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Vietnamese Cardinal Minnow
Tanichthys micagemmae
Animalia›Chordata›Actinopterygii›Cyprinidae
📍 Central Vietnam
Closely related to the White Cloud Mountain Minnow but with more vivid colouring — bright red stripe and neon fins. Smaller and more delicate. Excellent for cool, planted nano tanks.
Care Guide
Diet
Vietnamese Cardinal Minnows are omnivores that thrive on a varied diet of high-quality flake foods, micro pellets, and small frozen foods like brine shrimp and daphnia. Feed small portions once daily, offering only what they can consume in 2-3 minutes. Supplement occasionally with blanched vegetables like spinach to support overall health.
Behavior
These are active, schooling fish that display their best coloration and behavior when kept in groups of at least 6 individuals. They are peaceful and occupy the mid-water column, constantly foraging and darting through planted areas. They are most active during dawn and dusk, and their vibrant red stripes intensify when they feel secure in well-planted environments.
Breeding
Breeding in captivity is possible but requires patience and specific conditions including soft, acidic water (pH 6.0-6.5), temperatures around 20-22°C, and dense plants for egg scattering. Females are slightly larger and rounder than males. Fry are tiny and require infusoria or liquid fry food for the first week before graduating to micro foods.
Tank Mates
Similar size and peaceful temperament; excellent algae control without competing for food
Comparable size, peaceful schooling behavior, and identical water parameter requirements
Peaceful invertebrates that occupy different ecological niches; provide visual interest without aggression
Foreground plant that creates ideal habitat structure and provides cover for minnows
Dense plant growth essential for security and breeding; provides grazing surfaces and fry refuge
Closely related species with identical care requirements and compatible schooling behavior
Common Diseases
Ich (Ichthyophthirius multifiliis)
White spots on body and fins, rapid gill movement, lethargy, flashing against objects
Raise temperature gradually to 28°C, perform daily 25% water changes, use aquarium salt (1 tsp per 5 gallons) or commercial ich treatment; maintain for 10-14 days
Fin Rot
Frayed or deteriorating fin edges, discoloration at fin bases, lethargy
Improve water quality with frequent partial water changes, reduce stocking density, treat with antibacterial medication if severe; ensure good filtration and remove decaying plant matter
Columnaris (Flexibacter columnaris)
White or gray film on body, mouth rot, rapid breathing, loss of appetite
Increase aeration, perform 50% water change immediately, treat with antibacterial medication; quarantine affected fish and maintain pristine water conditions
Velvet Disease (Oodinium)
Fine gold or rust-colored dust on body, rapid gill movement, scratching behavior, cloudy eyes
Dim lighting, raise temperature to 28-30°C, treat with copper-free medication or salt; perform daily water changes and improve aeration
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Quick Facts
- pH
- 6.5–7.5
- diet
- omnivore
- maxSize
- 1.2 inches
- minTankSize
- 5 gallons
- temperature
- 61–75°F (16–24°C)
Temperature
61–75°F
16–24°C