| The White Cloud Mountain Minnow, Tanichthys | | | | Mollies, Zebra Danios, Glowlight Tetras and Cherry |
| albonubes, was discovered on the White Cloud | | | | Barbs as well as the Corydoras catfish like the |
| Mountain in Southern China by Tan, a Boy Scout | | | | Peppered Catfish. |
| leader in about 1930. The Generic name, Tanichthys, | | | | I would be cautious about putting them with fish like |
| means Tan's fish and the specific name, albonubes | | | | Rosy Barbs, Tiger Barbs, Paraguay Tetras, Buenos |
| means White Cloud. | | | | Aires Tetras and Colombian Tetras, as these fish |
| Extinct in the Wild? | | | | have been known to be more aggressive. |
| The White Cloud Mountain Minnow is practically | | | | I would avoid putting it with larger fish. I am often |
| extinct in its native habitat. It was believed to be | | | | asked about keeping White Clouds with Goldfish. I do |
| extinct for some years, but an apparently native | | | | not recommend it although I know of plenty of |
| population of this fish was discovered on Hainan | | | | people who have kept them successfully with small |
| Island, well away from the White Cloud Mountain. | | | | goldfish. There is always some danger that the White |
| Water Conditions | | | | Cloud might get swallowed. |
| This fish is very hardy. It will survive in temperatures | | | | Mosquito Control |
| ranging from 4 degrees C (39Ì? degrees F) | | | | Although the White Cloud Mountain Minnow is not |
| to 32 degrees C (90 degrees F) although the | | | | necessarily the best fish for controlling mosquitoes, |
| extremes of this range are not recommended. It is | | | | they are sometimes used for this in South Australia |
| more comfortable at about 16-26 degrees C (60-72 | | | | because they do not eat frog eggs or tadpoles. This |
| degrees F). This is a lower temperature than most | | | | means that they are one possible fish for frog ponds. |
| tropical tanks although, like most cold water fish it | | | | If these fish are used in this way, care needs to be |
| can be kept in tropical aquariums, so it can be kept in | | | | excercised to prevent them escaping into the wild. |
| either a tropical or an unheated aquarium. | | | | Varieties |
| The fish prefer clean water, and will grow and breed | | | | Several varieties of the extremely popular fish have |
| over a wide range of ph and hardness. I would avoid | | | | been bred. These include long finned types called by |
| extremes of pH or very hard water. Make sure all | | | | several different names, including the Meteor Minnow, |
| the Chlorine or Chloramine is removed. | | | | as well as so called gold White Clouds. |
| This fish is intolerant of Copper in the water, and | | | | Breeding |
| great care needs to be exercise if Copper is used for | | | | The White Cloud is one of the easiest egg laying fish |
| treatments. | | | | to breed. When I was a teenager I bred White |
| Food | | | | Clouds through several Generations in a single two |
| This fish is an omnivore and will eat most things in | | | | foot Aquarium. Usually all that is necessary to breed a |
| the wild, and is easy to feed in an Aquarium, taking | | | | few is an aquarium with no other fish. |
| normal fish foods readily. Be aware that it is a small | | | | The Males are brighter in color than the females |
| fish. Do not overfeed. | | | | which become noticeable plumper than the males. |
| Although the White Cloud Mountain Minnow is a small | | | | White Clouds benefit from live plants, both for |
| fish with a small mouth they eat mosquito larvae, and | | | | keeping and breeding. They are an egg scatterer and |
| benefit from some as a treat. They also like daphnia. | | | | usually drop their eggs over plants. |
| Companions | | | | White Clouds normally do not eat all their fry, |
| The White Cloud Mountain Minnow is a schooling fish | | | | although they might eat some. This is why it is |
| and will appear much happier in a group of at least | | | | possible to raise the babies with the parents. I have |
| six. | | | | observed no parental care in this species. |
| This fish is usually a very peaceful one, growing to | | | | Pest Fish |
| about 4 cm (1.5 inches). I have kept it successfully | | | | In some areas this fish is considered a pest. If it is |
| with a wide range of other small fish including: | | | | sold in your area, I suggest you ask in the shop |
| Siamese Fighting Fish, Guppies, Endlers Guppies, | | | | about any regulations. In general, with any fish, do |
| PristellaTetras, Rummy Nose Tetras, Harlequin | | | | not release them into the wild and do not keep them |
| Rasboras, Scissortail Rasboras, Lemon Tetras, Black | | | | in ponds that could overflow and allow the fish to |
| Widow Tetras, Emperor Tetras, Head and Tail Light | | | | escape into the wild. |
| Tetras, Glass Bloodfin Tetras, Swordtails, Platies, | | | | |