Sold under two names, longfin white cloud and meteor minnow, and the older name still shows up on stock lists. Fins long enough to trail catch on sharp decor and get pushed around by a hard outflow. Aqua Huna labels its stock Longfin White Cloud (Czech Republic), so Czech-bred fish still feed the US market.
In the wild
A long-finned form selected in captivity that does not occur in wild white cloud populations. Seriously Fish lists long-finned among the ornamental strains without giving an origin, and Wikipedia's claim that the meteor minnow first appeared in the 1950s in Perth, Western Australia, carries no citation and no independent source behind it. Current stock is tank-bred, with US sellers naming European sources including the Czech Republic.
Good to know
Sellers describe the fins as extended overall rather than the tail alone, which gives an adult its trailing outline. Long-fin traits in aquarium fish are generally described as extended growth of the existing fin rays rather than added rays, so fin shape is unchanged and only length differs. How the trait is inherited in this species is not documented in the hobby references, so claims that it breeds true are unverified.
Did you know
The ornamental fish is doing better than the wild one. Seriously Fish records the species as extirpated from the mountain it is named for and unrecorded anywhere between 1980 and 2001, with only a handful of relict populations found near the type locality since, and it is listed as endangered by Chinese government agencies. Tank-bred longfins, meanwhile, ship worldwide.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
Longfin white cloud minnow is a peaceful, schooling species that keeps to the middle. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.
Is a Longfin white cloud minnow a different species from the White Cloud Mountain minnow?
No. A Longfin white cloud minnow is a variety of the White Cloud Mountain minnow, Tanichthys albonubes, and it wants the same tank, water and food as the species.
What size tank does a Longfin white cloud minnow need?
A Longfin white cloud minnow needs at least 12 gal (45 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
How big does a Longfin white cloud minnow get?
An adult Longfin white cloud minnow reaches about 1.6 in (4 cm).
Does a Longfin white cloud minnow need a group?
Yes. A Longfin white cloud minnow is a schooling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.
1.2 in (3 cm)12 gal (45 L)64–73°F (18–23°C)
1.6 in (4 cm)20 gal (75 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)
1.6 in (4 cm)14 gal (54 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
1.6 in (4 cm)20 gal (75 L)64–75°F (18–24°C)
1.6 in (4 cm)16 gal (60 L)68–77°F (20–25°C)
1.6 in (4 cm)14 gal (54 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)