Butterfly hillstream loach
Beaufortia kweichowensis
A flat 'butterfly' loach from southern Chinese rivers that clings to rocks and glass and wants cool, fast, oxygen-rich water.
Key facts
- Body length
- 3 in without fins
- Minimum tank
- 17 gallons
- Group
- 6+
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Care level
- 3 / 5
- Lifespan
- Not well documented
- Diet
- Biofilm, algae wafers, small frozen foods
- Origin
- Xi Jiang river system, southern China
- Hardier than41%
- Bigger than46%
- Calmer than68%
Water: their range vs yours
Butterfly hillstream loach tank mates
- Neon tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Harlequin rasboraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Fancy guppyGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Cherry shrimpGets along in shared water.Good mates
- BettaGets along in shared water.Good mates
- AngelfishGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Tiger barbGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Amano shrimpGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Black neon tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Black widow tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Bronze coryGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Cardinal tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Panda corydorasButterfly hillstream loach attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Panda corydoras.Risky
- OtocinclusButterfly hillstream loach attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Otocinclus.Risky
- Blood parrot cichlidButterfly hillstream loach outcompetes the slow-eating Blood parrot cichlid for food; target-feed to make sure it eats.Risky
- Bristlenose plecoButterfly hillstream loach attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Bristlenose pleco.Risky
- Chinese algae eaterTwo territorial bottom-dwellers: need ≥ 8550 cm² of floor, tank has 5612 cm².Risky
- Common plecoButterfly hillstream loach attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Amazon sailfin catfish (common pleco).Risky
- Blue dolphin cichlidBlue dolphin cichlid can eat Butterfly hillstream loach: prey body depth 1.5 cm ≤ mouth 6.3 cm.Avoid
- DiscusDiscus need much warmer, still water.Avoid
- Iridescent sharkIridescent shark can eat Butterfly hillstream loach: prey body depth 1.5 cm ≤ mouth 32.5 cm.Avoid
- OscarOscar can eat Butterfly hillstream loach: prey body depth 1.5 cm ≤ mouth 12.3 cm.Avoid
- SeverumSeverum can eat Butterfly hillstream loach: prey body depth 1.5 cm ≤ mouth 5.0 cm.Avoid
- African clawed frogAfrican clawed frog should only be kept in a single-species tank.Avoid
How we check
The numbers the tank model uses for butterfly hillstream loaches: water as ideal and tolerated ranges, bioload from adult mass, space, flow and how they act on other species.
- Standard length
- 7.5 cm (SL)
- Adult mass
- 8.44 g
- Bioload at 25 °C
- 3.60 BU
- Min. water
- 54 L net
- Min. footprint
- 60 × 30 cm per group
- Group
- 6+ (best 8)
- Swims in
- bottom
- Flow
- high
- Body / fins
- depressed flat, normal fins
- Diet type
- algivore
- Fin nipper
- none
- Sensitive to
- copper
Care notes
Butterfly hillstream loaches come from fast rivers of the Xi Jiang system in southern China. Their round, flattened bodies press against stones as they graze biofilm and algae.
Keep six or more in a mature 15 gallon tank or larger at 61–75°F with strong flow and aeration; in twos and threes they hide. Males hold territories against each other, and too much protein-rich food does them harm.
Questions
What size tank does a butterfly hillstream loach need?
At least 17 gallons (54 litres of water after decor). Adults reach about 3 inches without fins.
How many butterfly hillstream loaches should be kept together?
Keep at least 6, ideally 8 or more: fewer feel exposed and hide or turn nippy.
What water do butterfly hillstream loaches need?
61–75 °F, pH 6.5–8 and 2–15 dGH. Butterfly hillstream loaches come from Xi Jiang river system, southern China.
How long do butterfly hillstream loaches live?
Not well documented with good care.
What fish can live with butterfly hillstream loaches?
Good tank mates include Neon tetra, Harlequin rasbora, Fancy guppy, Cherry shrimp and Betta. Each is checked both ways for size, fin nipping, temperament, territory and shared water.