White Cloud Mountain Minnow
Tanichthys albonubes
Also known as White Cloud, Meteor Minnow
Edited by Ivan F. · Reviewed
Beginner verdict
A small, red-finned cool-water fish that can often live without a heater in a temperate room. It is very peaceful and hardy, making it a strong beginner choice. Just remember it wants cooler water than most tropical community fish, and it is not a goldfish companion.
Care at a glance
- Min tank size
- 14 US gal
- Footprint
- 24 x 12 in
- Temperature
- 57–72 °F
- pH
- 6–8.5
- Hardness
- 5–20 dGH
- Swim zone
- Mid-Water
- Min group
- 10 or more
- Lifespan
- 3–7 years
White Cloud Mountain Minnow tank mates and swim zone
Mid-Water
Spends most of its time in this part of the tank.
Poecilia reticulata
Xiphophorus maculatus
Sewellia lineolata
Apistogramma borellii
Epiplatys annulatus
Carassius auratus
Paracheirodon innesi
Their temperature ranges barely overlap, so you will have little room for error.
Trigonostigma heteromorpha
Their temperature ranges barely overlap, so you will have little room for error.
Poecilia sphenops
Their temperature ranges barely overlap, so you will have little room for error.
Betta splendens
Betta often does best alone. Only try this in a larger, planted tank, and watch closely.
Paracheirodon axelrodi
Their temperature ranges do not overlap, so one of them would always be stressed.
Hemigrammus erythrozonus
Their temperature ranges do not overlap, so one of them would always be stressed.
Trigonostigma espei
Their temperature ranges do not overlap, so one of them would always be stressed.
Poecilia wingei
Their temperature ranges do not overlap, so one of them would always be stressed.
Xiphophorus hellerii
Swordtail is big enough to eat or bully a fish as small as White Cloud Mountain Minnow.
White Cloud Mountain Minnow feeding and care
How to feed
- Feed small flakes or micro pellets.
- Add live or frozen daphnia and brine shrimp for stronger color.
- Feed small portions you can see finished within a couple of minutes, because overfeeding fouls the water fast.
Telling males from females
Mature females are usually rounder in the belly and a little larger than the slimmer, more colorful males.
White Cloud Mountain Minnow care mistakes to avoid
- Do not buy just one or two. Keep at least 10 fish so they feel secure.
- Do not keep it warm for long. It is a cool-water fish that struggles in warm tropical tanks.
- Never house it with goldfish. Despite the old advice, goldfish grow large enough to eat it.
- Check tank mates carefully, because few tropical species share its cool temperature range.
- Check your tank before you buy. Our sourced minimum is 14 US gallons.
White Cloud Mountain Minnow tank setup
A forgiving setup with room for a small community.
TankAt least 14 US gal (54 L), 60 x 30 cm
The smallest tank our sources give for White Cloud Mountain Minnow. We list only tanks that hold this volume (allowing 10%, so a standard size counts) and have at least this much floor.
Aqueon Standard Glass Aquarium 20 Long US
Aqueon Standard Glass Aquarium 29 Gallon US
Eheim clearTank 73 Spain
Why we chose these (Best 20-Gallon Fish Tank: 20 Long or 29?). Nobody here has used or tested them.
Starter kitA kit with the tank, filter and light in one box
We list only kits whose tank fits White Cloud Mountain Minnow, up to twice its minimum volume. A kit whose heater has a fixed setting shows only when that setting is inside White Cloud Mountain Minnow's temperature range.
None of our picks for Spain suits this species. The options below are for the US, and we have not confirmed that they are sold in Spain.
Tetra Complete LED Aquarium Kit 20 Gallon US
Check the heater's setting
Why we chose these (Best Aquarium Starter Kit: What to Look For). Nobody here has used or tested them.
FilterHang-on-back or large sponge filter
Easy to maintain and strong enough for a community without blasting the fish.
Seachem Tidal 55 Power Filter US
Marineland Penguin PRO 175 Power Filter US
Eheim LiBERTY 130 Hang-on Filter Spain
Seachem Tidal 35 Power Filter Spain
Why we chose these (Best Filter for a 20 to 29-Gallon Tank). Nobody here has used or tested them.
HeaterKeep it at 57–72 °F (14–22 °C)
Adjustable heater, about 5 W per gallon: 100 W at 20 gallons, about 150 W at 29. Enough power to hold a stable temperature in most homes. Size up for a cold room.
Aqueon Pro Adjustable Heater 100 W US
Aqueon Submersible Glass Heater 100 W US
Eheim Thermocontrol e 100 Heater Spain
Tetra HT 100 Electronic Heater Spain
Why we chose these (Best Heater for a 20 to 29-Gallon Tank). Nobody here has used or tested them.
Water conditionerDechlorinator such as Seachem Prime
Tap water contains chlorine or chloramine that harms fish.
Seachem Prime US
Fritz Complete Water Conditioner US
API Betta Water Conditioner US
sera aquatan Spain
Tetra AquaSafe Spain
Sold at Kiwoko · Sold at Tiendanimal · Sold at zooplus.es · Maker's details
Why we chose these (Best Water Conditioner for Betta Fish). Nobody here has used or tested them.
Test kitLiquid kit such as API Freshwater Master
Tracks ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH while the tank cycles.
API Freshwater Master Test Kit US
API General & Carbonate Hardness Test Kit US
See it at The Shrimp Farm (a retailer; affiliate link) · Sold at Bulk Reef Supply · Maker's details
sera aqua-test box (Cl) Spain
JBL PROAQUATEST COMBISET Plus NH4 Spain
Why we chose these (Best Test Kit for a Freshwater Aquarium). Nobody here has used or tested them.
SubstrateDecor is not critical; the wild habitat has sand, pebbles and leaf litter.
We are still choosing products for this.
Hiding places and decorFloating plants, driftwood roots and leaf litter are appreciated.
We are still choosing products for this.
PlantsSafe with live plants
Cycle the tank before adding animals. See our guide on how to cycle a fish tank.
Where to buy White Cloud Mountain Minnow
Stores that list it under the same scientific name as this page. Links marked as affiliate links may earn us a commission. We have not bought from them, so check each store's own terms.
See it at The Shrimp Farm (a retailer; affiliate link)
We have not found a store that sells White Cloud Mountain Minnow under its scientific name yet. We add stores as we confirm them.
Live animals and plants travel by courier. Check the store's live-arrival guarantee, and only buy once your tank has cycled (see how to cycle a fish tank).
Some US states restrict certain species. Check our US state aquarium rules table and your state's own rules before you buy.
White Cloud Mountain Minnow FAQ
What size tank do White Cloud Mountain Minnows need?
Our sourced minimum is 14 US gallons (54 liters), with a footprint of 60 x 30 cm. A bigger tank is always easier to keep stable.
How many White Cloud Mountain Minnows should I keep?
Keep at least 10 fish. Bigger groups usually look better and behave more confidently.
What can live with White Cloud Mountain Minnows?
Good matches on our list include Fancy Guppy, Platy and Hillstream Loach. Avoid Cardinal Tetra and Glowlight Tetra.
How long do White Cloud Mountain Minnows live?
Care guides report about 3–7 years. Stable water and a good diet make the biggest difference.
Do white cloud minnows need a heater?
Often not, as long as your room stays reasonably mild and steady. A heater only helps if the room gets colder than the range shown above.
White Cloud Mountain Minnow facts and sources
- Family
- Cyprinidae
- Native to
- Southern China
- Adult size
- 1.6 in (4 cm)
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social needs
- Schooling/Shoaling (6+)
- Diet
- Micro-Predator
- Water flow
- Gentle
- Substrate
- Any
- Live plants
- Yes - Loves Plants
- Shrimp
- Adult Shrimp Only
- Fin nipping
- None
- Vulnerable to nippers
- No
- Breeding
- Easy Egg-Scatterer
Sources
- Seriously Fish: Tank size, water ranges and behavior
- FishBase: Cross-check of water ranges and size
Lifespans are approximate and come from aquarium care guides, because these databases rarely publish them.
Where sources differ, we show the Seriously Fish aquarium figures.
Spotted something wrong? Report a parameter correction. For a sick fish, see our veterinary disclaimer.