White Cloud Mountain Minnow
Tanichthys albonubes
Photo: Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
The honest no-heater fish. They fade and sulk in a 78°F tropical tank. Keep them cool, in a school, with other cool-water species.
The honest no-heater school.
In the tank
- Lives in the mid-60s without a heater if the room stays cool.
- Water
- freshwater
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Swims
- Midwater
- Adult size
- 1.5 in
- Minimum tank
- 10 gal
- Group
- School of 6+
- Temperature
- 60–72°F
- pH
- 6.5–7.5
- Diet
- Flakes, micro pellets, frozen daphnia.
- Beginner
- Yes, if the tank is cycled
How to keep them
- They fade and sulk at 78°F.
- School of six-plus, unheated or barely heated.
Tankmates
Danios, goldfish they will not outcompete for food, other cool-water fish.
Avoid
Discus, bettas, and anything sold as tropical.
Check tankmates · Stocking calculator
Same group
Neon Tetra
Paracheirodon innesi
The default midwater school.
A group of six-plus fills the middle of a 20 long so the tank does not look empty.
Cardinal Tetra
Paracheirodon axelrodi
A showier neon that wants better water.
Same schooling job as neons, with a full-body red stripe.
Ember Tetra
Hyphessobrycon amandae
Nano school for a planted 10.
Actually fits a 10-gallon as a group.
Harlequin Rasbora
Trigonostigma heteromorpha
Calm midwater school for a 20 long.
Less nippy than barbs, less fragile than cardinals.
Zebra Danio
Danio rerio
Fast top-water school. Hardy, slightly chaotic.
Tolerates cooler rooms than tetras.
Cherry Barb
Puntius titteya
A peaceful barb for a planted 20.
Schooling color without tiger-barb nipping — if you keep six-plus.