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Zebra Loach
Botia striata
Animalia›Chordata›Actinopterygii›Botiidae
📍 South Asia
The zebra loach has bold, narrow vertical stripes across its body. Smaller and more peaceful than many other botia loaches, it is suitable for community tanks and remains manageable in size. Like all loaches it is social and needs companions.
Care Guide
Diet
Zebra loaches are omnivores that require a varied diet of sinking pellets, live or frozen foods, and occasional vegetable matter. Feed high-quality sinking pellets as a staple 5-6 days per week, supplemented 2-3 times weekly with bloodworms, daphnia, or brine shrimp. They will also consume small snails and algae wafers, making them useful for pest control.
Behavior
Zebra loaches are social, peaceful bottom-dwellers that spend most of their time foraging along the substrate and exploring decorations. They are nocturnal and most active during evening hours, often hiding during the day. They produce audible clicking or squeaking sounds, especially when stressed or excited, and must be kept in groups of at least 5 to exhibit natural behavior and reduce stress.
Breeding
Breeding zebra loaches in captivity is difficult and rarely achieved in home aquariums. They require specific seasonal temperature drops and large, heavily planted tanks to trigger spawning. Most specimens in the hobby are wild-caught, and successful breeding requires expert knowledge of their natural habitat conditions.
Tank Mates
Small, peaceful mid-water swimmers that occupy different zones and have compatible temperature/pH needs
Peaceful schooling fish with similar water requirements; occupy mid-water zone without competing for bottom space
Peaceful invertebrates that share bottom-dwelling habits; large enough to avoid predation by loaches
Hardy plant that provides shelter and won't be uprooted by loach foraging behavior
Both are bottom-dwellers; monitor for territorial disputes, especially as plecos mature; ensure adequate hiding spaces
Common Diseases
Ich (Ichthyophthirius multifiliis)
White spots on body and fins, rapid breathing, rubbing against objects, lethargy
Raise temperature gradually to 28-30°C, perform daily 25% water changes, use aquarium salt (1 teaspoon per 5 gallons) or commercial ich treatment; treat for 7-10 days
Fin Rot
Frayed or deteriorating fins, discoloration at fin edges, lethargy
Improve water quality with frequent partial water changes, remove any sharp decorations, use antibacterial medication if severe; ensure ammonia and nitrite remain at 0 ppm
Bacterial Infection
Open sores, ulcers on body, cloudy eyes, loss of appetite, color fading
Perform 50% water change immediately, maintain pristine water conditions, use broad-spectrum antibiotic treatment; isolate if possible to prevent spread
Parasitic Infection (Flukes, Worms)
Excessive scratching, clamped fins, weight loss, visible parasites on gills or skin
Use anti-parasitic medication designed for loaches; perform water changes during treatment; quarantine affected fish if possible
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Quick Facts
- diet
- Omnivore – sinking pellets, snails, bloodworms, daphnia
- lifespan
- 8–12 years
- max size
- 9 cm (3.5 in)
- tank size
- 30 gallons minimum
- school size
- 5+
- temperament
- Peaceful, social
Water it likes
- ph
- 6.0–7.5
- ammonia
- 0 ppm
- nitrate
- <20 ppm
- hardness
- 3–12 dGH
- temperature
- 72–79°F (22–26°C)