Fish comparison
Ember Tetra vs White Cloud Mountain Minnow
How the Ember Tetra and White Cloud Mountain Minnow compare on care, size, water and temperament, and which fish suits your tank.
By Mike ElmiraUpdated
TL;DR, Ember Tetra vs White Cloud Mountain Minnow
The Ember Tetra and the White Cloud Mountain Minnow come up together a lot when people are choosing a fish, and they are close enough to weigh side by side. Both are happy somewhere around 23 to 24 °C and pH 6 to 7, so a single tank can suit either one. The White Cloud Mountain Minnow is the more forgiving of the two, which matters if this is an early tank, while the Ember Tetra rewards a bit more attention. Read the full care notes on each below and pick the one whose look and pace fit the tank you're building.
Group compatibility overview
Excellent fit
Every key parameter overlaps and no major conflicts surfaced.
4 notes
Temperature
- Ember Tetra23–29 °C
- White Cloud Mountain Minnow16–24 °C
pH
- Ember Tetra5.5–7
- White Cloud Mountain Minnow6–8
Hardness
- Ember Tetra1–10 dGH
- White Cloud Mountain Minnow4–18 dGH
What to plan for
- Ember Tetra schools, stock at least 8You've planned for 1 ember tetra. Ember Tetra need a group of at least 8 to feel safe and shoal naturally, below that they're stressed and lose colour. Dial up the count, or remove the species.
- White Cloud Mountain Minnow schools, stock at least 6You've planned for 1 white cloud mountain minnow. White Cloud Mountain Minnow need a group of at least 6 to feel safe and shoal naturally, below that they're stressed and lose colour. Dial up the count, or remove the species.
- No bottom teamNo bottom-dwelling fish or shrimp. A small group of corydoras or a shrimp colony picks up leftover food and keeps detritus in check.
- 67% of your fish swim in the midHeavy concentration in a single zone. Spreading stocking across all three levels makes the tank read fuller for the same bioload.
Full attributes
Every parameter, side by side| Parameter |  FishEmber TetraHyphessobrycon amandae |  FishWhite Cloud Mountain MinnowTanichthys albonubes |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Fish | Fish |
| Origin | Rio das Mortes basin, Brazil | White Cloud Mountain, Guangdong, China |
| Family | Characidae | Cyprinidae |
| Temperature | 23–29 °C | 16–24 °C |
| pH | 5.5–7.0 | 6.0–8.0 |
| Hardness (dGH) | 1–10 | 4–18 |
| Flow rate | Low | Medium |
| Min tank | 40 L | 40 L |
| Adult size | 2 cm | 3.5–4 cm |
| Difficulty | 2 / 5 | 1 / 5 |
| Lifespan | 2–4 yrs | 5–7 yrs |
| Diet | Omnivore | Omnivore |
| Water column | Mid | Mid to Top |
| Schooling | Yes | Yes |
| Plant safe | Yes | Yes |
| Shrimp safe | Yes (adults safe with adult shrimp) | Yes (adult shrimp) |
Frequently asked questions
Direct answers to the questions search engines and AI assistants surface most often about this species.
Can you keep Ember Tetra and White Cloud Mountain Minnow together?
Yes. Their temperature and pH ranges overlap around 23 to 24 °C and pH 6 to 7, so one set of water conditions keeps both comfortable. Match group sizes and cover the usual planted-tank basics and they share a tank fine.
Which is easier to keep, the Ember Tetra or the White Cloud Mountain Minnow?
The White Cloud Mountain Minnow is the easier of the two, closer to very easy, while the Ember Tetra leans beginner-friendly.
Do Ember Tetra and White Cloud Mountain Minnow need the same water?
Close to it. Aim for 23 to 24 °C and pH 6 to 7 and you're in the shared sweet spot for both. Full ranges are in the table above.
What's the main difference between the Ember Tetra and the White Cloud Mountain Minnow?
It comes down to look, size and pace rather than one being flatly better. The table above lays the numbers out row by row.