Studies on light color preferences of fishes based on different ecological situations are expected to provide an important theoretical basis for artificial population cultivation, field population conservation and habitat management. However, little research has been reported on the intra- and inter-specific differences in light preferences of sympatric species. Qinling lenok Brachymystax tsinlingensis, a threatened salmonid species endemic to the Qinling Mountain Range, is currently experiencing population decline and is a second-class state-protected wild animal in China Red List of Endangered Animals. It is land-locked and cold-water adapted, specifically occurring in Qinling streams together with Phoxinus lagowskii and has a certain degree of ecological niche overlap with it. This study aims to answer following scientific questions: (1) At the interspecific level, do sympatric species show convergent evolution in light color preference? (2) At the intraspecific level, does the effect of life history stage drive intraspecific light color preference differences and show similar patterns of intraspecific variation across sympatric species? (3) Since fish cluster differently at different life history stages, are fish light color preferences the same at individual and group test levels? Studies were conducted to determine the light preferences of B. tsinlingensis and its sympatric species (i.e. P. lagowskii) in different life history stages at the individual and population test levels, respectively, by using a homemade fish light color preference measuring device. The results showed that: (1) there were significant interspecific differences (P < 0.05) in light color preferences between B. tsinlingensis and P. lagowskii at the individual test level. B. tsinlingensis preferred blue and black zone at all life history stages, whereas P. lagowskii preferred black zone and showed no significantly regular preference for light colors other than black zone; (2) there were also significant interspecific differences (P < 0.05) in light color preferences between B. tsinlingensis and P. lagowskii at the group test level. B. tsinlingensis preferred blue and black zone at all life history stages, and the temporal dynamics of the number of individuals distributed in blue light areas tended to increase along with developmental status in shoaling B. tsinlingensis, while P. lagowskii preferred black zone and did not have a significantly regular preference for other light colors. Our findings suggest that: (1) sympatric species may still exhibit divergent adaptations to light color preferences due to the differences in their own habits and microenvironments; (2) there is some divergence in light color preferences of fish at different life history stages, but the degree of intraspecific variation would show different patterns depending on the degree of separation or mixing of populations at different life history stages; (3) the fish light color preferences are not identical at the individual and group test levels, so the research on fish light color preferences should clearly distinguish between the level of individual or group testing.