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White Cloud Minnow

Tanichthys albonubes

Officers of Queensland Fisheries

white cloud minnow illustration

White cloud minnows are exotic fish that have unfortunately become popular for mosquito contol.  Native fish such as pacific blue eyes and hardy heads are much more efficient.  White clouds may be kept in an aquarium, but are not to be released or kept in outdoor ponds where they can wash out during high rainfall. Penalties up to $150 000 apply to people who do not follow these rules.

Description

White cloud minnows grow to 4cm.  They were first discovered at White Cloud Mountain in China, hence their name.  Males are slimmer, more brightly coloured and have larger dorsal and anal fins. 

Distribution

White cloud minnows are native to northeast Asia and southern China.  They have been introduced to Madagascar and Columbia.  There have been isolated reports in some waterways around Brisbane

Habitat

White cloud minnows are tropical freshwater fish.  They have a wide temperature tolerance and can survive water temperatures as low as 5oC.

Diet

White cloud minnows feed on zooplankton and detritus.

Reproduction

White cloud minnows produce up to 300 eggs at a time which hatch within 2 days.  The eggs are yellowish in colour and are laid on plants.

Environmental impacts

The impacts of white cloud minnows are unknown, but they would compete with native fish for food and space.  Do not release your aquarium fish into the wild.  If you keep white cloud minnows in an outdoor pond, ensure that they can not escape during high rainfall. 

There have been isolated reports of white cloud minnows which have been eradicated.  If you find this fish anywhere in Queensland, please report them as soon as possible to the DPI Call Centre on 13 25 23.

Copies of legislation can be downloaded directly at the Office of Parliamentary Counsel website.

Further information

Exotic pest fish - includes general information on noxious and non-indigenous species, educational modules, DPI&F's polices and fact sheets.

Axelrod, H.R., Burgess, W.E., Pronek, N. & Walls, J.G., (1997)  Dr Axelrod's atlas of freshwater aquarium fishes 9th edition .  T.F.H. Publications, U.S.A.

Eschmeyer, W.N., (1998). Catalog of fishes.   California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco.

FishBase - A Global Information System on Fishes (website). 

Note: Some information in this publication may change from time to time (especially size and in-possession limits). You should contact your nearest Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol or the DPI&F Business Information Centre .

Information contained in this publication is provided as general advice only. For application to specific circumstances, professional advice should be sought. The Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries Queensland has taken all reasonable steps to ensure the information in this publication is accurate at the time of publication. Readers should ensure that they make appropriate inquiries to determine whether new information is available on the particular subject matter.

File No: f0154
Last updated 1 April 2008