White Cloud Mountain minnows are a member of the Cyprinidae family, along with the European carp. They are native to China, having first been discovered at White Cloud Mountain in Guangdong province, but are reportedly now rare in the wild in China.
They are a hardy freshwater fish, which tolerate a wide range of temperatures and variations in water quality. Their ability to tolerate cool temperate waters (as low as 5ºC) means they have the potential to survive in most NSW waterways. White Cloud Mountain minnows can grow to 4cm in length and generally feed on zooplankton and detritus. They are considered easy to breed in captivity and release their eggs amongst vegetation.