White Cloud Mountain Minnow

1) Where they come from

White Clouds come from cool streams around China (the White Cloud Mountain area). Think clear water, lots of plants along the edges, and a steady flow. That “cool stream fish” background explains why they act weirdly stressed in warm, stagnant tanks.

2) Setting up their tank

Give them space to school and a bit of cover to duck into. My nicest-looking group was in a planted tank with open swimming room in the middle and bushy plants around the sides.

• Tank size: 10 gallons works for a small group, 20 long is even better (they use the horizontal space).
• Group size: 8–12+ if you can. In smaller groups they get shy and color down.
• Temperature: about 64–74°F (18–23°C). They can handle a bit warmer, but they look and behave better on the cooler side.
• Filter: any gentle filter is fine; they appreciate clean, oxygenated water. A sponge filter or a baffled HOB is perfect.
• Decor: live plants (hornwort, java moss, guppy grass), some rocks/wood, and open water to swim.
• Lid: yes. They’re not the worst jumpers, but they absolutely can launch when startled.

Water numbers don’t need to be fancy. Neutral-ish pH and average hardness are totally fine. What they like is stability and cleanliness—regular small water changes beat chasing perfect parameters.

3) What to feed them

They’re easy eaters. If you feed a decent staple and toss in some small frozen/live foods, they color up fast and the males will start showing off.

• Staple: small flakes or micro pellets (they have small mouths).
• Frozen: daphnia, baby brine shrimp, cyclops, finely chopped bloodworms (as a treat).
• Live (if you’re into it): baby brine shrimp or daphnia—instant “sparkle” in their behavior.

4) Behavior and tankmates

White Clouds are peaceful little schooling fish with a lot of personality. The males do harmless sparring and fin-flashing, especially in the morning or right after a water change. It’s fun to watch and doesn’t turn into real damage if they have enough room.

• Good tankmates: other cool-water peaceful fish (like hillstream loaches, small danios in larger tanks), shrimp (adults usually fine), and most snails.
• Use caution: long-finned fish (some minnows get nippy if cramped), tiny baby shrimp/fry (they’ll snack), and anything that likes hot water.
• Avoid: big or aggressive fish, or anything that wants 78–82°F as the default.

5) Breeding tips (easy and pretty fun)

They’re one of the easiest egg-scatterers you’ll ever breed. The trick isn’t getting eggs—it’s keeping the adults from eating them. In a heavily planted tank you might even find surprise fry.

• Set up a small breeding tank or tub with a sponge filter and a big clump of java moss/guppy grass (or spawning mops).
• Condition adults with frozen/live foods for a week.
• Add a small group (more females than males helps). They’ll scatter eggs in the plants.
• Pull the adults after a day or two if you want a better fry count.
• Eggs usually hatch in a few days depending on temperature.
• First foods: infusoria/microworms for a bit, then baby brine shrimp once the fry can handle it.

6) Common problems to watch for

Most issues with White Clouds come down to heat, stress, or dirty water rather than them being delicate. Once you get their vibe (cool, clean, calm), they’re pretty bulletproof.

• Running the tank too warm: leads to chronic stress, faded colors, and more disease.
• Small groups: they get skittish and hang in corners instead of schooling confidently.
• Overfeeding: cloudy water, algae blooms, and the classic “why are my fish suddenly sick?” cycle.
• New tank problems: ammonia/nitrite spikes hit small fish fast—cycle the tank before adding them.
• Ich/outbreaks after big swings: sudden temp changes or poor water quality can kick it off.

If you want a simple “recipe” that works: keep them in a decent-sized group, don’t run the tank hot, plant it up, and do regular water changes. Do that and White Clouds will look like tiny neon torpedoes all day long.