Butterfly Hillstream Loach
Beaufortia leveretti
Gastromyzontidae
About
The Butterfly Hillstream Loach is a flattened, disc-bodied fish from the fast, cool, oxygen-saturated streams of the Red and Pearl River systems in southern China, Hainan and northern Vietnam. Its fused, cupped pectoral and pelvic fins form a broad suction disc that turns the current into downforce rather than lift, so the fish holds station on bare rock in water that would sweep other species away, rasping algae and biofilm off the stone. It is sold at 2-3 cm next to the much smaller Sewellia and Gastromyzon hillstream loaches and is routinely assumed to stay that size, but Beaufortia leveretti is the largest of the three commonly traded hillstream loaches: it reaches 12 cm, and around 8 cm is a normal adult in the aquarium. That is the whole reason it needs a longer tank than its lookalikes — not more swimming volume, but more grazeable rock and enough length to run a river's worth of flow across the floor. Cool water, near-saturation oxygen and a mature, algae-covered hardscape are not optional; a bright, freshly set-up tank starves it.
Care
Reaches 12 cm — the largest hillstream loach in the trade — so plan on a 100 cm base and 120 L, not the 60 cm tank it is usually sold with. Give strong, laminar flow (10-15x turnover), cool 20-23°C water, near-saturation oxygen and smooth stones already carrying algae. Keep six or more and feed vegetable-based foods.
Diet
Aufwuchs grazer that rasps algae, diatoms and biofilm from rock; supplement with algae wafers, blanched courgette and spinach, and spirulina. Keep protein low — occasional frozen bloodworm at most. A tank too new or too clean to grow algae cannot feed this fish, and losses usually come months after purchase as slow starvation, not as an obvious illness.
Tankmate compatibility
Gets along with (27)
Possible with care (174)
Avoid (70)
Computed by the AquaSage engine for a spacious reference tank — always check the full verdict for your exact setup in the calculator.
Telling males from females
What works for this species, most reliable first.
- Adult sizeA hint only · only across animals of the same age
In many cichlids, catfish and loaches one sex simply grows larger — usually the male, though there are well-known reversals.
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Frequently asked questions
- What tank size does a Butterfly Hillstream Loach need?
- A Butterfly Hillstream Loach needs an aquarium of at least 120 litres (31.7 US gallons) with a footprint at least 100 cm (39.4 in) long — for this species, swimming length matters as much as raw volume.
- What water parameters does a Butterfly Hillstream Loach need?
- Butterfly Hillstream Loach does best at 18–24 °C (64.4–75.2 °F), pH 6.5–8 and a general hardness of 4–15 °dGH.
- What group size does a Butterfly Hillstream Loach need?
- Butterfly Hillstream Loach is a social species — keep a group of at least 6 so natural behaviour emerges and stress stays low.
- Is the Butterfly Hillstream Loach suitable for beginners?
- Butterfly Hillstream Loach is a demanding species best attempted with some experience — it needs stable, closely watched conditions to thrive.