White Cloud Mountain Minnow

Overview

The White Cloud Mountain Minnow (Tanichthys albonubes) is a Freshwater (Coldwater) fish growing to about 1.5 in and living 3–5 yrs. It's peaceful and best kept in a school of its own kind. Plan a tank of at least 10–15 gal. With a typical lifespan of around 4 years, it's a shorter commitment.

Is the White Cloud Mountain Minnow right for you?

A good match if — you're new to fishkeeping and want a hardy species; you like the look of a moving shoal and can keep a group; you want a calm community tank.

Think twice if — you only want a single fish.

What a White Cloud Mountain Minnow needs from you

The ongoing work is water quality: filtration, regular water changes and stable parameters. As a coldwater fish it needs no heater, but still a properly sized, filtered tank. This is a schooling fish — keep a group, never a lone individual. Don't undersize the tank (minimum about 10–15 gal).

Key facts

Water type

Freshwater (Coldwater)

Scientific name

Tanichthys albonubes

Adult size

1.5 in

Life span

3–5 yrs

Temperament

peaceful

Social needs

schooling (6+)

Min. tank

10–15 gal

Care level

beginner

Notes

Hardy true coldwater schooler; great unheated nano fish

What it needs from you (at a glance)

What it costs

Scaled to this breed’s roughly 10 g and a ~4-year life, keeping a White Cloud Mountain Minnow works out at about:

Rough cross-breed averages in USD — a planning guide, not a quote. Break it down by life phase in the Cost Calculator →

Temperament (at a glance)