Can Cardinal Tetra Live With Discus?

Cardinal Tetra and Discus CAN coexist, but with some risks. Careful setup and monitoring required.

Detailed Analysis

Known Pairing ✓ Compatible

Discus and Cardinal Tetra are known to coexist well.

Temperature ✓ Compatible

Good temperature overlap at 82–84°F.

pH ✓ Compatible

Good pH overlap at 5.5–7.0.

Size ⚠ Use Caution

Significant size difference (8" vs 2"). Discus may bully or stress Cardinal Tetra.

Temperament ✓ Compatible

Both fish have compatible temperaments.

Swim Level ✓ Compatible

Swim level compatibility is fine.

Important Notes

  • Cardinal Tetra is a schooling fish and needs at least 6 of its kind.
  • Discus is a schooling fish and needs at least 5 of its kind.

Tank Requirements

Minimum tank size for this combination: 55 gallons

ParameterCardinal TetraDiscus
Temperature73–84°F82–88°F
pH5–75.5–7
Max Size2"8"
TemperamentPeacefulPeaceful
Swim LevelMiddleMiddle
Min Tank10 gal55 gal

Check More Combinations

Use our compatibility checker to add more fish and plan your complete tank.