CHINESE NEON FISH DESCRIPTION:
The Chinese neon or white cloud fish: named for its place of origin in southern China, it is an ideal fish to give a touch of color and distinction to our cold water aquarium, since it has a lot of varieties such as the chinese neon veil or gold.
Common name: Chinese neon or false neon.
Scientific name: Tanichthys albonubes.
Family: Cyprinidae.
Temperature: 14 – 22 ºC (relatively cold water fish)
Maximum size: 5 cm.
pH: 6-8.5.
Kh: 3 – 8ºKh.
Gh: 5 – 19ºGh
Diet: Omnivorous.
Temperament: Peaceful and gregarious.
Sexual dimorphism: The male is slightly smaller, slimmer, more colorful and has more developed dorsal and anal fins.
The Chinese Neon fish, also known as the White Cloud Mountain fish, is a gregarious and peaceful fish, ideal for cold water aquariums. Its care and procreation is simple, suitable for beginners.
Its scientific name, Tanichthys albonubes, we owe to the Chinese leader Tan Kan Fei, who gives it the name "Tan", plus the Greek ichthus, which means fish.
Albonubes, from the Latin albus, which means white and clouds, in reference to the town where these fish come from.
The male Chinese neon fish is distinguishable from the female fish thanks to the fact that there is certain sexual dimorphism.
The females are rounder and larger than the males, thinner and more colorful.
They have a size between 4 and 6 centimeters.
The usual colors of the Chinese Neon are greenish brown for the body, crossed by a longitudinal yellow line.
Its fins are yellow and red.
Over the years, the colors slowly fade, in both sexes.
Although the greenish color is the most common, there are varieties of Chinese Neon fish super red, albino, gold, even a variety of long fins.
FOR YOUR BETTER CARE, IT IS NECESSARY TO KNOW YOUR HABITAT:
The cold water neon fish is native to a very specific area of China, White Cloud Mountain, Kwangtung.
Although there is not much information about it, its origin seems to be restricted to the delta of the Pearl River, Pearl River or Zhujiang, formerly known as the Canton River.
This species is considered endangered by Chinese government agencies, and for several years they were not found in the wild.
Later in 2007, some populations were found on Hainan Island, Hainan Province.
Its natural habitat is a slow mountain stream, with shallow cold waters and dense vegetation.
On Hainan Island, Chinese neon fish populations occupy quiet stagnant areas near dense vegetation.
THE BEST CONDITIONS OF THE AQUARIUM:
The Chinese Neon will be perfect, and will have no problem reproducing in an aquarium of about 40 liters, with a relatively low temperature between 14º and 22ºC, although far from what it can withstand in nature.
They are cold water fish.
The pH of the water must be maintained at values between 6 and 8.5, with a hardness between 90 and 357 ppm.
They do not appear to be particularly fussy about aquarium decoration, although they do best in a tank with a dark substrate.
As for plants, it is a good idea to add floating plants that can help recreate its natural state.
Another interesting point is to add a strong filter that moves the water, and if we add a small waterfall that generates movement, all the better.
THE BEST FOOD FOR THE CHINESE NEON FISH:
These fish are omnivores, they do not usually reject any type of food. In the natural state they usually feed on small insects, worms and crustaceans.
Suitable dry food can be used, to which it is a good idea to add frozen food, such as earthworms, worms or brine shrimp.
Any type of food for cold water fish will be fine, the same one used for goldfish.
FOR YOUR BEST CARE YOU MUST KNOW ITS BEHAVIOR AND COMPATIBILITY:
It is a calm fish that can live perfectly in a community aquarium, as long as it is with species that share similar temperature needs.
When we buy the Chinese Neon, we have to think that it is a gregarious species, the ideal is to buy at least 10 identical fish, which will result in their health and less nervousness.
Fish compatible with Chinese Neon:
- Guppies.
- Nun.
- Mosquito.
- Corydoras.
- Apple Snail.
- Rasbora Galaxy.
- Tetra Neon.
- Ax Fish.
- Sumatran barbel.
- female betta.
- Zebra fish.
- Guppy Endler.
- Ancistrus.
- Cherry Barbel.
- Harlequin.
- Molly.
- Kribensis.
- Platy.
Fish compatible with restrictions:
- Ramirezi.
- Scalars.
- Killis.
- Goldfish.
- Botia Clown.
- Disk.
- Rainbow.
- Silver Dollar.
- Telescope.
THE REPRODUCTION OF THE CHINESE NEON FISH:
As with most Cyprinids, the Chinese Neon fish spawns continuously and the parents do not observe any kind of care.
It may happen to you that if the conditions in the aquarium are correct, and the adults are well fed, you discover a small group of fry, without knowing how it happened.
If you wish to have greater control over reproduction, you can set up a smaller breeding tank, in which conditions are favored.
We will mount a weaker lighting, and we will arrange the bottom so that the adults cannot access the eggs, it can be a metal mesh, some glass marbles, a carpet.
The eggs take between 48 and 60 hours to hatch.
Once opened, the fry are free swimming.
They may require a specific diet, until they are able to eat adult food.
