Product Details

White Cloud Mountain Minnow – Tanichthys albonubes

Overview:

The White Cloud Mountain Minnow is a peaceful, hardy and beautifully active small fish, ideal for cooler freshwater aquariums. With its glowing side stripe, red fins and lively shoaling behaviour, Tanichthys albonubes is a superb choice for planted temperate setups, beginner aquariums and peaceful community tanks that are not run too warm. It is often sold as a starter fish, but it still deserves a mature, cycled aquarium with stable water and a proper group.

Key Identification:

Common Name: White Cloud Mountain Minnow
Other Names: White Cloud Minnow, White Cloud, Canton Minnow, China Danio, Poor Man’s Neon Tetra
Scientific Name: Tanichthys albonubes
Fish Type: Minnow / Cypriniform Fish
Water Type: Freshwater

Natural Range & Habitat:

The White Cloud Mountain Minnow is native to southern China and nearby regions, with wild populations linked to clean, sluggish coastal streams among aquatic vegetation. FishBase records adults from clean, slow coastal streams with hydrophytes, and also notes that the species can survive very cool water.

Most fish available today are captive-bred, as wild populations have been heavily reduced and are considered rare or threatened in parts of their native range. In the aquarium, this species does best in planted layouts with gentle flow, open swimming space, fine plants, mosses, smooth stones and some shaded cover.

Appearance & Adult Size:

White Cloud Mountain Minnows have a slim body with a bronze to olive-silver base colour and a bright horizontal stripe running from the head towards the tail. The fins usually show red, orange or yellow tones, often with pale edging, and mature males become slimmer and more colourful when displaying.

Adults usually reach around 3.5–4 cm. FishBase lists the species at up to around 4 cm total length, making it a small but active shoaling fish that should still be given room to swim.

Aquarium Suitability:

This is an excellent fish for unheated indoor aquariums, temperate planted tanks and peaceful cooler-water communities. It is especially useful for aquarists who want a colourful small fish without running the aquarium at high tropical temperatures. It is not suitable for warm discus-style tanks, aggressive communities or aquariums with larger fish that may eat it.

Recommended Aquarium Size:

A practical minimum is 60 litres for a group, with a tank length of at least 60 cm recommended. FishBase also gives a minimum aquarium size of around 60 cm and recommends group keeping.

Larger aquariums are better for bigger groups, stronger display behaviour and more stable water conditions.

Water Conditions:

Temperature: 16–22°C preferred
pH: 6.0–8.0
Hardness: Soft to hard; adaptable if stable
Additional Notes: White Clouds are best treated as temperate fish rather than hot tropical fish. FishBase lists aquarium conditions of 18–22°C, pH 6.0–8.0 and hardness 5–19 dH. They can tolerate cooler water, but long-term stability is more important than extremes. Avoid prolonged high temperatures, poor oxygenation and sudden changes.

Temperament & Tank Mates:

Aquarium Category: Community Fish

White Cloud Mountain Minnows are peaceful, active shoaling fish. Suitable tank mates include other small temperate fish such as Zebra Danios, Rosy Barbs in larger tanks, Hillstream Loaches, small peaceful gobies, temperate livebearers in compatible water and peaceful bottom dwellers that enjoy cooler conditions.

Avoid large predators, aggressive cichlids, fin-nippers and very warm-water species that need consistently high temperatures. Keep in a group of at least 6, with 10 or more preferred for best confidence, colour and natural behaviour.

Feeding:

White Cloud Mountain Minnows are easy-feeding omnivores. Offer quality fine flakes, micro pellets and small granules as the staple diet. Supplement with small frozen or live foods such as daphnia, cyclops, brineshrimp, mosquito larvae and small bloodworm. Seriously Fish notes that they accept standard aquarium foods readily, but show best condition and colour when given regular small live or frozen foods.

Behaviour in the Aquarium:

This species usually swims in the middle and upper levels, moving in a loose group through open water and plants. Males display by spreading their fins and showing stronger colour, especially in cooler, well-planted aquariums. A larger group helps them feel secure and makes their activity look more natural.

Care Notes:

Add only to a mature, fully cycled aquarium. A heater is often unnecessary in a normally heated UK home, provided the room temperature remains stable and the tank does not become too cold. Provide good oxygenation, regular water changes and a secure lid, as active minnows may jump if startled. They are egg scatterers and may breed among fine plants or mosses, although adults may eat eggs and fry.

Recommended For:

Beginner

Availability:

Common / Usually captive-bred

Image Disclaimer:

All images are a visual representation of the fish you will receive, made to be as accurate as possible. Natural variation in size, colour, pattern and markings can occur between individual fish.