White Cloud Mountain minnow
Tanichthys albonubes
A small, hardy minnow with red fins that needs no heater; ideal for an unheated tank kept at room temperature.
Key facts
- Body length
- 1.6 in without fins
- Minimum tank
- 17 gallons
- Group
- 10+
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Care level
- 1 / 5
- Lifespan
- Not well documented
- Diet
- Flakes, micro pellets, frozen daphnia and bloodworm
- Origin
- Guangdong, Hainan and northern Vietnam
- Hardier than95%
- Bigger than21%
- Calmer than68%
Water: their range vs yours
White Cloud Mountain minnow tank mates
- Neon tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Harlequin rasboraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Fancy guppyGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Panda corydorasGets along in shared water.Good mates
- OtocinclusGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Cherry shrimpGets along in shared water.Good mates
- BettaGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Tiger barbGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Amano shrimpGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Black neon tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Black widow tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Blood parrot cichlidGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Chinese algae eaterChinese algae eater attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: White Cloud Mountain minnow.Risky
- Clown loachClown loach attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: White Cloud Mountain minnow.Risky
- DemasoniDemasoni attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: White Cloud Mountain minnow.Risky
- Golden mbunaGolden mbuna attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: White Cloud Mountain minnow.Risky
- Peacock cichlidMalawi butterfly peacock attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: White Cloud Mountain minnow.Risky
- Rainbow sharkRainbow shark attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: White Cloud Mountain minnow.Risky
- AngelfishAngelfish can eat White Cloud Mountain minnow: prey body depth 0.9 cm ≤ mouth 2.3 cm.Avoid
- Blue dolphin cichlidBlue dolphin cichlid can eat White Cloud Mountain minnow: prey body depth 0.9 cm ≤ mouth 6.3 cm.Avoid
- Convict cichlidConvict cichlid can eat White Cloud Mountain minnow: prey body depth 0.9 cm ≤ mouth 3.8 cm.Avoid
- Firemouth cichlidFiremouth cichlid can eat White Cloud Mountain minnow: prey body depth 0.9 cm ≤ mouth 3.0 cm.Avoid
- GoldfishGoldfish can eat White Cloud Mountain minnow: prey body depth 0.9 cm ≤ mouth 3.0 cm.Avoid
- Iridescent sharkIridescent shark can eat White Cloud Mountain minnow: prey body depth 0.9 cm ≤ mouth 32.5 cm.Avoid
How we check
The numbers the tank model uses for White Cloud Mountain minnows: water as ideal and tolerated ranges, bioload from adult mass, space, flow and how they act on other species.
- Standard length
- 4 cm (SL)
- Adult mass
- 1.45 g
- Bioload at 25 °C
- 1.44 BU
- Min. water
- 54 L net
- Min. footprint
- 60 × 30 cm per group
- Group
- 10+ (best 10)
- Swims in
- top, middle
- Flow
- moderate
- Body / fins
- fusiform, normal fins
- Diet type
- omnivore
- Fin nipper
- none
- Sensitive to
- —
Sources: Seriously Fish: Tanichthys albonubes · FishBase: Tanichthys albonubes
Care notes
White Cloud Mountain minnows come from slow mountain streams of Guangdong, Hainan and northern Vietnam. They are threatened in the wild and gone from Baiyun Mountain itself, so all fish on sale are captive-bred, including long-finned and gold forms.
Keep ten or more in a 15 gallon tank or larger at 57–72°F. Despite liking cool water, they should not share a tank with goldfish.
Questions
What size tank does a white cloud mountain minnow need?
At least 17 gallons (54 litres of water after decor). Adults reach about 1.6 inches without fins.
How many White Cloud Mountain minnows should be kept together?
Keep at least 10, ideally 10 or more: fewer feel exposed and hide or turn nippy.
What water do White Cloud Mountain minnows need?
64–72 °F, pH 6–8 and 5–20 dGH. White Cloud Mountain minnows come from Guangdong, Hainan and northern Vietnam.
How long do White Cloud Mountain minnows live?
Not well documented with good care.
What fish can live with White Cloud Mountain minnows?
Good tank mates include Neon tetra, Harlequin rasbora, Fancy guppy, Panda corydoras and Otocinclus. Each is checked both ways for size, fin nipping, temperament, territory and shared water.