Neons Vs. Cardinals Which Are Easier To Keep

[reverendterry]

Or if yall have other smaller type tetras that are pretty and easy name them.

 

[McCool]

Neons are usually a little smaller and more finicky. Cardinals get a little bigger and have a full red stripe, and some say are easier.
Glo Lite tetras are also small. Oh, and they have black neons, but I believe they get bigger.

 

[DerpPH]

I say go with cardinals because neons are more susceptible to deseases! or you can go with glowlight tetras which are quite small...

 and they have black neons, but I believe they get bigger.

Yes they do grow quite big

 

[NorthEastFisherman]

I've had (still have some too) both neons, cardinals, and glowlights. The cardinals where i live (CT) are the most sensitive and i couldnt keep them a few days without a issue. The neons ive kept for a month or two maybe even three but something happened in my tank and they all caught ick when their slime coat thinned out and eventually all of them died. The glowlights on the other hand, are still alive in my tank, they've been through quite alot and im surprised theyre still there. If i were to suggest one id definitaly go with the glowlights (im getting more soon) but if you like neons then id suggest to get a "off species" of them like the green neons, or black since theyre more hardy than the regular blue/red neons. But keep in mind this could vary from where you live.

 

[DerpPH]

Cardinals are quite hardy if kept in the right conditions.... neons are more susceptible to disease since they have been inbred too much... glowlights are quite hardy if in the right conditions... black neons grow up to 1 and a half inches and are quite hardy... while greens are quite hard to find...

 

[reverendterry]

ok was just asking thank you.

 

[r.w.girard]

Yea, green neon tetras are hard to find - although are seasonally available.  From my experience, they are quite hardy once they settle in.  Although, they do require more particular water chemistry than the rest.  If you are worried though, go with rasboras.  They are beautiful and school better.  Something like Espe's or Hengel's are fantastic little fish.  Fit most any setup in terms of size, are great community fish, and don't need any particular water parameters.  Although, with bigger fish, something like a Harlequin would be better.  But the same goes for green neon tetras.  They are tiny and so you would need to be care about predation.

 

[reverendterry]

well they are just going in with guppies and maybe a fews corys

 

[nigsy]

Rummy Nose Tetras are a good alternative to Cardinals. Colourful, hardy, and active.

 

[Messi]

Rummy Nose Tetras are a good alternative to Cardinals. Colourful, hardy, and active.

Those are more sensetive and diffucult than both Cardinals and Neons so I don't think they would be suitable for the OP. Wild caridinals are pretty hardy fish to keep and look better than the regular lfs ones. I would recommend those but they are kinda hard to get and expensive.

 

[Noahsfish]

Really depends on your supplier, like the rummy nose tetras where I live are incredibly sensitive..however, the cardinals I've had have all done fine in hard water with a high ph. Personally, cardinals look better as they get slightly bigger and have more red..neon tetras are also very susceptible to neon tetra disease..if youre looking for small tetras I suggest ember tetras, also co-lite tetras, which I've never owned. If your tank doesn't have the best conditions I suggest going with a school of harlequin rasboras as they're active and school a lot.

Sorry meant glo lite

 

[reverendterry]

are there any other small schooling fish i could do with guppies in a 30 us gal

 

[Noahsfish]

Cherry barbs

 

[ReddSamurai]

the rummy nose tetras where i am are a lot hardier than the neon tetras and probably about even with the cardinals. i have cardinals, rosey and black phantom tetras. 
the rosey tetra are one of the first fish i put in my tank and they are all alive and growing, and are about 5/6cm at the moment.

 

[reverendterry]

ok thank all of you for your imput