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No federal permit to keep

Acrossocheilus beijiangensis

Acrossocheilus beijiangensis

Fishes › Carp, barbs, minnows, loaches (Cypriniformes) › Cyprinidae (Carps and barbs)

Acrossocheilus beijiangensis is a species of ray-finned fish in the genus Acrossocheilus from southern China. Its common name is the thick-lipped barbel.

Aquarium hobby
Experience: Intermediate
FamilyCarps and barbs
Adult lengthup to 5.2 in
WaterFreshwater, brackish
HabitatLives in freshwater and brackish water

Care at a glance

Species-specific aquarium care

  • Tank: At least 24 in long and 12 in front to back for one adult (adults commonly reach about 5.2 in / 13.1 cm).
  • Water: Freshwater (tolerates brackish).
  • Layout: Uses both the bottom and open water: give open swimming space plus cover near the substrate.

Calculated from this species' own FishBase record: tank size from its typical adult length and swimming zone, water values from its recorded ranges. The group guide below fills in general care.

Care guide

Species care notes

  • Behaviour: a shoaling fish best kept in a group of six or more; suited to a community tank.
  • Difficulty: Moderate (Seriously Fish rating).

Short excerpts from the species profile:

  • Diet: “Wild fish are known to feed on small, benthic invertebrates and graze biofilm from rocks and other solid surfaces.”

From the Seriously Fish profile for this species, which has the full habitat, maintenance, diet, behaviour and breeding write-up 167

Group care guide

Carps and barbs

Applies to most species in this group. Habitat: The listed barbs and freshwater sharks occupy Asian streams, rivers and floodplain waters, with bala sharks also using natural lakes. Individual species can differ, so compare with the species numbers above and the linked sources.

Level 3 is an editorial rating reflecting large and territorial species. Temperature applies to tiger barbs and red-tailed black sharks; bala sharks are sourced at 68–82.4°F. Bala sharks reach about 35 cm and need very large quarters. Epalzeorhynchos are not managed like shoaling barbs. Tinfoil and Denison barbs, gold barbs and rainbow sharks require species-specific adult-size and water assessments; the tiger-barb minimum is not a family minimum.

Housing & setup

  • Tiger barbs need a base at least 80 × 30 cm (about 31 × 12 inches), with vegetation and driftwood cover.
  • Adult bala shark groups need a base at least 240 × 60 cm (about 96 × 24 inches), ample open swimming space and a heavy, tight lid.
  • Red-tailed black sharks need a base at least 120 × 45 cm (about 48 × 18 inches), with rocky refuges.
  • Use efficient filtration, water movement and high oxygenation for riverine bala and red-tailed sharks.

Sources 922923924925

Climate & lighting

Water68–78.8°F

Sources 922923924925

Diet

  • Quality flakes or granules containing plant material.
  • Live or frozen Daphnia, Artemia and bloodworms.
  • For larger bala sharks: chopped earthworms, prawns or mussels.
  • For bala sharks: shelled peas, blanched courgette or spinach.

Sources 922923924925

Social life

  • Keep tiger barbs in at least 8–10 and bala sharks in at least five. Avoid timid or long-finned companions for tiger barbs. Red-tailed black sharks become territorial toward similar-looking fishes.

Sources 922923924925

Health watch

  • Ammonia toxicity.
  • Nutritional deficiencies.

Sources 922923924925

Understanding the animal

About this animal

About this animal

It can reach the length of 13.1 cm (5.2 in).

Quoted from the Wikipedia article “Acrossocheilus beijiangensis” (CC BY-SA 4.0) 174

In the wild

In the wild

From this species’ own FishBase record (habitat, bottom type, water and breeding data), not its family. Good care copies these conditions.1

Where it livesLives in freshwater and brackish water, in rivers and streams. Uses both the bottom and open water. Utilized for food and ornamental fish keeping.
Water it lives inFreshwater / brackish water.
ClimateSubtropical climate.

What this means for care

  • It tolerates or needs brackish water; check salinity needs before setup.
  1. FishBase species summary: Acrossocheilus beijiangensis
Native climate (measured)

Native climate (measured)

Warm-season highsabout 87°F (up to 88°F in the hottest sampled areas)
Cool-season lowsabout 52°F (down to 38°F in the coldest sampled areas)
Average temperature63–72°F across sampled records
Relative humidity77–79% on average (driest month about 66%)
Rainfallabout 1875 mm a year

Measured at 19 wild occurrence records sampled against WorldClim 2.1 climate data (1970–2000 averages). Air conditions in the range are ecological context, not enclosure settings: microhabitats such as burrows, leaf litter or basking rocks can be cooler, warmer or more humid.

From the sources

From the sources

Quoted from the matching sections of reputable sources for this exact species. Specialist databases are used first; Wikipedia (community-edited, CC BY-SA 4.0) only fills gaps. Other sources are short credited quotes.

Where it livesHome ranges Population dynamics Growth parameters Max. ages / sizes Length-weight rel. Length-frequencies Mass conversion Recruitment Abundance Life cycle Reproduction Maturity Maturity/Gills rel. — FishBase
BiologyUtilized for food and ornamental fish keeping. — FishBase

Data and studies

The numbers

The numbers

Each bar is what one source reports. Where several sources weigh in, the dashed gold band marks their average.

Adult length

Average of sources5.2in
FishBase 1645.2
Seriously Fish species profiles 1675.2

Maximum recorded length. Measured as standard length (snout to the base of the tail, not counting the tail fin). Fish in home aquariums often stay smaller than wild records.

Sources for this sheet

  1. FishBase (Froese & Pauly, eds.), version 24.07 Peer-reviewed researchThe global scientific database on fishes, maintained by a consortium of research institutions; every value is referenced.
  2. Seriously Fish species profiles Experienced keeper or breederLong-running aquarium reference written and peer-checked by experienced fishkeepers and ichthyologists; each profile covers habitat, tank size, water, diet, behaviour and breeding.
  3. Seriously Fish — Puntigrus tetrazona Experienced keeper or breederAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
  4. Seriously Fish — Balantiocheilos melanopterus Experienced keeper or breederAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
  5. Seriously Fish — Epalzeorhynchos bicolor Experienced keeper or breederAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
  6. Merck Veterinary Manual — Disorders and Diseases of Fish Zoo, university or veterinaryAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
  7. Wikipedia (species article) Community referenceFree encyclopedia; useful overviews with their own citations. Intro text is quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0.
  8. iNaturalist (captive observations) Community referenceCommunity observation platform run by the California Academy of Sciences and National Geographic; observations marked captive show animals living in homes, zoos and aquariums.

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