Aphyocypris pulchrilineata – (~3.5 cm max)

Atiny, benthopelagic East Asian minnow with a compressed body. It lacks a lateral line and features a central black stripe along its flanks. Found in subtropical, shallow, turbid streams with low flow and dense aquatic plant cover in the Guangxi region of China (Pearl River system) 

Care Guidelines:

• Tank Setup:

  • Size: 40–50 L (~10–13 gallons) minimum for small groups

  • Substrate: Fine gravel or sand

  • Decor: Dense planting, some driftwood or roots; mimic soft-stream conditions

  • Flow: Gentle water movement to simulate its native habitat

• Water Conditions:

  • Temperature: Ideally ≥ 15 °C (mildly cool to moderate)

  • pH & hardness: Soft to moderate; aim for stable, clean water

• Diet:

  • Omnivorous: small commercial flakes or micro-pellets, supplemented occasionally with frozen or live foods like daphnia, brine shrimp, or bloodworms

• Behavior & Tankmates:

  • Peaceful and likely shoaling (as with close relatives)

  • Best kept in small groups (5–8+) with other small, non-aggressive species

• Breeding:

  • Very limited information available on captive breeding

  • It presumably scatters eggs like its relatives; densely planted setup may support spawning

Conservation Status:
Currently listed as Near Threatened. Endemic to a limited region, with few records outside original type locality