Description
Gold White Cloud Mountain Minnow (Tanichthys albonubes)
Overview
The Gold White Cloud Mountain Minnow (Tanichthys albonubes “Gold”), a selectively bred variant of the White Cloud Mountain Minnow, is a small, hardy freshwater fish native to the cool, fast-flowing streams of White Cloud Mountain (Baiyunshan) in Guangdong, China, and parts of northern Vietnam. Growing to about 3–4 cm, it features a vibrant yellow-gold body with red accents on the caudal and dorsal fins, making it a striking addition to aquariums. Its peaceful temperament, adaptability to cooler water, and ease of care make it an excellent choice for beginner and experienced aquarists. The species is endangered in the wild due to habitat loss from pollution and tourism but is widely captive-bred, with the gold morph being a popular aquarium trade variant.
Care Requirements
- Tank Size: Minimum 40 liters with at least 60 cm frontage for a school of 6–8 fish. Larger tanks (60–100 liters) are ideal for schooling and swimming space.
- Water Parameters:
- Temperature: 14–22°C, optimal at 18–22°C. No heater is needed in most climates; avoid prolonged exposure above 25°C.
- pH: 6.0–8.0 (highly adaptable, 6.5–7.5 for breeding)
- Hardness: 2–20 dGH (soft to hard, 5–12 dGH for breeding)
- Nitrate: <50 mg/L
- Use a dechlorinator to neutralize chlorine and heavy metals in tap water.
- Filtration: Small sponge filter or hang-on-back filter with gentle flow to mimic slow to moderate stream currents. Ensure good aeration without strong turbulence.
- Substrate: Dark fine gravel or sand to enhance colouration and mimic natural streambeds. Add smooth rocks for a biotope setup.
- Décor: Dense vegetation (e.g., Hornwort, Java moss, Dwarf Rotala) and floating plants (e.g., Duckweed) for cover and dim lighting. Include driftwood and leaf litter for a natural look. Keep open swimming space in the tank’s center.
- Lighting: Subdued to low, as they thrive in dim conditions. Floating plants or low-wattage LEDs enhance their golden shimmer.
- Cover: Secure lid required, as they may jump, especially during breeding or when stressed.
Maintenance
- Water Changes: Replace 20–30% of water every 1–2 weeks to maintain low nitrate/ammonium levels. Match water parameters to avoid stress.
- Tank Cleaning: Gently vacuum substrate and clean filter media monthly using tank water to preserve beneficial bacteria. Avoid overstocking to reduce waste.
- Monitoring: Test water parameters (temperature, pH, hardness, nitrate) weekly. Fading colours or lethargy may indicate poor water quality or stress.
- Health: Hardy but prone to disease in poor conditions or from inbreeding (e.g., deformities). Monitor for ich (white spots) or fin rot. Avoid copper-based medications, as they are sensitive. Quarantine affected fish.
- Lifespan: 3–5 years in optimal conditions, with some living up to 7–8 years.
Diet
- Natural Diet: Omnivorous, feeding on insect larvae, plankton, small crustaceans, and plant matter in the wild.
- Aquarium Diet:
- High-quality flakes or micropellets (e.g., TetraMin, Hikari Micro Pellets) as a staple.
- Live or frozen foods (brine shrimp, daphnia, bloodworms, cyclops) to enhance colouration and health.
- Vegetable matter (e.g., spirulina flakes, blanched spinach, zucchini) for balance.
- Feeding Frequency: Small portions 1–2 times daily, consumed within 1–2 minutes to avoid overfeeding and pollution. They feed in mid-to-upper water layers.
- Variety: A varied diet promotes vibrant gold colouration and overall health.
Behaviour and Compatibility
Behaviour:
Peaceful, active, and shoaling, requiring groups of 6–8+ (preferably 10–12) to feel secure and display tight schooling. Solitary fish become timid, lose colour, or chase others defensively. They swim in the top and middle water layers and are livelier in cooler, planted tanks.
Compatibility:
- Ideal for community tanks with small, peaceful, cool-water species.
- Suitable tankmates:
- Other minnows (e.g., Danios, Rasboras, Vietnamese White Cloud Minnows)
- Small bottom-dwellers (e.g., Corydoras, Kuhli loaches)
- Small peaceful fish (e.g., Variatus Platies, Endler’s livebearers) Avoid large, aggressive, or warm-water fish (e.g., goldfish, large cichlids), as goldfish may eat them, and warm-water species have incompatible temperature needs. Mixing with other Tanichthys morphs (e.g., wild-type, longfin) is fine but may lead to hybridization.
- Mixing Species: Avoid overcrowding with other shoaling species in small tanks to prevent competition. Their peaceful nature suits nano or subtropical setups.
Breeding Behaviour
Reproduction: Easy to breed, making them ideal for novice breeders. Egg scatterers, laying 50–200 small eggs among plants or spawning mops. Adults may eat eggs but not fry, though removal is recommended for higher yield.
Picture for illustrative purposes only. Either come in store to view available stock or request pictures to be sent to you.
Please Note: Due to variations within species resulting from age, region, sex, etc., the actual livestock may not look identical to the image. Approximate size range may also vary between individual specimens.
