Long-fin White Cloud Breeding Guide

The Long-fin White Cloud is a selectively bred extended-fin form of Tanichthys albonubes that spawns as an easy cool-water egg-scatterer.

Overview

The Long-fin White Cloud is a selectively bred extended-fin form of the White Cloud Mountain minnow, Tanichthys albonubes. According to Wikipedia, a long-finned variant called the 'Meteor Minnow' appeared in 1950s Australia with extended fins. The underlying species is an easy egg-scattering cool-water cyprinid, and the long-fin form follows the same reproductive pattern as the wild type.

Sexing

Wikipedia describes the sexual dimorphism of T. albonubes: the male generally has brighter colours and a slimmer body, with wide, fan-shaped dorsal and anal fins, whereas the female's fins are triangular and wedge-shaped. Gravid females show a whiter, distended abdomen. Extended finnage can make these cues harder to read in long-fin lines.

Conditioning

Wikipedia notes adults may be conditioned for breeding with live foods such as brine shrimp and daphnia. Conditioned, mature pairs spawn readily in cool, stable water.

Breeding Setup

Per Wikipedia, breeding occurs in a small tank with a spawning mop or some java moss, into which the scattered eggs fall and find refuge from the adults.

Spawning Behavior & Trigger

White Clouds are egg-scatterers, dropping eggs freely amongst vegetation. Wikipedia describes males attracting females by displaying their fins, often alongside one another; impending spawning is signalled by flaring of the male's fins, a gravid spot on the female, and males chasing females.

Egg & Fry Care

According to Wikipedia, eggs hatch within 48 to 60 hours, and because the parents do not generally cannibalise their offspring they can be left in the tank. Once free-swimming, fry can be fed finely powdered fish food or infusoria.