All fish / Gastromyzontidae

Butterfly Hillstream Loach

Beaufortia kweichowensis

Also known as chinese butterfly loach, hillstream loach, butterfly loach, chinese hillstream loach, beaufortia loach, kweichow hillstream loach, butterfly plec, chinese butterfly plec, beaufortia kweichowensis, ビューフォルティア・クェイチョウエンシス, 中华爬岩鳅, 贵州爬岩鳅

A flattened, sucker-shaped loach with broad, rounded pectoral and pelvic fins that make it look like a small stingray, patterned in brown with yellowish spots. It clings to rocks and glass in fast water, grazing algae, and is kept for its unusual look and peaceful nature in cool, well-oxygenated river-style tanks.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

7 cm

Temperature

18 to 24 °C

pH

6.5 to 7.8

Smallest tank

80 litres

Keep as

Group of 3 or more

Diet

Omnivore: biofilm and algae, plus sinking wafers, bloodworm, daphnia and brine shrimp

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

8 to 10 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Southern China (Xi Jiang/Pearl River basin, Guangxi and Guizhou)

Breeding

It has bred in captivity only occasionally, usually in mature, cool, strongly flowing tanks with plenty of rocks. Eggs are scattered among stones and get no care, so deliberate breeding is difficult.

Good to know

Needs cool, highly oxygenated water with strong flow and does poorly in warm tropical set-ups. Similar species such as Sewellia and Gastromyzon are often sold under the same names.