TankBud

Chinese butterfly loach

Pseudogastromyzon cheni

Also known as Chinese hillstream loach, Chen's hillstream loach, Chinese butterfly hillstream loach

FreshwaterFish

Chinese butterfly loach (Pseudogastromyzon cheni)
The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature
64–75°F
18–24°C
pH
6.5–7.5
Adult size
2.4 in
6 cm
Minimum tank
20 gal
75 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Swim level
Bottom
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Hard
Rarity
Common
Family
Gastromyzontidae
Origin
Native to fast, rocky hill streams of Fujian and Zhejiang provinces in southeastern China, in cool, highly oxygenated water.

Overview

The Chinese butterfly loach is a small, flattened hillstream loach that clings to rocks and grazes the algae film in a cool, fast-flowing tank. It is moderately easy for a keeper with some experience.

Did you know

The Chinese butterfly loach is often confused with the larger butterfly hillstream loaches of the genus Beaufortia. Pseudogastromyzon stays smaller and comes from farther east in China.

Caring for the Chinese butterfly loach

Give Chinese butterfly loaches a tank of 20 gal (75 L) or more, with strong flow and smooth rockwork. Smooth stones under a bright light grow the algae they graze.

Keep the water cool and high in oxygen, at 64 to 75°F (18 to 24°C) and a pH of 6.5 to 7.5. Warm, sluggish water leaves this loach stressed and prone to wasting away.

It grazes algae and biofilm, so supplement with vegetable-based sinking foods and blanched vegetables. Add the occasional frozen treat.

Keep a small group of four to six. The Chinese butterfly loach is peaceful toward other fish, and it suits a cool tank with white cloud minnows, danios and other hillstream loaches. Males set up small grazing territories on favored stones and display to each other over them. Breeding it is hard.

Good to know

The Chinese butterfly loach, Pseudogastromyzon cheni, belongs to the hillstream loach family Gastromyzontidae. Its paired fins spread sideways like small wings and act as a suction pad, letting it hold station on bare rock in strong flow.

In the wild

The Chinese butterfly loach is native to fast, rocky hill streams of Fujian and Zhejiang provinces in southeastern China. It lives in the shallow rapids there, in cool, highly oxygenated water.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The Chinese butterfly loach is a mostly peaceful, social species that keeps to the bottom. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does a Chinese butterfly loach need?

A Chinese butterfly loach needs at least 20 gal (75 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a Chinese butterfly loach need?

A Chinese butterfly loach is comfortable at 64–75°F (18–24°C) with a pH of 6.5–7.5.

What does a Chinese butterfly loach eat?

A Chinese butterfly loach grazes algae and biofilm. Supplement its grazing with vegetable-based sinking foods, blanched vegetables and the occasional frozen treat.

How big does a Chinese butterfly loach get?

An adult Chinese butterfly loach reaches about 2.4 in (6 cm).

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