The white cloud mountain minnow is a small, hardy fish from cool mountain streams near Guangzhou in southern China, marked with a red-and-iridescent stripe.
It is now rare in its native range but breeds readily and thrives in aquariums.
It is one of the few common community fish that needs no heater, tolerating cool room temperatures with ease.
Forgiving and beginner-friendly, it is a good first shoaling fish, though it dislikes prolonged tropical warmth.
Housing
A shoal of six or more does well in 40 litres (10 gallons) or more, filtered, with no heater required.
They thrive at 16-22C and suffer at sustained tropical temperatures, making them well suited to unheated rooms and some outdoor ponds in mild climates.
They are active swimmers that appreciate length, gentle current and planted edges.
Tolerant of a wide range of water chemistry, they need only a stable, well-cycled tank and a secure lid, as they can jump.
Diet
White clouds are easy-going omnivores that feed at the surface and in midwater.
A quality flake or micro-pellet serves as a reliable staple, rotated with frozen or live daphnia, brine shrimp and bloodworm to support their colours.
Feed small amounts once or twice daily, only what is eaten quickly.
They forage actively and rarely refuse food, so measured portions and the occasional fasting day keep the water clean and the fish in good condition.
Health
Among the hardiest aquarium fish, white clouds suffer few ailments when kept cool and clean.
Most problems, such as ich or fin rot, follow overheating, poor water quality or stress rather than inherent fragility.
Keeping them at tropical temperatures long term shortens their lives and dulls their colour, so avoid heating the tank.
Quarantine new stock, maintain weekly partial water changes, and fit a lid to prevent jumps.
Temperament
Peaceful, active and confident, white clouds shoal loosely and look best in good numbers, where males flare their fins at one another harmlessly.
They are too gentle to bother any reasonable tankmate.
They suit calm, cool-water communities and pair well with other temperate species.
Avoid housing them with warmth-loving tropicals whose needs conflict, or with large fish that may eat them.
Beginner
Beginner
Beginner
Beginner
Beginner
Beginner