Long-fin White Cloud Care Guide
The Long-fin White Cloud is a selectively bred long-finned form of Tanichthys albonubes, a hardy cool-water shoaling minnow from China.
Overview
The Long-fin White Cloud is a long-finned selectively bred form of the White Cloud Mountain minnow (Tanichthys albonubes). It corresponds to the ornamental strain widely known as the Meteor Minnow, which is reported to have appeared in the 1950s. It keeps the hardy, cool-water nature of the species while showing extended, flowing fins, and is slightly more delicate than the wild form.
Taxonomy
- Family: Tanichthyidae
- Genus: Tanichthys
- Scientific name: Tanichthys albonubes var. Longfin
- Related form: Meteor Minnow (long-fin strain)
Habitat
The parent species comes from cool, clear subtropical mountain streams in Guangdong province, China, originally from White Cloud Mountain near Guangzhou, with a later native population on Hainan Island. The long-fin form is an aquarium-bred strain not found in the wild.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 60 L
- Temperature: 16-24 °C (61-75 °F)
- pH: 6.0-8.0
- GH: 5-18 °dGH
- School size: 6 or more individuals
- Lifespan: 3-5 years
The species tolerates cool conditions and the wild form is reported to survive temperatures as low as 5 °C, so it is well suited to unheated or cool-water aquaria.
Diet
It is an opportunistic omnivore. The species takes small aquatic invertebrates and insect larvae in nature, and in the aquarium accepts quality dried foods supplemented with small live and frozen foods, fed about twice daily.
Compatibility
The Long-fin White Cloud is peaceful and shoals at the top to middle of the tank, preferring a group of at least six. Because of its trailing fins it is best kept with other calm, non-nipping species and away from tropical heat-loving fish maintained at high temperatures.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Data Deficient. The wild White Cloud Mountain minnow is reported to be practically extinct in its native habitat, while captive-bred forms such as this remain abundant in the hobby.