White cloud mountain minnows with shrimp

By the Shrimp Tank Hub editorsUpdated Oct 26, 2026Research-based

The white cloud mountain minnow (Tanichthys albonubes) is a small schooling fish from southern China (Guangdong and Hainan) and northeastern Vietnam (Seriously Fish). Despite the name, The Shrimp Farm notes it is not a true minnow: its genus is the only member of its own family. It is rare in the wild, but the fish sold in stores are bred commercially (Seriously Fish, Aquarium Co-Op). What makes it interesting for shrimp keepers is temperature. White clouds are cool-water fish that do well without a heater, like cherry shrimp kept at room temperature, and The Shrimp Farm points out that their wild range overlaps with that of wild Neocaridina.

White clouds at a glance

Will white clouds eat shrimp?

• Adults: no. The Shrimp Farm's tankmates guide rates them "does not eat adult shrimp", and its white cloud care guide says they will leave the adults alone. Aquarium Co-Op lists shrimp among the cool-water companions to consider.
• Shrimplets: some. The Shrimp Farm says white clouds may snack on newborn baby shrimp and recommends dense planting to keep losses down. Practical Fishkeeping lists white clouds as good potential tankmates in a group of fish that will almost certainly eat the young. Seriously Fish describes wild white clouds as micropredators of small insects, worms, crustaceans and zooplankton.
• Breeding shrimp: The Shrimp Farm's FAQ says that if you plan to breed shrimp and raise the young, you shouldn't keep fish with them, and its white cloud guide recommends faster-breeding Neocaridina over slow-breeding bee shrimp.

In practice a cherry shrimp colony can keep growing alongside white clouds if there is plenty of moss, but more slowly than on its own. For a tank where shrimplets matter most, otocinclus are the safer fish, though they need warmer water. Compare celestial pearl danios and Endler's livebearers, and see cherry shrimp tank mates.

Matching the water

White clouds are one of the few community fish that prefer the cooler end of a cherry shrimp's range, which makes them a natural fit for an unheated tank:

The shared zone is our comparison of the published ranges, not a tested target. Seriously Fish says permanently warm water is likely to shorten a white cloud's life and that in many homes they are best kept without a heater; The Shrimp Farm says brief summer spikes are probably fine but they shouldn't live in very warm water year-round. Cherry shrimp at the cool end grow and breed more slowly, which is a trade-off worth knowing about. Avoid pairing white clouds with warm-water fish or with shrimp that want soft, acidic water such as crystal red shrimp. See shrimp tank temperature, shrimp tank pH and GH and KH explained.

Tank size and setup

• Size: The Shrimp Farm says white clouds aren't an ultra-nano fish: a very long 10-gallon tank can work, but 15 gallons or more is better. Seriously Fish asks for a 24 × 12 in base. They care more about length than depth. See how many shrimp per gallon.
• Plants and moss: Seriously Fish says they color up best in a heavily planted tank with a dark substrate, and The Shrimp Farm suggests rocks plus plants such as Vallisneria and moss. Dense cover is also what shelters shrimplets; see java moss and best plants for a shrimp tank.
• Gentle flow: both The Shrimp Farm and Seriously Fish say some water movement is welcome but it doesn't need to be strong. A sponge filter or a sponge over the intake keeps shrimplets out of the filter; see shrimp-safe filters.
• Usually no heater: Aquarium Co-Op says white clouds can live in a tank with no heater. Keep the tank steady in the shared zone, and add an adjustable heater only if the room gets cold; see nano tank heaters.

Feeding both

• Small, varied foods: Aquarium Co-Op feeds flakes, nano pellets and small frozen foods such as daphnia, cyclops and baby brine shrimp. Seriously Fish suggests small live and frozen foods alongside quality dry food with some plant content. The Shrimp Farm suggests splitting the daily amount into 2 to 3 small portions.
• Feed the shrimp on the bottom: drop sinking shrimp food into the plants after the fish have eaten. See best shrimp food.
• Well-fed fish hunt less. Practical Fishkeeping lists keeping fish well fed, with plenty of plants and hiding places, as ways to reduce shrimp losses.

Fry in a shrimp tank

White clouds scatter eggs and spawn often. Seriously Fish and The Shrimp Farm both say a healthy group in a mature, densely planted tank will usually produce a few surviving fry with no help. Aquarium Co-Op says the adults don't tend to eat their own babies, while The Shrimp Farm warns that fish eating their own offspring is common and recommends a separate rearing tank if you want more of them. In a shrimp tank the same moss that shelters fish fry shelters shrimplets, so a slow trickle of extra fish is normal. Plan where extras will go before the tank gets crowded.

Buying healthy white clouds

Seriously Fish says inbreeding in farm-bred stock has left many white clouds weak and prone to disease or deformity, and The Shrimp Farm calls inbreeding depression a real problem. When you shop, The Shrimp Farm suggests picking active fish that eat readily and avoiding any with bent spines, odd humps or buoyancy trouble. Several color forms are sold, including gold and long-finned "meteor" types (The Shrimp Farm, Aquarium Co-Op). The similar Vietnamese cardinal minnow (Tanichthys micagemmae) is a different species (Aquarium Co-Op).

How to add white clouds to a shrimp tank

• Shrimp first. Practical Fishkeeping suggests letting the colony build up before adding fish.
• Mature tank: fully cycled and stable; see how to cycle a shrimp tank.
• Quarantine the fish separately. Practical Fishkeeping says many fish medications are not safe for invertebrates. If fish get sick, ask a fish veterinarian or an experienced store about treatment that won't harm the shrimp. See how to quarantine and is copper toxic to shrimp.

Common mistakes

• Keeping white clouds warm year-round with tropical fish.
• Buying two or three instead of a proper group.
• Adding goldfish because they also like cool water. Seriously Fish and The Shrimp Farm say goldfish are not suitable companions for white clouds, and Practical Fishkeeping says goldfish don't belong with shrimp.
• Choosing slow-breeding bee shrimp for a fish tank.
• Medicating fish in the shrimp tank.

Track it

Log temperature, pH, GH and TDS on the free Water Parameter Log printable so you can keep the tank in the range both species share.

Frequently asked questions

Do white cloud mountain minnows eat shrimp?

Not adult shrimp. The Shrimp Farm rates white clouds as not eating adult shrimp, but they may eat newborn shrimplets, so a densely planted tank with moss helps more babies survive.

Can white clouds and cherry shrimp live in an unheated tank?

Usually, in a home that stays at room temperature. White clouds prefer cool water (about 57 to 72 °F per Seriously Fish) and cherry shrimp tolerate 65 to 85 °F, so roughly 65 to 72 °F suits both. Cherry shrimp breed more slowly at the cool end.

How many white clouds should I keep with shrimp?

At least 6 according to Aquarium Co-Op, and 10 or more according to Seriously Fish and The Shrimp Farm. Larger groups are calmer and more colorful.

What size tank do white clouds and shrimp need?

The Shrimp Farm suggests 15 gallons or more, with a very long 10-gallon tank as the minimum. Seriously Fish asks for a 24 by 12 inch base, about 14 gallons.

Can white clouds live with goldfish and shrimp?

No. Seriously Fish and The Shrimp Farm say goldfish are not suitable white cloud companions, and Practical Fishkeeping says goldfish do not belong with shrimp.

Sources: Seriously Fish, Tanichthys albonubes (White Cloud Mountain minnow) (Tanichthys albonubes; Guangdong, Hainan and northeastern Vietnam; commercially bred, inbreeding has left many weak; 40 mm SL; 60 × 30 cm base, about 54 litres; 14–22 °C, pH 6.0–8.5, 5–20 dGH; permanent warm conditions likely shorten life, often best without a heater; heavily planted with dark substrate, some water movement; micropredator of small insects, worms, crustaceans and zooplankton; very peaceful; groups of 10+; not a suitable goldfish companion; egg-scattering continuous spawner, fry appear in mature planted tanks); Aquarium Co-Op, Care guide for white cloud mountain minnows (1.5 in; bred in captivity; pH 6.5–8.5, 65–77 °F, can live with no heater; at least 6 in a 10-gallon or larger; sparring is normal; cool-water companions such as shrimp; flakes, nano pellets, small frozen foods; adults don't tend to eat their babies; Vietnamese white cloud is a different species); The Shrimp Farm, White cloud mountain minnow care (not a true minnow, own family; up to 1.5 in; spring-fed mountain streams; long 10 possible, 15+ gallons best; pH 6.0–7.5, 55–72 °F, TDS 90–350; groups of 10+; shrimp work, Neos over bee shrimp; leave adults alone but may snack on newborn shrimp, plant densely; no goldfish; 2–3 small feedings a day; eating their own offspring is common in aquarium fish; inbreeding depression, pick fish without deformities); The Shrimp Farm, Shrimp tankmates and compatibility (white cloud up to 1.5 in, 15+ gallons, does not eat adult shrimp; range overlaps wild Neocaridina in southern China and northern Vietnam); The Shrimp Farm, Shrimp keeping FAQ (no fish if you plan to breed and raise shrimp); Practical Fishkeeping, What can I keep with shrimp? (white clouds good potential tankmates among fish that will almost certainly eat the young; goldfish don't belong with shrimp; reduce losses with plants, hiding places and well-fed fish; shrimp first; many medications not invertebrate-safe). Cherry shrimp ranges from our cherry shrimp care guide (The Shrimp Farm). Checked October 26, 2026.