A rare golden loach was recently caught in Qingxin County in the north of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou Daily reported.

The 12-centimetre-long fish has red eyes and three pairs of beards.

A local resident claimed to have caught the fish in a mountain stream and said that he would now keep it as a pet.

Experts said that it is unusual to find this species of fish in China, noting that only three golden loaches have been caught in the nation in recent years.