Can Cardinal Tetra and Discus live together?

Cardinal Tetra and Discus are not compatible. The comparison on this page runs the same compatibility engine as the tank builder, checking temperature and pH overlap, predation by size, temperament, and known hard-pair conflicts.

Species Comparison

Cardinal Tetra vs Discus

Cardinal Tetra

Paracheirodon axelrodi

Discus

Symphysodon aequifasciatus

Verdict:Not compatible

Side-by-side specs

Tetras

Family

Cichlids

2″

Adult size

6″

20gal

Min tank

75gal

73–81°F

Temperature

82–88°F

4.5–7

5.5–7

peaceful

Temperament

peaceful

Schooling

mid

Water level

mid

Compatibility notes

criticalCardinal Tetra (73–81°F) and Discus (82–88°F) need different temperatures.

Try both in the builder →Compare different species