Charpini Snakehead Gudgeon
Giuris charpini
- Care level
- Specialist
- Adult size
- 10–15 cm
- Minimum tank
- 180 litres
- Temperature
- 22–28 °C
Species profile
White Cloud Mountain Minnow
Tanichthys albonubes
Common names: White Cloud Mountain Minnow, White Cloud, Canton Danio
Recognized speciesFish
Adult size
Up to 4 cm
Typical adult length 3–4 cm.
Up to 4 cm
Countries of origin
Good fit for your tank?
Good fit for
- An unheated aquarium in a suitable climate
- A keeper who wants a hardy, peaceful fish
- A planted cool-water tank with a large group
Think carefully if
- You keep warm tropical fish
- Your room temperature goes well above 22 °C for long periods
- You keep large fish that could eat it
A small, hardy cool-water fish from southern China and northern Vietnam with a shining line along its flank. It suits unheated aquariums and is a poor match for warm tropical tanks.
Appearance and Identification
A slim bronze-green body with an iridescent gold line along the flank and a dark line below it, along with red in the tail and fins. Long-finned and gold forms are also sold.
The red tail base and the shining flank line are distinctive. Its cool-water needs set it apart from similar-looking tropical fish.
Mature females are rounder-bellied and often slightly larger. Males are slimmer and more colourful.
Tank Requirements
- Suggested filter
- About 220–280 litres an hour
- Minimum tank volume
- 55 litres
- Minimum tank length
- 60 cm
- Minimum group size
- 10
- Recommended group size
- 10
- Activity level
- Active
- Flow preference
- Low to moderate
- Planting preference
- Moderately planted
- Hiding places
- Yes
- Lid recommended
- Yes
- Jumping risk
- Moderate
A lightly heated or unheated planted aquarium works well, as long as the room stays within the fish’s range. Use a lid, and leave open swimming space in the middle.
Behaviour and Tankmates
An active, peaceful schooling fish. Males regularly display to each other with spread fins.
Keep 10 or more. Larger groups show better behaviour and colour.
Not territorial. Male displays are harmless.
Good with other cool-water fish such as small barbs and danios. Avoid warm-water tropical fish, and fish big enough to eat it. Adult shrimp are usually safe, but shrimplets may be eaten.
Water Parameters
A cool-water fish that adapts to a wide range of water. Warm conditions over long periods are not ideal for this species.
Parameter caveat
Hot rooms may need cooling measures in the warmest months. Acclimate slowly and avoid sudden temperature changes.
Feeding
- Diet types
- Insectivore, Omnivore
- Feeding frequency
- Once or twice daily
- Preferred foods
- Fine micro granules or crushed flakeUse a particle size the fish can swallow whole, and feed only what is eaten within a couple of minutes.
- Frozen or live daphnia and cyclopsSmall crustaceans add variety and help bring adults into breeding condition.
- Frozen or newly hatched brine shrimpA good small meat food a few times a week rather than the only food.
An omnivore that eats small invertebrates and readily takes small prepared foods.
Reduce feeding if the water cools in winter, because the fish become less active.
Breeding
- Breeding type
- Egg Scatterer
- Breeding difficulty
- Easy
- Brood or egg count
- A few eggs per day over several days
- Incubation
- 2 days
- Parental care
- None
- Baby foods
- Infusoria or parameciumNeeded for the first days after fry become free-swimming, because the fry are very small.
- Fine powdered fry foodUse sparingly as a supplement, and siphon out anything left uneaten.
- Newly hatched brine shrimpIntroduce once the fry are large enough to swallow it, usually after several days.
- MicrowormsA useful next step for fry that are still too small for brine shrimp.
An egg-scattering continuous spawner with no parental care. Adults may eat eggs, so remove them after 2 to 3 days in a breeding tank. Eggs hatch in about 48 to 60 hours. A few fry may also survive in a well-planted community tank.
Habitat and Origin
- Geographic origin
- Asia, China, Southeast Asia, Vietnam
- Natural habitat
- Clearwater, Freshwater Stream, Vegetated Shoreline
- Aquarium contexts
- Breeding Aquarium, Coldwater Aquarium, Planted Aquarium, Temperate Aquarium
- Audience level
- Beginner
Classification
- Profile type
- Recognized species
- Genus
- Tanichthys
- Family
- Cyprinidae
- Species group
- Fish
Have you kept this species?
You can write a note about what worked for you, or send a photograph. We check everything before it appears here.
Share a note or photo
Common Goldfish
Carassius auratus
- Care level
- Beginner
- Adult size
- 12–22 cm
- Minimum tank
- 150 litres
- Temperature
- 10–24 °C
Empire Gudgeon
Hypseleotris compressa
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 5–12 cm
- Minimum tank
- 100 litres
- Temperature
- 20–28 °C
Fancy Goldfish
Carassius auratus
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 10–20 cm
- Minimum tank
- 80 litres
- Temperature
- 18–24 °C