Beaufortia zebroida

Uneven narrow stripes on a yellow-brown hillstream loach with flattened paired fins.

The depressed head and forebody narrow toward the caudal peduncle. Natural colour ranges from brown-yellow to gold, with 8–15 narrow dark flank stripes of uneven length and width, sometimes reduced to dots, usually narrower than their gaps. The head is spotted or vermiculated; paired fins have clear edges with an inner dark arc.

Adult length: Up to 2.7 cm (standard length, without the tail fin)

Natural habitat: Native to small tributaries north of the middle and lower Red River and in the upper Shuikou–Zuo River system around the China–Vietnam border.

Lives in shallow rapid streams over smooth pebbles. Provide clean, oxygen-rich moving water.

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Appearance and identification

Compared with B. kweichowensis, narrow vertical stripes are more prominent, and a pinnate lower lip places it in the pingi group. Within that group, B. viridis has more uniform stripes and cyan-green colour, whereas many adult B. pingi have blurred midbody stripes. Check age, pattern and mouth characters together.

Floor and movement space

Supply several smooth attachment and feeding surfaces and resting areas outside continuous forceful current.

Aquarium environment

Keep oxygen-rich flow and mature grazing stones in planted layouts; attach plants where they do not obstruct attachment or circulation. Confirm that it is actually feeding.