that I have and which is very hardy is the Pristella, X-Ray tetra. What about 5 or 6 of those? I bought 6 the same day as I bought the neons and still have all 6 and they've grown! Harlequins are said to be hardy too.

 

[Haych]

harlequins are either good or bad, i was told they can be very easy to upset if your water levels (ph etc) change, but I had no issue with mine at all (I also think it depends on where you buy them from)

Also, what about mountain minnow? theyre the same as neons (but different colour) and alot hardier too

 

[mepiscool]

hey im a newbie ive had my tank for about 2months and iv had 15 neons 5 guppies and 2 mollies iv even got a plec and there all fine i have been told im very very lucky. oh and ive recently added 3 dutch rams.
i bought my neons 5 for £3.25 bargain i think

 

[crazychris]

hey im a newbie ive had my tank for about 2months and iv had 15 neons 5 guppies and 2 mollies iv even got a plec and there all fine i have been told im very very lucky. oh and ive recently added 3 dutch rams.
i bought my neons 5 for £3.25 bargain i think

You have been really lucky to keep all your 15 neons!

 

[OldMan47]

I fiind that neons do well if I can find good stock to start with. They are not all that delicate but are often not in very good shape when you first get them.

 

[waterdrop]

Yes, I really like both neons and cardinals and don't find them hard to keep although I agree its easy to lose some in the transition of getting them (in fact I've sometimes advised people to get an extra 2, assuming that wouldn't crowd their tank too much, just in case they lose a couple.) I also believe the guideline of waiting for a tank to mature 6 months (or maybe after 4 months if you're going to push it) is a good one and I'm one of the ones who repeats it often.

I've kept lots of both types in years past and over the years my opinion has evened out about them. I used to think cardinals were prettier and hardier but now I feel they are quite even, just having a different look. I feel the neons get a bad rap because when they are young (when most people get them from the LFS) they may indeed be a bit more delicate and they also tend to have a more juvenile look that is not as good. But this goes away and lately I'm on a kick of liking the silver, which is the bit of color you don't get with a cardinal.

I agree they just get better and better with bigger and bigger shoals but these are among the most wonderful fish for smaller tanks too due to their small size. Their intense colors made them the top freshwater fish that popularized this hobby in its mass beginnings in the 1920s I've read. I agree the six month thing is a problem if these were the main thing you wanted in the tank but perhaps the third species you choose (other than the neon/cards or the dwarfG) whether its guppies or not could be the thing to go in after the cycling. The dwarfG could probably go in right after the FC too, as the virus they are prone to is really just a hit or miss thing regardless.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[busterbrit]

Yes, I really like both neons and cardinals and don't find them hard to keep although I agree its easy to lose some in the transition of getting them (in fact I've sometimes advised people to get an extra 2, assuming that wouldn't crowd their tank too much, just in case they lose a couple.) I also believe the guideline of waiting for a tank to mature 6 months (or maybe after 4 months if you're going to push it) is a good one and I'm one of the ones who repeats it often.

I've kept lots of both types in years past and over the years my opinion has evened out about them. I used to think cardinals were prettier and hardier but now I feel they are quite even, just having a different look. I feel the neons get a bad rap because when they are young (when most people get them from the LFS) they may indeed be a bit more delicate and they also tend to have a more juvenile look that is not as good. But this goes away and lately I'm on a kick of liking the silver, which is the bit of color you don't get with a cardinal.

I agree they just get better and better with bigger and bigger shoals but these are among the most wonderful fish for smaller tanks too due to their small size. Their intense colors made them the top freshwater fish that popularized this hobby in its mass beginnings in the 1920s I've read. I agree the six month thing is a problem if these were the main thing you wanted in the tank but perhaps the third species you choose (other than the neon/cards or the dwarfG) whether its guppies or not could be the thing to go in after the cycling. The dwarfG could probably go in right after the FC too, as the virus they are prone to is really just a hit or miss thing regardless.

~~waterdrop~~

So do you think I should just do 3 guppies, 1 dwarf g and 3 cherry shrimp...wait 6 months and then add the neons? Seems kind of light to do a fishless cycle and then only add 4 fish. But I it sounds like I don't have any other option.

 

[60007]

I've kept 5 neon tetras for my fish in cycle, they were intrroduced week 2 of 4, and I must say, *touch wood* all are absolutley fine and are doing well, none have died like I expected them to, but 2 swim around on their own, don't know why, btu I may up their number slightly

 

[waterdrop]

What's with the guppies? Do you want 3 males or are you planning to get yourself into trouble with babies?

~~waterdrop~~

 

[busterbrit]

What's with the guppies? Do you want 3 males or are you planning to get yourself into trouble with babies?

~~waterdrop~~

Just 3 males. My lfs doesn't even carry females.

 

[waterdrop]

ok, that should work well then

 

[fearce]

When it came to these two, I thought Neons were the more hardier and cardinals more difficult?

Can this be clarified.