Description
White Cloud Mountain Minnow – WCMM (Tanichthys albonubes)
Overview
The White Cloud Mountain Minnow (Tanichthys albonubes), a small, hardy freshwater fish, is native to the cool, fast-flowing streams of White Cloud Mountain (Baiyunshan) in Guangdong, China, and northern Vietnam. Growing to 3–4 cm, it features a slender, silvery body with a shimmering green-blue lateral stripe, red-orange fins, and a black-edged dorsal fin. Its peaceful nature, adaptability to cooler water, and ease of care make it ideal for beginner and experienced aquarists. Endangered in the wild due to pollution and tourism, it is widely captive-bred, with variants like the gold and long-finned “Meteor Minnow” available in the aquarium trade.
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 preferred for schooling and swimming space.
- Water Parameters:
- Temperature: 14–22°C, optimal at 18–22°C. No heater required in most climates; avoid prolonged exposure above 24°C.
- pH: 6.0–8.5 (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 to moderate flow to mimic stream currents.
- Ensure good aeration without strong turbulence.
- Substrate: Dark fine gravel or sand to enhance colouration and mimic natural streambeds. Smooth pebbles or rocks add authenticity.
- Décor: Dense vegetation (e.g., Java moss, Hornwort, Water Sprite, Dwarf Rotala) and floating plants (e.g., Duckweed) for cover. Include driftwood and leaf litter for a natural biotope. Maintain open swimming space.
- Lighting: Subdued to low to replicate shaded streams. Floating plants or low-wattage LEDs highlight their iridescence.
- Cover: Secure lid required, as they may jump during breeding or when startled.
Maintenance
- Water Changes: Replace 20–30% of water every 1–2 weeks to maintain low nitrate/ammonium levels. Match temperature and parameters to avoid shock.
- 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 indicate poor water quality or stress.
- Health: Hardy but susceptible to disease in poor conditions or from inbreeding (e.g., deformities). Monitor for ich (white spots) or fin rot. Avoid copper-based medications due to sensitivity. Quarantine affected fish.
- Lifespan: 3–5 years in optimal conditions, occasionally up to 7 years.
Diet
- Natural Diet: Omnivorous, feeding on insect larvae, small crustaceans, plankton, 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 colour and vitality.
- Vegetable matter (e.g., spirulina flakes, blanched spinach) for balance.
- Feeding Frequency: Small portions 1–2 times daily, consumed within 1–2 minutes to prevent overfeeding and pollution. They feed in mid-to-upper water layers.
- Variety: A varied diet promotes vibrant colouration and 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 or small groups become timid or defensive, occasionally chasing others. They swim in mid-to-upper water layers and thrive 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.
