The White Cloud Mountain Minnow is a popular fish for aquarium tanks due to its colorful appearance and sociable temperament, which makes them ideal community fish. They are small, reaching a length of 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) by adulthood. They can vary in color, but the common variety is silver and green with pink and black lines running the length of their body. Their snouts and caudal fins are red-tipped and they have white–tipped red dorsal and ventral fins. White Cloud Mountain Minnows are low maintenance in their tank needs and will live approximately 5–7 years if they’re taken care of properly.
Table of contents
- 4 Best Tank Mates for White Cloud Mountain Minnows in 2021
- What Makes a Good Tank Mate for White Cloud Mountain Minnows?
- Where Do White Cloud Mountain Minnows Prefer to Live in the Aquarium?
- Aggressive Behaviors
- 3 Benefits of Having Tank Mates for White Cloud Mountain Minnow in Your Aquarium
- Breeding
- Conclusion
4 Best Tank Mates for White Cloud Mountain Minnows in 2021
1. Zebra Danio (Danio rerio) – Highly Compatible
| Size | 2–2.5 inches (5.08–6.35 cm) |
| Diet | Omnivores |
| Minimum tank size | 10 gallons (37.85 liters) |
| Care Level | Easy |
| Temperament | Peaceful |
Zebra Danios is a shoaling (schooling) fish and does well with other shoaling fish, such as the White Cloud Mountain Minnows. They are silver or gold, with 5 blue stripes down their bodies. Zebra Danios shoals should consist of at least 5 fish but avoid a large group unless you have the tank size to accommodate these very active fish. They prefer the same cooler waters the White Cloud Mountain Minnow does, making them an ideal tank mate. They are very playful and you’ll often see them darting around the tank. They prefer the middle to the top of the aquarium but will often explore the bottom of the tank.
2. Swordtails (Xiphophorous hellerii) – Colder Water Companions
| Size | 5.5–6.3 inches (13.97–16 cm) |
| Diet | Omnivores |
| Minimum tank size | 20–30 gallons (70.7–113.5 liters) |
| Care Level | Easy |
| Temperament | Peaceful |
One of the “Big Four” of livebearer fish in the aquarium world, the swordtails are peaceful fish and are common tank mates for the White Cloud Mountain Minnow. Swordtail fish come in a variety of colors but often have red or green tails. These fish do well in the cooler temperatures needed for White Cloud Mountain Minnows. They are social fishes and enjoy spending time with other fish in the middle to upper section of the tank. A larger tank is recommended if you are going to get these fish as tank mates because these are very active fish that need space to swim.
3. Bloodfin Tetra (Aphyocharax anisitsi)
| Size | 1.5–2 inches (3.81–5.08 cm) |
| Diet | Omnivores |
| Minimum tank size | 30 gallons (113.5 liters) |
| Care Level | Easy |
| Temperament | Peaceful |
Bloodfin Tetras are peaceful fish that do well in the cool fresh water tank conditions that the White Cloud Mountain Minnow enjoys. These small fish have a silver body with a distinct red dorsal, adipose, anal, and tail fin. Bloodfin Tetras are shoaling fish and like to be social, doing well in large community tanks. They also enjoy live pants like the White Cloud Mountain Minnow, often seeking shelter or taking time away from sunlight within the plants. The Bloodfin Tetra enjoys swimming in the middle to upper areas of the tank with its school.
4. Odessa Barb (Pethia padamya)
| Size | 3 inches (7.62 cm) |
| Diet | Omnivores |
| Minimum tank size | 30 gallons (113.5 liters) |
| Care Level | Easy |
| Temperament | Peaceful |
The Odessa Barb is a peaceful, active fish that makes a good tankmate for the White Cloud Mountain Minnow. This fish is very colorful with a silver body, a reddish-orange line running down the body, and a couple of black streaks on its side and near its dorsal fin. It enjoys slightly warmer temperatures than some of the cooler waters preferred by the fish previously mentioned, but it still falls within the range needed for the White Cloud Mountain Minnow. The Odessa Barb enjoys swimming through live plants and will explore all levels of the tank.
- See also: Tiger Barb
What Makes a Good Tank Mate for White Cloud Mountain Minnows?
There are few requirements to be a good tank mate for White Cloud Mountain Minnows. Tank mates must be peaceful in their temperament, which ensures they will get along with a shoal of White Cloud Mountain Minnows. Other schooling fish are also ideal due to the social nature of this small fish. They should also not be much larger than the White Cloud Mountain Minnow because larger fish will eat it quickly in a community tank due to its small size. Tank mates should also enjoy the cooler temperature waters this minnow prefers.
Where Do White Cloud Mountain Minnows Prefer to Live in the Aquarium?
The top half of the aquarium is the preferred territory of the White Cloud Mountain Minnow. In the wild, these small fish live in clear water with vegetation and plants. Boulders and driftwood would add shelter when these fish want to hide. It would be ideal to add live plants to the aquarium for these schooling fish so the plants can provide some additional shelter for the fish. Hornwort, Pondweed, Water Sprite, Duckweed, and Swarf Rotala are all good plants for a White Cloud Mountain Minnow. These little fish have been known to jump out of their aquarium, so a hood for your tank is advisable.
Water Parameters
White Cloud Mountain Minnows come from in the White Cloud Mountain region of the Guangdong Province in China. In the wild, they live in cold water and freshwater environments. In your aquarium, their ideal living temperature range is 62–72°F (16.6–22°C). Temperatures above 72°F (22°C) are stressful for this fish, often leading to a washed-out coloring. The ideal pH for this hardy fish is 7.0, but it can tolerate a range from 6.0–8.0pH as well. Your ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates in the tank should be around 0ppm to keep your fish healthy. These hardy fish are ideal for room-temperature tanks.
Size
The White Cloud Mountain Minnow is a small, hardy fish, measuring about 1.5 inches (3.81 cm). They are a shoaling (schooling) fish that need a group of 5 or 6 other White Cloud Mountain Minnows, otherwise, they become timid and lost their bright color. If you are only planning on keeping these fish on their own, they can live in a 5-gallon tank comfortably. If you want to add tank mates, you will need a 10-gallon tank or larger. As your tank size grows, it would be a good idea to add more White Cloud Mountain Minnows to the shoal to keep them happy and to maintain their bright colors.
Aggressive Behaviors
White Cloud Mountain Minnows are peaceful fish and will coexist with other fish with few problems. They are low-maintenance fish and will be content to spend their time swimming through the tanks with their shoal. You should keep your shoal size at 6 or more to avoid behavioral issues that may come with a small school size. During mating season, the males may become territorial and aggressive. The White Cloud Mountain Minnow also may get aggressive if they are defending their spawning sites. Overall, these minnows are typically peaceful and do well in tanks with other fish.
3 Benefits of Having Tank Mates for White Cloud Mountain Minnow in Your Aquarium
1. Community
The White Cloud Mountain Minnow is a shoaling fish and is social. You’ll be ensuring that your fish are healthy by appealing to their natural desire for a community.
2. Colorful Tank
Adding additional tank mates to their tank means you’ll be adding a variety of colorful fish to your tank. They will be sure to make a colorful display in your home.
3. Activity
The White Cloud Mountain Minnow is an active, playful fish and will benefit from other active schools to socialize within their tank. All this activity will also make for an entertaining aquarium for amateur to expert aquarists.
Breeding
White Cloud Mountain Minnows are relatively easy to breed in captivity. The breeding season lasts from March to October. If you’re interested in breeding your minnows, you can set up a small breeding tank around 10 gallons (37.85 liters) with spawning mops, or plant clumps where the fish can lay their eggs. Add a few colorful males and then add double the number of females. Make sure you feed your fish live feeds, such as brine shrimp or mosquito larvae, before you attempt to spawn them.
You’ll find eggs scattered through the tank about 24 hours after spawning begins and the eggs will hatch within 36–48 hours. Remove the adults when the eggs hatch to prevent the adults from eating the fry. Feed the fry infusoria-based food, liquid fish fry, or powdered egg yolk to help them grow. Within two months the fry will be large enough to add to your community tank.
Conclusion
The White Cloud Mountain Minnow is a colorful, small fish that does well in cool freshwater tanks, making them an ideal fish for beginner aquarists. These shoaling fish are social and do well with other schools of small fish when placed in the correct size tank to accommodate all their needs. Zebra Danios, Swordtails, Bloodfin Tetras, and Odessa Barbs are all similar-sized schooling fish that make peaceful tank mates for the White Cloud Mountain Minnow. It is important to avoid adding larger aggressive fish, such as the clown loaches or tiger barbs, to your tank as they will eat your smaller shoaling fish. The White Cloud Minnow breeds easily in captivity and you can try your hand at breeding these colorful little fish if you are interested in doing so. Overall, the small White Cloud Mountain Minnow is a good beginner fish for budding aquarists looking for low-maintenance freshwater fish for their community tanks.
Featured Image Credit: Grigorev Mikhail, Shutterstock
