Neon/cardinal Tetra Question

Jay-93 · Dec 3, 2011

This might be a silly question, but what is the reason of the large difference in price to these?

My LFS sells neons at 5 for £3, and 5 Cardinals for £7.50.

There isn't a huge difference between them really, so why are the Cardinals more expensive?

mike455555 · Dec 3, 2011

id say its down to demand and supply... prices probably vary from LFS to LFS, maybe they just have more neons in?

KittyKat · Dec 3, 2011

Neons usually come in a tiny bit cheaper than cardinals from the wholesalers.

My LFS sells neons starting at 8-20 EUR for 10 and cardinals at 10-20 EUR for 10 (depending on size). I find it unusual that the difference is so high at your LFS, but maybe cardinals are just in higher demand or come in more sickly…

Man of fish · Dec 3, 2011

Neons are always in more supply thus being cheaper in most places. At my LFS neons are $1.50 each. Cardinals are more rare (still very common though) so they sell for more. At my LFS cardinals are $3.75 a pop. I had some cardinals which died but I'm gonna go for a cheaper variety here now. Blackskirts at $1.99 a pop. It's all down to how many there are though. Also neons are smaller than cardinals and less colorful.

HayzH · Dec 3, 2011

Cardinals are far more colourful fish..i think they grow a big bigger too ( i maybe wrong )They also (so i've been told) more hardy than Neons.
In my LFS's there is always 2-3 tanks of Neons (thousands in there) And only 1 LFS has 1 tank of Cardinals. :wub:

creeker · Dec 3, 2011

I believe it's because Neons are easier to breed and raise in large numbers. Neons also seem to be hardier. Cardinals were mostly wild caught in the past, and proved tricky to switch to our water. Cardinals have been steadily improving over the years, and most are tank raised now. I'm still afraid of the Cardinals since I see die offs at the lfs quite often. Here in the States, I see Cardinals on sale for $1.00 from time to time, which is the same price they put Neons on sale for, but regular price Cardinals are still generally twice as much as the Neons.

Man of fish · Dec 3, 2011

Yes neons are also more prone to disease.(I'm pretty sure from what I read about them) I'd only get them if I could put them with a betta in a 5 gallon or 7 gallon tank.