Can rainbow sharks live with white cloud minnows?

Verdict

No. Rainbow sharks and white cloud minnows should not share a tank. White cloud minnows are coldwater animals (60–72°F); rainbow sharks need 72–80°F. They meet only at 72°F, the edge of both ranges.

Rainbow shark72–80°F · pH 6.5–7.5

White cloud minnow60–72°F · pH 6–8

What to watch

Deal breakerWhite cloud minnows are coldwater animals (60–72°F); rainbow sharks need 72–80°F. They meet only at 72°F, the edge of both ranges.
Watch outA grown rainbow shark may treat small white cloud minnows as food, especially at night.

What works

pH 6.5–7.5 suits both.
They use different parts of the tank: rainbow sharks the bottom, white cloud minnows the mid.

Water side by side

The green band is the temperature range both can live in.

The green band is the pH both tolerate.

Size to scale

Adult length in an aquarium. A fish can swallow anything that fits in its mouth, roughly a third to half its own length for predators.

Care at a glance

	Rainbow shark	White cloud minnow
Temperature	72–80 °F	60–72 °F
pH	6.5–7.5	6–8
Adult size	6.0 in	1.5 in
Minimum tank	55 gal	10 gal
Temperament	Semi-aggressive	Peaceful
Swims at	Bottom	Middle
Group	One per tank	Groups of 6+
Diet	Omnivore	Omnivore