Family: Balitoridae
Lepturichthys fimbriata — a Balitoridae from southern Chinese mountain streams, peaceful grazer; squabbles are brief pushes. Reaches 12.1–17.7 cm; loosely social; crowding causes endless pushing. 18–26 °C.
Lepturichthys fimbriata, a member of the family Balitoridae, comes from southern Chinese mountain streams, where it inhabits fast-flowing mountain streams, clinging to rocks. Peaceful grazer; squabbles are brief pushes and algae and biofilm specialist; supplement with wafers, it grows to 12.1–17.7 cm and adapts well to a properly set-up aquarium in the 18–26 °C range. In a community tank it pairs well with Other cool-water stream fish.
Difficulty: moderate. Peaceful grazer; squabbles are brief pushes. Loosely social; crowding causes endless pushing.
Hold 18–26 °C and keep it stable — 18–26 °C typical for the family. Cool, highly oxygenated water.
Expect 12.1–17.7 cm as an adult, living bottom-dwelling. A 376 L tank or larger gives it room.
Algae and biofilm specialist; supplement with wafers. It forages naturally over bare rock and coarse gravel, so let some food reach the bottom.
Yes, with care. Peaceful grazer; squabbles are brief pushes — pair it with Other cool-water stream fish — Share the need for oxygen and flow and skip Large aggressive cichlids — Disrupt the calm grazing regime.
Its home waters are southern Chinese mountain streams — fast-flowing mountain streams, clinging to rocks, with very strong, highly oxygenated current.
In the aquarium: breeding rarely reported in aquaria; presumed egg-scatterer. Difficult to distinguish.