How to make the colour of Cardinal Tetra more intense?

**zeek_fon** · 11th Jun 2007, 17:08

Hi all,

Is there anything I can feed or anyway I can do to Cardinal Tetra so as to induce the red and blue stripe colour more intense??

Hope to hear some advise from you all.

Thanks for your time.

Regards

**illumnae** · 11th Jun 2007, 17:11

tetrabits are supposed to enhance fish colouration (at least the red bit), there's a Taiwan brand fish food that my fiancee uses in her tank that produces excellent colouration according to her. The brand is "Hai Feng" and the food is called "Bao Zheng Hong" if i'm not wrong.

alternatively, you could try feeding frozen bloodworms/brineshrimp or live food. I've also heard that fish love these and produce better colouration after being fed these (perhaps because they're happier?)

**Kross** · 16th Jun 2007, 14:31

dense green plants will make them feel at home..... they'll then return the favour by giving you super red! it works for me....

**Puffer** · 17th Jun 2007, 01:16

I'd say a combination of the above - quality food + quality water + dense plants....keep fish happy, then you happy.

**EvolutionZ** · 20th Jun 2007, 10:58

feeding frozen bloodworms?

**vurbul** · 20th Jun 2007, 21:09

I feed mine live worms once a week. The colours really stands out.

**EvolutionZ** · 21st Jun 2007, 01:12

your cardinal's colour is green and red strips or blue and red?
personally.. i like greeen and red better..

**illumnae** · 21st Jun 2007, 07:12

green or blue usually depends on the angle of viewing and the lighting

**Saints** · 21st Jun 2007, 08:54

Originally Posted by EvolutionZ

your cardinal's colour is green and red strips or blue and red?
personally.. i like greeen and red better..

Pardon me...aren't the green and red ones known as neon tetra?

If not, can feeding tetras good food and providing good environment enhance their green to blue?

**Quixotic** · 21st Jun 2007, 12:18

As per what illumnae mentioned, green or blue is just the lighting and viewing angle.

Difference between cardinal and neon is that, the red in cardinal extends the full length of the body, while red in the neon starts in the middle extending towards the tail. Neon tetra is slightly smaller than cardinal tetra at potential full size.

Good food is only part of the equation. The environment also plays a part, summed up nicely by Puffer.

Originally Posted by Puffer

I'd say a combination of the above - quality food + quality water + dense plants....keep fish happy, then you happy.