Species description

Care, breeding and tankmates

Fish profile

Temperament

Peaceful

They are completely peaceful, active, and curious fish. Males frequently engage in harmless display sparring, flaring their fins to establish dominance and attract females. They are never aggressive towards other species. Their lively nature brings a lot of movement and energy to the upper levels of the aquarium.

Diet

Omnivore

They are micro-predators and omnivores that require small-sized foods. A high-quality micro-pellet or crushed flake should form the staple of their diet. They highly appreciate regular feedings of live or frozen daphnia, baby brine shrimp, and micro-worms. Variety ensures vibrant coloration, particularly the bright red in their fins.

Sex ratio

School

They are a schooling fish and should be kept in groups of at least six, though ten or more is better. A mixed-sex group will encourage the males to display their best colors and spar harmlessly. Males are slimmer and more brightly colored, while females are plumper. A good ratio is roughly equal males to females.

Feeding frequency

Twice daily

Feeding them tiny amounts once or twice a day is ideal. They feed voraciously at the surface and mid-water column, quickly snapping up small morsels. Ensure the food particles are small enough to fit in their tiny mouths. They will also spend time picking at microorganisms growing on plants and hardscape.

Bioload

The White Cloud Mountain Minnow produces a very low bioload. They are extremely small and efficient, making them ideal for nano aquariums or heavily planted setups. Standard sponge filtration or gentle HOB filters are more than sufficient to handle their waste. They are quite hardy, but regular water changes are still needed to keep conditions pristine.

Flow

Moderate

Native to mountain streams, they enjoy moderate water flow and cooler temperatures. Gentle to moderate circulation provides the oxygenation they need to be highly active. They will often enthusiastically swim against the current of a filter outlet. However, they also need calmer areas among plants to rest.

Jump risk

Yes

They have a moderate jump risk, especially when startled or when kept in water that is too warm. They are energetic surface swimmers and can accidentally launch themselves out during feeding. A secure lid is highly recommended to prevent losses. Floating plants can also help make them feel more secure and deter jumping.

Reproduction

Egg scatterer

They are very easy to breed and are classic egg-scatterers. In a heavily planted, mature species tank, fry will often appear without any special intervention from the aquarist. The parents may eat some eggs, but thick moss provides adequate cover for the fry to survive. The tiny fry require infusoria and powdered fry food initially.

Compatibility & tankmates

With caution

They are exceptionally peaceful and make perfect tankmates for other small, gentle species. They are frequently kept with cherry shrimp, small Corydoras, and peaceful tetras. They must not be kept with large or aggressive fish like cichlids, which will easily eat them. They are completely safe with all plants and invertebrates.

Tank level

Top

They primarily occupy the top and middle levels of the water column. They are constantly active, schooling loosely together in open water. They appreciate floating plants which provide cover and dim the lighting slightly. They rarely venture to the bottom unless chasing sinking food.