Quick Facts
- Common Names: White Cloud Mountain Minnow, White Cloud Minnow, WCMM, Canton Minnow, Poor Man’s Neon Tetra
- Scientific Name: Tanichthys albonubes
- Adult Size: 1.5 inches (4 cm)
- Lifespan: 5-7 years in captivity
- Care Level: Beginner
- Temperament: Peaceful
- Diet: Omnivore
- Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallons
- Temperature Range: 60-72°F (15-22°C)
- pH Range: 6.5-8.0
- Water Hardness: 5-19 dGH (soft to moderately hard)
- Breeding Difficulty: Easy
- Native Range: White Cloud Mountain, Guangdong Province, China (critically endangered in wild)
Introduction
Want a beautiful fish that doesn’t need a heater? The White Cloud Mountain Minnow is one of the hobby’s best-kept secrets. These tiny cold-water gems are tougher than nails, thrive at room temperature, and cost next to nothing. They’re nicknamed the “poor man’s Neon Tetra” because they deliver similar shimmer and schooling behavior without the price tag or delicate nature. Perfect for unheated tanks, desktop setups, or anyone who wants stunning fish without complicated care.
Video Overview
Appearance
White Cloud Mountain Minnows have slender, dart-shaped bodies built for quick movements in mountain streams. They measure just 1.5 inches fully grown, making them perfect for smaller tanks.
Their base color is soft bronze-brown with hints of green that shimmer under the light. A striking pink or white horizontal stripe runs from behind the gills to the base of the tail, where you’ll find a small black dot. Their fins are transparent with splashes of bright red, especially on the tail and dorsal fins, often tipped with white.
The triangular shape of their dorsal, anal, and ventral fins gives them an elegant profile. Males tend to be slimmer with more intense coloration—brighter reds and more pronounced stripes—while females have rounder, fuller bodies.
Color variations:
- Standard: Bronze body with white/pink stripe and red fins
- Golden (Albino): Cream-colored body with pale gold scales, missing the black tail dot
- Longfin (Meteor Minnow): Same colors but with flowing, elongated fins that trail behind them
- Hong Kong: Pale gold scales with blue stripe, no white fin tips
Creating the Right Environment
White Cloud Mountain Minnows come from cool, fast-flowing mountain streams with crystal-clear water and dense vegetation. Recreating these conditions brings out their best colors and most active behavior.
What makes them thrive:
- Cool water between 60-72°F. Unlike most tropical fish, warmer water stresses them and shortens their lifespan. Room temperature tanks work perfectly.
- Gentle to moderate flow from the filter. They’re from streams, not ponds, so some current keeps them happy and encourages schooling.
- Smooth river rocks scattered across the bottom. Their natural habitat has rocky substrate, which also looks stunning in planted tanks.
- Dense vegetation with open swimming lanes. Plants like Java Moss, Hornwort, Water Sprite, and Dwarf Rotala provide cover while leaving space for their constant motion.
- Subdued lighting makes their colors pop. They’re not sensitive to bright light, but dimmer conditions show off that pink stripe beautifully.
- Sandy or fine gravel substrate mimics the riverbeds they’re used to and completes the natural look.
Care Basics
Water: 60-72°F (15-22°C), pH 6.5-8.0, 5-19 dGH
The most important thing to understand: White Clouds are COOL water fish, not tropical. Keeping them in warm tanks (75°F+) will stress them and drastically reduce their lifespan. Most homes stay around 68-72°F naturally, making heaters unnecessary. They can even survive temperatures down to 45°F (7°C), though that’s not ideal for long-term health.
Tank Size: 10 gallons minimum for 5-6 fish; 20-gallon long is ideal
While small, they’re active swimmers that cover all tank levels. A 10-gallon works for a small school, but 20+ gallons gives them room to really show off their schooling behavior. Longer tanks are better than tall ones—they need horizontal swimming space.
Food: High-quality flakes or micro-pellets, with frequent live or frozen foods
Despite their tiny size, White Clouds eat a LOT. Feed twice daily with small amounts they can finish in 2-3 minutes. Their natural diet is insect larvae and small crustaceans, so supplement flakes with frozen bloodworms, brine shrimp, or daphnia 2-3 times per week. They’ll also nibble on algae and blanched vegetables.
Equipment: Sponge filter or HOB with gentle flow, secure lid, optional thermometer
Skip the heater unless your home gets below 60°F. Use a sponge filter or turn down your HOB filter—they like gentle current, not raging rapids. Always use a tight-fitting lid—these fish are notorious jumpers and will leap out of open tanks.
Maintenance: 25% water change weekly; test parameters regularly
Their cool-water preference means less evaporation, but don’t skip water changes. Keep ammonia and nitrite at zero, nitrates under 20 ppm. They tolerate parameter swings better than most fish, but stability is still best.
Behavior
White Cloud Mountain Minnows are peaceful, active schooling fish that constantly zip around all levels of the tank. They’re always on the move—exploring plants, chasing each other playfully, and patrolling for food.
In proper schools (6+), they establish a loose hierarchy through gentle sparring where males flare their fins to show off. This is normal breeding behavior, not aggression. When kept alone or in too-small groups, they become shy, stressed, and may start chasing other fish.
They’re diurnal (active during the day) and rest at night, though they never fully stop moving. Their constant activity makes them excellent dither fish—shy species feel safer when they see White Clouds swimming freely.
Schooling needs: Minimum 6 fish, but 8-10 is better. Larger schools produce tighter, more impressive schooling displays.
Tank Mates
Good choices:
- Other White Cloud varieties (mix standards, longfins, and golds)
- Zebra Danios and other cool-water Danios
- Rosy Barbs and Cherry Barbs
- Harlequin Rasboras
- Smaller cool-water Corydoras (if you can maintain cooler temps)
- Paradise Fish (if kept in pairs)
- Shrimp (Cherry, Amano, Ghost)
- Snails (Mystery, Nerite, Rabbit)
- Smaller Killifish species
Be careful with:
- Longfin varieties with other fish (fins may get nipped)
- Guppies and Platys (prefer warmer water, but tolerate overlap)
Avoid:
- Goldfish (too large, heavy waste producers, may eat them)
- Tropical fish requiring warm water (Bettas, Discus, Angelfish, most Tetras)
- Large or aggressive fish (Oscars, large Cichlids)
- Very slow-moving fish (may get outcompeted for food)
Group size: Always keep at least 6 White Clouds together. They’re schooling fish that need companions.
Common Health Issues
Ich (White Spot Disease): Small white spots on body and fins, increased scratching against objects. Caused by Ichthyophthirius multifiliis parasite. Treat by gradually raising temperature to 75-77°F (still cool for them) and using ich medication. Maintain excellent water quality during treatment.
Streptococcal Infection: Bacterial infection causing erratic swimming, inability to stay upright, and sinking to the bottom. Most common disease in White Cloud Minnows. Caused by poor water quality and unhygienic conditions. Treat with antibiotics targeting gram-negative bacteria. Prevention is key—keep the tank clean with regular water changes.
Fin Rot: Frayed, deteriorating fins with discoloration at the edges. Bacterial or fungal infection triggered by poor water quality or stress. Treat with broad-spectrum medication and improve water conditions through more frequent changes. Usually clears up quickly if caught early.
Prevention tips:
- Quarantine new fish for 2-3 weeks before adding to main tank
- Keep school size at 6+ to reduce stress
- Never keep them in warm water (biggest mistake)
- Perform weekly water changes
- Buy from reputable breeders (decades of inbreeding has weakened some bloodlines)
Lighting & Appearance
Moderate to low lighting works best. White Clouds aren’t fussy about light intensity, but subdued lighting enhances their colors dramatically—that pink/white stripe really glows under softer light.
Standard 8-10 hours of light daily is perfect. If you’re growing plants, choose low-light species that thrive in cooler water since most aquarium plants prefer tropical temperatures.
Dark substrate (black sand or dark gravel) makes their metallic shimmer stand out beautifully. The contrast between their bronze bodies and red fins pops against darker backgrounds.
Breeding
White Cloud Mountain Minnows are ridiculously easy to breed—one of the easiest egg-scatterers for beginners. Give them good food and clean water, and they’ll spawn continuously from spring through fall.
How to breed them:
- Keep a mixed group of males and females (6+ fish). Males are slimmer with brighter colors; females are rounder with slightly duller hues.
- Condition them with high-quality frozen or live foods (brine shrimp, bloodworms, daphnia) for 1-2 weeks.
- Provide dense plants like Java Moss, Hornwort, or yarn spawning mops. Eggs will stick to plants and fall into coverage.
- Watch for spawning behavior: Males will chase females and display their fins in courtship dances.
- Eggs hatch in 36-48 hours. Unlike many fish, White Cloud adults usually don’t eat their own fry, but dense plants increase survival rates.
- Feed fry infusoria or powdered fry food for the first week, then graduate to baby brine shrimp.
You can breed them in the main tank or set up a dedicated 10-gallon breeding tank. They’re so prolific that many aquarists end up with constant generations without even trying.
FAQ
Q: Do White Cloud Mountain Minnows need a heater?
A: No, White Cloud Mountain Minnows don’t need a heater in most homes. They prefer cooler water between 60-72°F (15-22°C) and thrive at room temperature. In fact, warm water can stress them and shorten their lifespan significantly.
Q: How many White Cloud Minnows should I keep together?
A: Keep at least 6 White Cloud Minnows together as a minimum. They’re schooling fish that feel most comfortable in groups. Larger schools of 8-10 fish encourage more natural schooling behavior and reduce stress.
Q: Are White Cloud Mountain Minnows good for beginners?
A: Yes, White Cloud Mountain Minnows are excellent beginner fish. They’re extremely hardy, tolerate a wide range of water conditions, eat almost anything, and don’t require a heater. They’re often called the “poor man’s Neon Tetra” because they’re affordable and easier to keep.
Q: What fish can live with White Cloud Minnows?
A: White Cloud Minnows pair well with other cool-water fish like Zebra Danios, Rosy Barbs, and smaller Corydoras. They also work well with shrimp and snails. Avoid tropical fish that need warmer temperatures like Bettas or Discus.
Q: Can White Cloud Minnows live with goldfish?
A: While both tolerate cool water, it’s not recommended. Goldfish grow much larger and produce heavy waste that can stress White Clouds. Goldfish may also eat smaller minnows once they reach adult size.
Q: How long do White Cloud Mountain Minnows live?
A: White Cloud Mountain Minnows live 5-7 years with proper care. The key to longevity is keeping them in cooler water (not warm) and maintaining stable water quality. Some have lived even longer in optimal conditions.
Conclusion
White Cloud Mountain Minnows prove that you don’t need expensive equipment or complicated setups to keep beautiful fish. Their cool-water preference, hardy nature, and constant activity make them ideal for beginners, desktop tanks, or anyone who wants a low-maintenance species. Just remember the golden rule: keep them cool, keep them in groups, and watch them thrive for years. These little mountain stream natives are one of the hobby’s most underrated gems.
Recommended Products
Related Guides
- Zebra Danio Care Guide: Another cold-tolerant, beginner-friendly schooling fish with similar care requirements
- Cherry Barb Care Guide: Peaceful barb that appreciates cooler water and works well with White Clouds
- Corydoras Catfish Care Guide: Bottom-dwelling companions if you can keep temps on the cooler end
- Guppy Care Guide: Livebearers that can tolerate the overlap in temperature range
Special Conservation Note
White Cloud Mountain Minnows are critically endangered in their native habitat due to tourism and pollution. They were thought to be extinct in the wild for several decades until small populations were rediscovered in remote areas of Vietnam and China. All fish in the aquarium trade are captive-bred. By keeping them in home aquariums, hobbyists help preserve this beautiful species for future generations.