TankBud

Red hillstream loach

Beaufortia leveretti

Also known as Red-fin hillstream loach, Vietnamese hillstream loach, Leveret's hillstream loach, Porcupine Loach

FreshwaterFish

Red hillstream loach (Beaufortia leveretti)
Grégoire Germeau · CC BY 3.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
64–75°F
18–24°C
pH
6.5–7.5
Adult size
3.1 in
8 cm
Minimum tank
24 gal
90 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Swim level
Bottom
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Hard
Rarity
Common
Family
Gastromyzontidae
Origin
Native to fast, rocky streams of southern China and northern Vietnam, clinging to stones in cool, oxygen-rich current.

Overview

The red hillstream loach is a flat, disc-shaped loach that presses itself to rocks in strong, cool flow. It is a step up from the easiest fish.

Did you know

The red hillstream loach moves across glass and rock in short, gecko-like scoots. Its flattened body works as a living suction cup.

Caring for the red hillstream loach

Keep a small group in a tank of 24 gal (90 L) or more, with strong flow and smooth rockwork. Stones lit brightly enough to grow algae give them grazing surface and a place to rest.

Keep the water cool, very clean and highly oxygenated, at 64 to 75°F (18 to 24°C) and a pH of 6.5 to 7.5. The current should be strong enough to mimic a mountain rapid, often from an oversized filter or an added powerhead. Warm, still water leaves them listless and short-lived.

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

The red hillstream loach is peaceful toward tank mates and suits cool-water fish such as white cloud minnows, danios and other hillstream loaches. It will still defend a favorite grazing rock from its own kind. Breeding it is hard.

Good to know

The red hillstream loach, Beaufortia leveretti, is a member of the family Gastromyzontidae. Its fused, wing-like paired fins form a suction disc that holds it to bare rock against fast water. It is closely related to the common butterfly hillstream loach, and the reddish tint to its fins tells it apart.

In the wild

The red hillstream loach is native to fast, rocky streams of southern China and northern Vietnam. It clings to stones in cool, oxygen-rich current.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The red hillstream 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 red hillstream loach need?

A red hillstream loach needs at least 24 gal (90 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a red hillstream loach need?

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

What does a red hillstream loach eat?

A red hillstream loach grazes algae and biofilm. Supplement it with vegetable-based sinking foods, blanched vegetables and the occasional frozen treat.

How big does a red hillstream loach get?

An adult red hillstream loach reaches about 3.1 in (8 cm).

Related species