Vietnamese Cardinal Minnow

A tiny, bright relative of the White Cloud Mountain Minnow, from Vietnam, sold as the Vietnamese or Cardinal Minnow. It prefers cool water, and it needs no heater in a warm room.

Check the scientific name when buying, as common names vary between sellers and countries.

Mature females are usually rounder in the belly, and males are usually slimmer and often brighter.

A long tank with open swimming water, plants around the edges and steady filtration suits this fish. A darker substrate and some floating plants usually bring out its colour.

Active and social, and most settled when kept with its own kind.

Keep a group of at least 6, and more if you can. Larger groups are calmer and show better colour and behaviour.

Not territorial, although males may spar and display.

Suits a community of similar-sized, peaceful fish that like the same water. Avoid large predators, which will treat it as food. It may eat baby shrimp.

Keep the pH steady, because this fish is sensitive to swings. This fish prefers cooler water than most tropical fish, and it may not need a heater in a warm room.

A small micropredator. Feed fine flake, micro pellets and baby brine shrimp or daphnia.

Feed small amounts, and remove anything left after a few minutes.

An egg scatterer with no parental care. Adults eat eggs and fry, so use a separate tank with fine plants, moss or mesh on the bottom, and remove the adults after spawning. The fry need very small foods at first.