fish · Tanichthyidae
Vietnamese white cloud
Tanichthys micagemmae
Wild range: North-central Vietnam: known only from the Ben Hai river system (Quang Tri and Quang Binh provinces); type locality the Bau Dung stream, a Ben Hai tributary in Quang Binh (Seriously Fish; FishBase; Wikipedia). (Asia)
At a glance: Vietnamese white cloud care
Compiled reference information. Review the care notes and original sources below.
What temperature is listed for Vietnamese white cloud?
The compiled profile lists 18.0–23.0 °C for Vietnamese white cloud (Tanichthys micagemmae). Check the original sources below for context and differing recommendations.
What tank size is listed for Vietnamese white cloud?
The profile lists a minimum tank volume of 11.0 US gallons (41.0 liters). Volume alone does not establish suitability; consider dimensions, group size and other inhabitants alongside the full care notes.
What pH is listed for Vietnamese white cloud?
The compiled profile lists a pH of 6.5–7.5. Review the cited care sources alongside the other water parameters in this profile.
Natural habitat
The Vietnamese white cloud is a small, cool-water minnow from a single river system in north-central Vietnam and a smaller relative of the White Cloud Mountain minnow. It has a black stripe and a pale, sparkling stripe of about the same width along the side, and the males have reddish fins. It grows to about 3 cm, is very peaceful, does best in a group of six or more, and usually needs no heater. IUCN lists it as Data Deficient.
Where they are found
Primary name Tanichthys micagemmae Freyhof & Herder, 2001, valid in ITIS (TSN 690178), FishBase, GBIF and Catalog of Fishes; no junior synonyms recorded. ITIS and GBIF still place Tanichthys in Cyprinidae; FishBase and Catalog of Fishes use Tanichthyidae, which matches the catalog's White Cloud Mountain minnow row. Not to be confused with T. albonubes (White Cloud Mountain minnow), which is larger with a reddish-brown body, T. thacbaensis, or the trade form T. sp. 'Vietnam' (yellow ventral and anal fins rather than red) (Seriously Fish). Long-finned males are seen in the trade; Seriously Fish says this may be natural, while the Commons photographer describes his fish as bred for long fins. Size: FishBase gives a maximum of 2.3 cm SL; Seriously Fish gives 20–30 mm SL and hobby sources about 3 cm. IUCN: Data Deficient (Huckstorf 2012; FishBase).
Aquarium care
A cool-water fish: keep it at 18–23°C, pH 6.5–7.5 and about 2–8 dGH (Seriously Fish; Diszhal; Aquario; Atlarium; TankBud). In most homes it needs no heater; Atlarium says 23–24°C is tolerated in summer if the water is well oxygenated. Atlarium and one store card say it also does well in harder tap water (GH 5–15). A group needs at least about 41 L / 11 gal with a 45 × 30 cm footprint (Seriously Fish; Diszhal and Aquario give 40 L; TankBud 45 L / 12 gal). Plant it densely over a dark substrate, add some floating plants and wood, and give it moderate, well-oxygenated flow. It also does well in a hill-stream-style tank (Seriously Fish; Aquadiction). Use a tight lid because it jumps (Aquario).
Feeding
Probably a micropredator in the wild, eating small insects, worms, crustaceans and zooplankton. In the aquarium it takes small flakes, micro pellets and granules, best with some plant or algae content. For the best colour, feed small live or frozen foods such as Daphnia, Artemia, bloodworm and cyclops several times a week (Seriously Fish; Aquadiction; Atlarium).
Compatibility
Very peaceful. Males spar and display at each other, but they do no harm. Keep at least 6, ideally 8–10 or more, so the fish are less nervous and the males show their colours (Aquadiction; TankBud; Seriously Fish suggests 10+; Wikipedia). Tankmates should be small, calm and happy in cool water, such as hillstream loaches, small Danio and Devario, Garra, other small cyprinids and dwarf shrimp. Avoid large or boisterous fish and tropical species that need 25°C or more (Seriously Fish; Aquadiction; Atlarium; TankBud).
Breeding
Easy to breed. Mature females are rounder and often a little larger; males colour up and may grow longer dorsal and anal fins with age. For more fry, use a small, dimly lit tank with mesh, grass matting, marbles or java moss on the bottom so the eggs fall out of reach, at the warm end of the range with slightly acidic to neutral water. Add one or two conditioned pairs, which usually spawn the next morning. Remove the adults after 2–3 days because they eat eggs. Eggs hatch in 48–72 hours, and the fry need infusoria or Paramecium before baby brine shrimp (Seriously Fish; Aquadiction; Diszhal).
Sources
Compiled from multiple independent care sheets — not copied from a single site.