Tanichthys micagemmae

Alternative names

 * Vietnamese Minnow,

Sexing

 * Males have tiny raised tubercles under the eyes during the breeding season. Also their dorsal and anal fins are slightly longer and they are grey below the lateral stripe when spawning.

Tank compatibility

 * Will co-habit with other sub-tropical non-predatory peaceful fish such as Hillstream Loaches and Zebra Danios. Do not keep with Goldfish.

Diet

 * Feeds on small aquatic invertebrates and insect larvae, so Daphnia and finely crumbled flake should be fine for captive fish.

Feeding regime

 * Feed once or twice a day.

Environment Specifics

 * These fish usually live in shallow, fast-moving water over a sandy bottom. Add an oversized power filter to make them feel at home and keep the water better oxygenated.

Behaviour

 * A small peaceful fish that appreciates company of its own kind.

Identification

 * Not to be mistaken for the well known White Cloud Mountain Minnow which now has various colour and tail-type variations. The Vietnamese Minnow has a pale lateral line often with small dark spots. The two black and white lateral stripes in Vietnamese Minnow are of roughly equal width. The black stripe is about 0.9-1.8 times wider than the white stripe here, while in the White Cloud Mountain Minnow it's 0.3-0.6 times as wide. The stripe is also lower down on Vietnamese Minnow than in the WCMM.