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

Keep a small group in a tank of 90 litres or more with strong flow and smooth rockwork, at 18 to 24 C and pH 6.5 to 7.5. It grazes algae and biofilm, so supplement with vegetable-based sinking foods, blanched vegetables and the occasional frozen treat. Peaceful toward tankmates, it suits cool-water fish such as white cloud minnows, danios and other hillstream loaches, though it will defend a favourite grazing rock from its own kind.

In the wild

A flat, disc-shaped hillstream loach around 8 cm long that presses itself to rocks in strong flow. It needs cool, very clean, highly oxygenated water and a current strong enough to mimic a mountain rapid, often from an oversized filter or added powerhead. Smooth stones lit brightly enough to grow algae give it grazing surface and a place to rest. Warm, still water leaves it listless and short-lived.

Good to know

Its fused, wing-like paired fins form a suction disc that lets it hold onto bare rock against fast water. It is closely related to the common butterfly hillstream loach and is told apart by the reddish tint to its fins.

Did you know

It moves across glass and rock in short, gecko-like scoots, using its flattened body as a living suction cup.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

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.

How big does a Red hillstream loach get?

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

Related species