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I've "made" some really red white cloud minnows

16K views 41 replies 17 participants last post by  Doig  
#1 ·
Every couple of years I take the prettiest handful of my white clouds and remove them to breed. I originally got this batch in around 2008-2009, and have been kind of selectively breeding them (not very strictly). The last few years they have colored up a ton from what is in my profile pic. The males have more salmon red color and it shows up best when they are flashing at one another. Nothing too outrageous, just thought it was neat. And hopefully in a few more generations of doing this, it will continue to improve.
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#4 ·
Me either. For all I know someone else has been working on them and has them a lot better, but I've never seen red white clouds not in my own tanks. I have SO many outside it's not even funny. Wish fish were easier to ship, because the hardest part is catching about 100 pretty ones out of the pond and having to leave the rest. But they produce more than I could fit if I put them in every tank.
 
#9 ·
I'm going to send a few hundred to a big shrimp bro for store credit when it cools down. Hopefully he will be happy with semi-grown out fry or else that many will take a full sized fish box. I need to get into the pond and get an idea of how many I'm looking at in there. There were thousands last time I did it using about 50 adults, so I only put about 10-12 females and the nicest males this spring. But they roll the water surface when I feed, so I'm thinking it's still more than I can deal with. Next time I'll try 5 females. I wouldn't think the first batch of fry has grown and is reproducing already, but who knows?
 
#14 ·
It's looking like 1st weekend of June before I'll be back to KY. I could do a little research into shipping costs but wouldn't want to try it before it cools down a bit.
Oh man, I wish these could be shipped! I am in the process of building two different styles of hillstream tanks, and these would be perfect! I live in central Illinois, so not really even a day trip to pick some up :(
Same thought as above, I feel pretty confident I could ship younger ones (especially overnight) when things cool off here soon. It makes me feel terrible to leave so many fry in the pond, none have ever overwintered.
 
#17 ·
@Blue Ridge Reef

Those look awesome, my favorite fish btw. About how many generations would you guess it took to get that much red? Wish I lived near you, I'd love to get my hands on some of those White Clouds.
It's kind of hard to answer that. These are probably 7th generation I'd say, but I didn't start breeding for red color until I started noticing more of it. The first few years were just, "pick the prettiest ones," but as more salmon colored ones would show up, those were what I chose. The fry in the pond this year were from my very reddest handful of them, so hopefully a good percentage of them color up this way.
 
#21 ·
I've had this question for a while and maybe this would be a good thread to ask it in.

Why aren't there more varieties of white clouds? With how hardy they are and easy to breed I'm surprised there isn't a nearly completely red variety, or varieties with lots of orange or yellow, or ones that keep the blue stripe they have when they are young.

What's holding them back? How great would it be to have a fish with the flashy coloring of a neon terta and the toughness of a white cloud.
 
#23 ·
^I think that's a big part of it. Also, I suspect some fish are just more prone to express genetic mutations than others. Lots of traits are hereditary, such as the simple recessive long finned gene. Others are selectively bred for traits, like the reds I'm hoping to eventually achieve with these. I think they can go a long way to getting more red if I (or someone else) were to be more careful about only keeping the reddest ones for breeding stock. But as @straha20 pointed out, they're still a white cloud, and won't likely be particularly valuable. It would be a lot of work and years of selective breeding for a fish that would still probably retail under $5.
 
#27 ·
...pointed out, they're still a white cloud, and won't likely be particularly valuable. It would be a lot of work and years of selective breeding for a fish that would still probably retail under $5.
Who knows? Glo-fish are just zebra danios and Red Clouds are way cooler, IMO. Not $5 cooler, but easily an extra dollar cooler...

I see regular WCMM for 1.50- 1.99, I think these would do well at 3.29 or ten for 30 just because they're unique. Just sayin...:icon_wink
 
#24 ·
We'll then I guess it is up to us. I'm starting with pretty vanilla stock but am on my second generation. Hopefully in a few years I'll make enough progress that it will be worth trading stock. I want their yellow band widened out as-well, some of mine look fantastic.

I also have one that literally can only make left turns, named it Nascar. Probably won't breed for that though lol.
 
#37 ·
Stunning WCM, Blue Ridge.

Until recently I lived in the VA mountains and years ago overwintered a few WCM outside in a below grade rain barrel. Tough fish.

I've been thinking on a fish breeding program to explore with my grand daughters(5&3) next spring.
I'll be moving next door to them so, super convenient.
It would a privilege to expand your Blue Ridge Reds line if you have and can part with a breeding school then.

JJ