White Cloud Mountain Minnows (Tanichthys albonubes)

Choose a cool-water shoaling fish

White Cloud Mountain Minnows are peaceful freshwater schooling fish from China and Vietnam. Their scientific name is Tanichthys albonubes, and FishBase places them in the family Tanichthyidae. FishBase records a maximum length of 4 cm total length. They suit prepared new keepers and experienced aquarists who can provide a mature aquarium, a proper social group and stable cooler conditions.

Their compact size should not be mistaken for permission to use a bowl or an immature aquarium. They are schooling fish, and Seriously Fish recommends a group of 10 or more. A full group gives the fish social choice and produces a more natural display than solitary keeping or a token pair.

For routine care, use the overlap between Seriously Fish’s species profile and OATA’s group guidance: 17–22°C, pH 6.5–8.0 and 5–12 dGH. Seriously Fish also requires a minimum aquarium base of 60 × 30 cm or equivalent, approximately 54 litres.

Arrange the aquarium with planted shelter around the edges and open swimming space through the centre. This balance lets the group retreat when needed while preserving a clear horizontal route for schooling and feeding.

Success depends on maturing the filter before introduction, testing the water every week, feeding modest portions and selecting companions by temperature, adult size, mouth size and behaviour. The wider rasboras and danios collection offers other identities to compare, but each fish needs to be assessed against its own care requirements.

Select the dispatch size and quantity

One purchase supplies one animal in the size selected on the page. This is not a pre-made group, so set the quantity to match the number of fish required for your aquarium plan. Use the live size selector to compare the three size choices.

The size you select is the size supplied, not the adult size. The dispatch sizes are 1.5–2 cm, 2.5–3 cm and over 3 cm. The final label has no stated upper boundary, so read it simply as more than 3 cm rather than a promise of a particular length.

Choosing one dispatch size for a new group simplifies food sizing and compatibility screening. When adding fish to an established group, compare the selected size with the body size of the residents and watch whether every newcomer can reach food without being crowded away. Peaceful fish can still differ in feeding speed.

Sex is guaranteed only when the selected option explicitly states male or female. This White Cloud Mountain Minnows listing has no sex-guaranteed option.

Some gallery images are representative, based on reference photographs of this species, and none shows the exact animal supplied, so colours can look slightly different from the live animal.

Plan the aquarium for ten or more

Begin with a tank offering a base of at least 60 × 30 cm or an equivalent footprint. The associated planning volume is about 54 litres, but base dimensions remain important because a tall, narrow aquarium can contain the same volume without offering the same horizontal route. Arrange the aquarium around the adult fish and the whole group, not around the smallest dispatch size.

A group of 10 or more is the species-level recommendation. Ten fish in the smallest suitable aquarium already use the social and swimming capacity that the dimensions are intended to support. Increase the footprint when adding more White Clouds or building a mixed community, because every additional animal adds waste, feeding competition and demand for usable space.

Work from the whole stocking plan

• Ten White Clouds alone: use at least a 60 × 30 cm base, planted shelter and a mature filter.
• A larger White Cloud group: add swimming length and filtration capacity rather than relying on a simple litres-per-fish calculation.
• A mixed aquarium: calculate around the adult size, social needs and space requirements of every species.
• An existing community: include present residents in the calculation before selecting a quantity.

For example, a 60 × 30 cm aquarium planned for 10 White Clouds should not automatically receive another shoal merely because both species are small. First compare temperature, adult size, activity, feeding speed and the amount of open water each group uses. If those needs compete, choose a larger aquarium or keep a single-species group.

Planting can occupy the back and sides while leaving a clear route through the main body of the aquarium. This balance gives the fish somewhere to retreat without turning the entire footprint into dense cover. Floating plants, roots, branches and leaf litter can add shelter, but they should not prevent routine observation or maintenance.

Do not use small containers as temporary long-term housing. Lower water volume changes more quickly when waste builds up, room temperature shifts or maintenance is delayed. A properly sized aquarium provides a better margin for stable temperature and water quality while allowing the group to school naturally.

Hold water within the species range

Keep the aquarium at 17–22°C, pH 6.5–8.0 and 5–12 dGH. These routine values are the overlap between Seriously Fish’s aquarium range of 14–22°C, pH 6.0–8.5 and 5–20 dGH and OATA’s group guidance of 17–23°C, pH 6.5–8.0 and 4–12 dGH. Keep the fish in stable, measured conditions rather than moving repeatedly between the limits.

Permanent exposure to warmer conditions is likely to shorten lifespan. Do not place this cooler species in a community maintained continuously above 22°C, even when the proposed companions are peaceful.

Test the aquarium rather than judging temperature from the room or water chemistry from a postcode. Our water chemistry guide explains what the principal readings mean, while the Water Matcher helps compare measured values with these routine targets. A test result is more useful than labels such as soft, hard, tropical or unheated.

Many well-insulated homes may hold this range without continuous heating. Measure the tank at the coolest and warmest parts of the day before deciding. In a room around 20°C, Seriously Fish uses roughly 25 W as a planning example for an aquarium of about 54 litres; room conditions and aquarium construction affect heat loss.

Mature the filter before introduction

A working biological filter is essential. Fish release ammonia, which is toxic; beneficial bacteria in a mature filter convert it first to nitrite, which is also toxic, and then to safer nitrate. RSPCA aquarium welfare guidance explains this biological process and why no fish should be kept without a properly established and maintained filter.

Prepare the aquarium before selecting an introduction date. If this is your first system, follow our first aquarium preparation guide, then confirm with tests that ammonia and nitrite are both 0 mg/L. A calendar date on its own cannot show how the filter responds after livestock and feeding increase.

Match circulation to the aquarium

White Clouds appreciate some water movement, although filtration need not be especially strong. For an aquarium of about 54 litres, four to five times the tank volume per hour corresponds to a filter rating of roughly 215–270 litres per hour. Distribute the return so the fish can use moving water without every part of the aquarium becoming a forceful current.

Treat replacement tap water with a suitable conditioner before it enters the aquarium. Do not rinse established filter media under the tap because chlorine or chloramine may damage its beneficial bacteria. Removing all mature media at once also removes much of the biological capacity needed to process waste.

Increase the aquarium population slowly. Each increase in fish and food requires the bacterial community to process more waste, and stocking too quickly can lead to new tank syndrome. If ammonia or nitrite appears, pause further additions and restore safe water quality before reconsidering the stocking plan.

Combine cover with open water

Build the layout with cover around the margins and an open route through the aquarium. Décor is flexible, so choose materials that can be cleaned safely and remain stable. A heavily planted arrangement with a dark substrate may show the fish’s colour well, while floating plants, driftwood roots, branches and leaf litter can create a more natural-feeling setting.

Do not fill every centimetre with plants or ornaments. A group of 10 or more needs uninterrupted room to move, regroup and feed. Planting at the back and ends preserves a broad central lane, while scattered cover gives a nervous fish somewhere to retreat without becoming hidden from routine checks.

A moderate degree of water movement suits this fish, and a stream-style layout is another workable approach. Position the filter return so movement passes through part of the aquarium while quieter areas remain behind plants or wood. Observe the group after any change: coordinated movement through the tank is preferable to fish constantly working against a concentrated jet.

Keep floating cover from sealing the surface, and remove decaying plant material before it adds unnecessary waste. Décor should not block access to the substrate during the weekly partial water change. A beautiful arrangement still has to permit testing, cleaning and a clear view of breathing, feeding and body condition.

Choose every plant for the same temperature and water chemistry as the fish. A plant that prefers warmer conditions should not dictate permanent heat above 22°C. Likewise, do not alter stable fish-safe water simply to accommodate a decorative choice that needs a different pH or hardness.

Feed small food once a day

White Cloud Mountain Minnows are micropredators in nature, taking small insects, worms, crustaceans and other zooplankton. In the aquarium, use good-quality flakes or granules as the dry foundation and include products with some plant or algal content. Add suitably small live or frozen foods such as Daphnia, bloodworm and Artemia for variety and condition.

OATA’s group-level feeding guidance recommends one meal per day and only as much as the fish can eat within a few minutes. This schedule gives a clear starting point for portion control. Watch the whole group rather than concentrating on the quickest fish, because a portion is not appropriate if food falls uneaten while quieter individuals remain excluded.

The smallest dispatch size needs particularly careful food sizing. Crush flakes finely and check that the pieces remain manageable once wet. For a mixed-size group, spread the food across more than one point so larger or faster fish cannot take the whole portion before smaller fish reach it.

Uneaten food breaks down and adds toxic waste to the water. If material remains after a few minutes, remove what you can and reduce the next portion. Do not compensate for a missed observation by adding extra food, and do not treat repeated leftovers as harmless because the filter appears clear.

Body condition and interest in food are useful daily checks. A fish that repeatedly cannot reach food needs a practical response: review particle size, feeding position, group competition and tank-mate behaviour. A sudden decline in appetite also calls for immediate water testing before any assumption is made about disease.

Prepare for a gradual introduction

Complete the aquarium plan before the fish travel. Confirm that the filter is mature, temperature remains within 17–22°C, ammonia and nitrite are 0 mg/L and the intended group fits the 60 × 30 cm minimum base. Read the current delivery and Live Arrival Guarantee policy before ordering so the packing, receipt and claim process are clear.

Follow the arrival steps

1. Receive the parcel in person and start filming before opening it: show the sealed parcel and outer box.
2. Open the parcel in one continuous take: keep filming until the fish can be seen inside the sealed bag.
3. Inspect the fish while it remains in the bag: preserve the continuous recording from the sealed parcel onward.
4. Float the bag for 20–30 minutes before releasing the fish.
5. Never pour the bag water into the aquarium.

Increase livestock slowly enough for the filter’s bacterial population to respond to additional waste and food. A newly matured aquarium needs especially close testing after fish are introduced. Do not add an unrelated second group during the same settling period simply because the first readings initially remain at zero.

Use clear first-week checkpoints

1. Before introduction: record temperature, ammonia, nitrite and the normal tap-water nitrate level.
2. During the first hours: observe balance, breathing rate and whether the group can move away from the filter return.
3. At the first feed: offer the normal small daily portion and check that every fish can take food of the chosen size.
4. Through the first week: test water regularly and compare behaviour with the previous day.
5. At routine maintenance: complete a 25% partial water change at least once a week using conditioned replacement water and inspect the filter for blockages.

Keep the layout settled while the group becomes accustomed to it. Repeatedly moving wood, plants or the filter outlet makes it harder to identify whether a behaviour change follows the introduction or the latest alteration. Stable surroundings also make hiding places and feeding routes easier for the fish to learn.

During the first month, keep a simple record of water readings, maintenance and feeding response. If ammonia or nitrite rises above zero, stop further stocking and restore safe water. If one fish is consistently isolated or excluded from food, review group size, current strength, layout and companion behaviour instead of assuming that a peaceful species cannot experience competition.

Respond to changes early

Observe the group every day during feeding and whenever you pass the aquarium. Normal individual variation exists, so compare each fish with its usual movement, colour, breathing and appetite. A change is more useful than a single snapshot taken without context.

Start with tests because ammonia, nitrite and deteriorating water quality can make fish ill. Both ammonia and nitrite must remain at 0 mg/L. Temperature should stay within 17–22°C, while nitrate control depends on regular testing and partial water changes.

Do not dismiss hiding, colour change or feeding refusal simply because the species is peaceful. Check whether the group contains 10 or more, whether cover and open space remain balanced and whether another resident controls the feeding area. Correcting an environmental or social cause early may prevent a continuing decline.

When health changes are severe, persistent or difficult to interpret, contact us for guidance after recording the water readings and visible signs. Clear details about breathing, swimming, appetite, external marks and the timing of the change make the next decision more focused than a general description that the fish looks unwell.

Screen every community candidate

White Cloud Mountain Minnows are very peaceful and can live in a well-maintained community when every resident shares their temperature requirements. Peaceful behaviour alone is not enough: compare the routine 17–22°C range, pH and hardness needs, adult size, mouth size, activity, feeding speed and use of aquarium space.

A suitable candidate is therefore a peaceful community fish whose own requirements overlap the aquarium conditions and whose adult form presents no feeding or swallowing risk. This is a conditional assessment rather than a universal tank-mate list. Closely related appearance, a shared shop category or the word “community” does not settle the decision.

Avoid keeping White Clouds with goldfish. Larger goldfish can eat minnows, and the pairing should not be treated as safe merely because small individuals may initially occupy the same aquarium. Plan for the adult size and behaviour of both animals from the beginning.

For a worked example, a second shoaling species may share 18–22°C yet still be unsuitable in a 60 × 30 cm aquarium if both groups need substantial swimming room. Matching one temperature number does not create space or filtration capacity. Either choose a larger setup or keep the White Cloud group as the sole open-water shoal.

For a stocking and compatibility assessment, contact us with the aquarium dimensions, measured water values, existing species, group sizes and current body sizes. Those details allow a more useful screen than a tank volume or species name on its own.

Make the White Cloud group the priority

Build the White Cloud group before using spare space for unrelated fish. The recommended group is 10 or more, and keeping too few can leave individuals nervous. Adding a different species does not replace companions of their own kind.

A well-planned group can move together, spread out to feed and retreat into cover without one fish remaining isolated. Persistent exclusion, inability to feed or repeated hiding needs investigation. Check the number of White Clouds, layout, current strength and tank-mate pressure before adding more variety.

Use a compatibility sequence

1. Meet the social need: plan 10 or more White Clouds.
2. Confirm the footprint: start with at least 60 × 30 cm and increase it for additional residents.
3. Match the water: keep every species within a shared stable temperature, pH and hardness range.
4. Compare adult form: consider adult size and mouth size, not the dispatch measurement alone.
5. Compare feeding: ensure each group can take suitable food without being displaced.
6. Observe after introduction: watch schooling, breathing and food access while testing the water.

If an aquarium already contains five White Clouds, adding five more appropriately sized members addresses the social requirement more directly than adding a different five-fish shoal. Recheck the aquarium footprint and filtration before making that increase, because a social need does not override total capacity.

When an existing resident requires water above 22°C throughout the year, do not force a compromise at the edge of both ranges. Choose animals whose normal conditions overlap comfortably. The same principle applies to pH, hardness and water movement: one coincidental number is not a complete compatibility screen.

Observe the smallest selected fish particularly closely in a mixed aquarium. Food must fit its mouth, and faster residents must not take the full daily portion first. Spread food across more than one point when necessary, then reduce the total if uneaten material remains after a few minutes.

Answer White Cloud buying questions

How big do White Cloud Mountain Minnows get?

White Cloud Mountain Minnows reach 4 cm. FishBase records this as the maximum total length, so plan the aquarium around a 4 cm adult rather than the dispatch measurement.

What size aquarium does it need?

Use a mature filtered aquarium with a base of at least 60 × 30 cm or equivalent, approximately 54 litres. Seriously Fish gives these minimum dimensions; increase the footprint and filtration capacity for a larger group or mixed community.

How many White Cloud Mountain Minnows should I keep together?

Keep 10 or more White Cloud Mountain Minnows together. Seriously Fish recommends this group size because the species schools naturally, while keeping too few can leave individuals nervous.

Are White Cloud Mountain Minnows suitable for beginners?

White Cloud Mountain Minnows can suit a prepared beginner who matures the filter first, tests the water, provides a group of 10 or more and completes a 25% partial water change at least once a week.

What do White Cloud Mountain Minnows eat?

Feed White Cloud Mountain Minnows good-quality flakes or small granules once per day, offering only what the group eats within a few minutes. Rotate suitably small Daphnia, bloodworm or Artemia and include some dry food with plant or algal content.

What temperature and pH does this fish need?

Keep it at the Seriously Fish and OATA overlap of 17–22°C, pH 6.5–8.0 and 5–12 dGH. Maintain ammonia and nitrite at 0 mg/L and nitrate no more than 20 mg/L above the normal tap-water level.

Is it aggressive or likely to nip fins?

Seriously Fish describes it as very peaceful. Keep a full group, preserve open swimming space and investigate persistent chasing, exclusion, damaged fins or blocked feeding rather than assuming every community combination will work.

Which animals can live with White Cloud Mountain Minnows?

Seriously Fish names Pethia conchonius, Pethia padamya, “Puntius” semifasciolatus, Macropodus opercularis and suitable Danio, Devario, Garra and loach species sharing comparable conditions. Avoid goldfish because larger goldfish can eat minnows.

How does this fish arrive alive in the UK?

Tropical Fish Co’s policy says fish are hand-bagged in pure oxygen, packed in an insulated box with a heat pack when needed and carried by a licensed live-animal courier. Someone must be present to receive the parcel. Film every delivery continuously from the sealed parcel as it is opened, keeping the fish visible inside the sealed bag; then float the bag for 20–30 minutes and never pour the bag water into the aquarium.

Check the care references

• FishBase: Tanichthys albonubes — accepted identity, family, distribution, environmental readings and maximum recorded total length.
• Seriously Fish: Tanichthys albonubes — aquarium dimensions, temperature, pH, hardness, filtration, diet, group behaviour and community guidance.
• OATA: danios and White Cloud Mountain Minnows — UK group guidance for water quality, feeding, maintenance, introduction and health observation.
• RSPCA aquarium environment guidance — biological filtration, waste processing and aquarium maturation.