🐟 General Overview

• Common Name: White Cloud Mountain Minnow

• Scientific Name: Tanichthys albonubes

• Family: Cyprinidae (same family as barbs and danios)

• Origin: Mountain streams of southern China and northern Vietnam (notably White Cloud Mountain in Guangdong, China)

• Lifespan: 3–5 years (can live longer with good care)

• Temperament: Peaceful and social

• Difficulty Level: Very easy (ideal for beginners)

🎨 Appearance

• Body Color: Shimmering silver or pale gold body with a beautiful iridescent horizontal stripe running from the eye to the tail.

• Fins: Red-tipped fins with white edges — very distinctive.

• Size: Typically 1.5 inches (4 cm) long; small but active.

• Varieties:

  • Golden White Cloud: Golden body with bright red fins.

  • Long-Fin White Cloud: Extended, flowing fins for a more elegant look.

  • Meteor Minnow: A variety bred for extra-long fins and bright coloration.

🏡 Tank Requirements

• Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallons for a small school

• Tank Setup:

  • Cool, clean water with good oxygenation

  • Fine gravel or sand substrate

  • Plants, rocks, and driftwood for shelter

  • Open swimming areas

• Water Conditions:

  • Temperature: 16–22°C (60–72°F) — can tolerate cooler water, ideal for unheated tanks

  • pH: 6.0–8.0

  • Hardness: 5–19 dGH

• Lighting: Moderate lighting enhances their colors

🍽️ Diet

• Type: Omnivorous

• Foods:

  • High-quality flake or micro-pellet food

  • Frozen or live foods like daphnia, bloodworms, and brine shrimp

  • Occasional plant-based food (spirulina flakes or blanched vegetables)

• Feeding Frequency: 1–2 times a day in small portions

🧬 Behavior & Temperament

• Nature: Peaceful, energetic, and playful — ideal for community tanks.

• Social Behavior: Schooling fish; best kept in groups of 6 or more.

• Tankmates:

  • Excellent with small, non-aggressive fish like danios, rasboras, guppies, and small barbs.

  • Avoid large or aggressive fish that may view them as prey.

• Activity: Active swimmers that occupy the middle and upper levels of the tank.

🔍 Sexing

• Males: Slimmer, more vibrant coloration, especially during breeding.

• Females: Rounder bodies and duller colors.

🐣 Breeding

• Breeding Difficulty: Easy

• Spawning Type: Egg scatterer (no parental care)

• Breeding Setup:

  • Separate breeding tank with fine-leaved plants or spawning mops

  • Temperature around 20°C (68°F)

  • Slightly soft, neutral water

• Spawning Behavior: Males chase females; eggs are scattered and fall to the substrate or plants.

• Fry Care:

  • Remove adults after spawning to prevent egg eating.

  • Eggs hatch in about 2–3 days.

  • Feed fry with infusoria or liquid fry food, then baby brine shrimp as they grow.

⚕️ Health & Care Tips

• Very hardy but prefer stable, clean water.

• Perform regular partial water changes (25% weekly).

• Avoid overheating — they do poorly in tropical temperatures above 24°C.

• Watch for ich or fin rot if water conditions deteriorate.

🌟 Fun Facts

• Sometimes called the “poor man’s neon tetra” because of their bright colors and easy care.

• Discovered by Boy Scout leader Tan Kam Fei in the 1930s near White Cloud Mountain.

• Once thought extinct in the wild — now reintroduced and bred in captivity.

• Thrive in unheated aquariums and even outdoor ponds in mild climates.

IMAGES ARE FOR REPRESENTATIVE PURPOSES ONLY.