Leptobotia elongata, the imperial flower loach, elongate loach or royal clown loach, is a species of botiid fish found in flowing water in the upper and middle Yangtze basin in China.[1] [2] It is the largest species in the family, reaching up to 50cm (20inches) in length and 3kg (07lb) in weight.[3] Formerly common, the numbers of this vulnerable species have declined because of overfishing, dams (limiting its breeding migration), habitat loss and pollution. The species is bred in captivity and a stocking project has been in place since 2010.[3] [4] It is sometimes kept in aquariums, but require a very large tank.[1] [2]
Adults migrate upstream to spawn between March and May. They have been recorded feeding on fish, shrimp, gammarids, benthic invertebrates, aquatic insect larvae, mollusks, plankton and phytodetritus.[3] The feeding preference depends on size: Individuals less than 11cm (04inches) long mainly take benthic invertebrates and aquatic insect larvae, while larger individuals mainly feed on fish and shrimp.[3]