Leveretti Beaufortia Care Guide
Beaufortia leveretti is a robust hillstream loach from China and Vietnam, requiring fast, oxygen-rich water and grazing biofilm from rocks.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Beaufortia leveretti is a robust hillstream loach with a flattened, sucker-bodied form similar to the related Hong Kong pleco. It clings to rocks in swift current using its broad pectoral and pelvic fins. Like other Beaufortia, it is adapted to fast-flowing, oxygen-rich rivers.
Taxonomy
- Family: Balitoridae
- Genus: Beaufortia
- Scientific name: Beaufortia leveretti
Habitat
The species occurs in fast-flowing streams of the Red and Pearl River systems in China and Vietnam, and on Hainan Island. It is found in large rivers and streams, typically in shallow water over sandy and rocky bottoms where biofilm develops on submerged surfaces.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 100 L
- Temperature: 18-24 °C (64-75 °F)
- pH: 6.5-7.8
- GH: 8-18 °dGH
- Water flow: high, well-oxygenated
- Group size: 3 or more individuals
- Maximum size: about 12 cm
Diet
As with related hillstream loaches it is a herbivore that grazes biofilm and benthic algae from rocks. Aquaria should provide algae-covered surfaces; algae wafers and blanched vegetables can supplement the diet, while excessive protein is best avoided.
Compatibility
It is peaceful and suited to a group, where mild territorial behaviour spreads out. Best companions are other hillstream loaches and fish that share fast, cool, oxygen-rich water. Slow-water species are not appropriate.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern (status upgraded from Data Deficient in 2010), reflecting its wide distribution and absence of identified major threats.
Leveretti Beaufortia (Beaufortia leveretti) Breeding Guide
Overview
Beaufortia leveretti is a hillstream loach of the family Gastromyzontidae. According to FishBase it is distributed in China and Vietnam, with adults inhabiting mountain streams with gravel bottoms in tropical waters of about 18-24 °C. It reaches a maximum length of around 12 cm. Like other Beaufortia, it has horizontally oriented paired fins and fused pelvic fins forming a sucking cup for clinging to rocks in fast water.
Sexing
In Beaufortia, sexes are distinguished mainly by body shape, as documented for the congener Beaufortia kweichowensis: females are comparatively broad and heavy-framed with a snout flowing continuously into the pectoral fins, while males are slighter with a squarer snout and pectoral fins set at right angles to the body.
Common Challenges
The genus requires fast, highly oxygenated, cool water over a rocky, biofilm-coated substrate. Because captive spawning of Beaufortia leveretti has not been recorded and its reproductive biology is poorly known, any breeding attempt is experimental and should aim to replicate the natural gravel-bottom mountain stream.