White Cloud Mountain minnow Male vs Female Identification, Breeding, Care

Tropical fish are generally renowned for their elegance, but there are many temperate species that are equally as attractive. The minnow is a little but eye-catching fish that inhabits the rivers of China. Its scales reflect a spectacular spectrum of colors.

These minnows are excellent for beginners. They are simple to manage, do not create a lot of waste, and behave extremely well in community tanks. White Cloud Mountain Minnows are excellent low-maintenance alternatives to tropical fish. 

Outside of the mating season, White Clouds are extremely calm. Males become violent and territorial when searching for mates. They are normally quite sociable, swimming and feeding in shoals.

These fish prefer to gather in groups of at least five or six individuals. The greater the size of their school, the less fearful the fish will be. They are not aggressive toward or competitive with their tank mates, which makes them excellent community fish. They are not very fearful as long as they feel secure and at ease inside their group.

They can be found in the middle tiers of your tank, displaying their vibrant colors. It doesn't matter what their size is, they'll be happy in a large group. They are not very fond of hiding, though they will appreciate additional shelter provided by rocks and vegetation.

White Cloud Mountain minnow Male vs. Female Identification

Sexual dimorphism is subtle but detectable. Males have brighter colors and a thinner body, while females have triangular and wedge-shaped dorsal and anal fins. Females, on the other hand, have a whiter, more inflated abdomen.

Females are markedly larger, lack red pigmentation, and have broader torsos. Males often have more vibrant colors and can be observed flaunting and sparring with one another.

White Cloud Mountain minnow Breeding

White Clouds breed easily. Their breeding season is exceedingly lengthy, lasting from March through October. They will pair off and spawn numerous times throughout the year in a school with an appropriate ratio of males to females.

Males in the school will act violently during mating season in an attempt to dominate one another. This is the only time your minnows will behave aggressively. Once a female has chosen a mate, they will form a pair.

If you wish to breed them independently, a 7-gallon tank filled with bunches of vegetation and aquatic moss is ideal. The ideal temperature is 64-72°F.

Feed your pair three times every day with fresh invertebrates such as tubifex worms and crustaceans. Males who are ready to pair will have brighter, more flamboyant colors. Females will become bigger and more round.

White Cloud Mountain minnow Care

In general, this variety is quite hardy and rarely gets sick. Streptococcal infections, on the other hand, can cause serious illness or even death in these creatures. Streptococcus is a bacterial illness that can emerge in dirty or neglected aquariums. Once one fish becomes infected, it spreads rapidly to other fish and can be lethal.

Streptococcus-infected fish may have difficulty maintaining their position in the water column. They will swim in an irregular rhythm, whirling or tumbling.

Any fish that has been diagnosed with strep should be removed from the tank and transported to a veterinarian who is specialized in aquarium fish for further evaluation. Strep, other bacterial infections, and parasites can all be prevented by cleaning the tank and filter at least once a month. However, water should ideally be replaced every two weeks. 

Pay attention to your fish's swimming patterns. This could signal that an excessive amount of ammonia and nitrite is accumulating in your tank.