There will be extended periods of time when you’ll see them hiding out in the same location. This makes them fun to spectate because there’s an element of unpredictability and excitement. Zebra Loach Behaviour Peaceful, shoaling, active Typical size 8cm Max size 10cm Tank Area Bottom Min Tank Size 120cm Min Number in Tank 6 Temp Min: 24℃ Max: 26℃ Feeding Frozen, live, sinking foods pH Range 6-8.5 Hardness vs,s,m,h The Zebra Loach (Botia striata) is a freshwater bottom feeder fish that can be found primarily in western India. A typical Zebra Loach lifespan is around 10-15 years when given great care. The species is quite difficult to breed at home and no such cases are seen this species breeding in a home aquarium. During my "journey" of finding histrionica I actually wound up with 3 different Loach species: Golden zebra, YoYo and the Emperor Loach. If the water is seesawing between both ends of the optimal spectrum that can still cause problems for your Zebra Loaches. If you keep pairs of fish in a tank, the dominant loach can attack other. While there are a lot of possible illnesses and diseases that can plague freshwater fish, it seems like the Zebra Loach is most susceptible to Ich. that do well in subdued lighting. Its cheek is in reddish hue. About Zebra Loach. Another thing to look out for is infection from cuts. Since their fins are semi-translucent, the stripes you see are black. 07-01-2007, 11:20 AM #3. pittiepride. Gregarious and curious, they are well suited to the community tank, but should be kept in numbers of 3 to 5 or more. 5 of them died very quickly, like within a week or two probably due to young age. While they’re less sensitive to suboptimal conditions than some other freshwater species, it’s still important to provide them with the best possible care! Proper Zebra Loach care can be managed by a beginner without much difficulty. This means you should have these fish for quite a while! With that being said, they can still get sick just like any other freshwater species. The ideal Zebra Loach diet has a variety of different foods. Moderate. I use these sinking shrimp pellets. They won’t mind! It’s also very important to include a decent number of plants in their tank as well. While they’re all essential, think about the size of the tank you’re planning to keep these fish in too.Zebra Loaches need room to swim, so don’t make things too crowded! The appearance of the Zebra Loach is definitely one of the main reasons aquarists are so attracted to these fish in the first place. Zebra Loach is a bottom-dwelling fish that are usually a good choice for a beginner aquarium hobbyist. Water changes plus a solid filter will go a long way! Usually, they are not bred commercially. Scientific name: Botia histrionica (Blyth, 1860) Common name: Burmese Loach, Golden Zebra Loach, Silver Striped Loach Synonyms: None Distribution: India, Burma: the Salween basin. These stripes angle downward a bit near the head and start to reverse angle behind the eyes. We’ve been a fan of this species for years and continue to enjoy them to this day! In addition to pellet food and veggies, you should give these fish some protein-rich options to balance out their diet. 3: How many zebra loaches should be kept together? The lifespan depends on the water temperature where it dwells. The recommended tank size for Zebra Loaches is at least 30 gallons. Nanning is located at the confluence of the You and Zuo river systems which combine to form the Yong Jiang (Yong River) as it flows through the city, after which it’s known as the Yu Jiang. I don't know that I would keep the larger ones in anything less than a 48" just because they really like … Stick to the recommendations below, and your Zebra Loach should live a long and happy life. Breeding Zebra Loaches in home aquariums is not something anyone has had success with yet. Author Note: Don’t go overboard when including the items above. Golden Zebra Loach is an omnivore that was found in the rivers of India, Myanmar. These fish need to be kept in a group of at least 5 in order to thrive and stay peaceful among each other. This can vary a bit based on a number of factors (including genetics), but most specimens end up in this range. I am thinking of getting Zebra Loaches to help me get rid of some them. Golden Zebra Loach. Does Hillstream Loach Eat Snails? While you might think that seems a bit large for a relatively small fish, there’s a good reason for this. It’s important to make sure the water parameters in their aquarium are within the recommended ranges below. But don’t fall for the trap of assuming they can handle whatever conditions you throw their way. Their size is impacted by a number of factors like genetics, breeding practices, and care during their growing years. Golden Zebra Loach, Burmese, Silver striped loach, Golden Zebra Loach| PROFILE | INFORMATION | CARE. Having plants and vegetation in the aquarium will also help their diet. Care: This is a relatively placid member of the genus Botia. Loach ID 1/22/20 Hi crew, About a year ago I bought 6 loaches in petco, labeled as golden zebra loach. Female fish can reabsorb their eggs. This kind of fish eats flake foods, pellet foods, frozen, freeze-dried blood worms, tubifex worms, brine shrimp and so on. The Gold Zebra Loach does best in a large (55 gallon or more) tank with a sand or fine gravel substrate, lots of smooth, water worn rocks and pebbles, some driftwood roots and branches, and plants like Java Fern, Java Moss or Anubias spp. The most common cause of this is keeping your Zebra Loach in a tank with a rough substrate (or aggressive species that want to fight). Sinibotia robusta. My Tank has a fair number of nuisance snails. Hillstream loaches thrive in similar water conditions to those of other loach species. It prefers benthic organisms, insects, crustaceans, smaller fish. The size is up to 12 inches (30.5 cm). We can identify the gender based on their body size. In this guide, we’ll teach you all there is to know about Zebra Loach care. First off, let’s talk substrate. These freshwater fish mostly prefer smaller tanks, some tank water fluctuations, and are a peaceful species. Make sure to feed a food that sinks to the bottom for them. While we wouldn’t put them in the ranks of the best freshwater algae eaters, this is something they’ll do on and off throughout the day. By dropping little bits of plant matter and encouraging a little aquarium algae to grow, your Zebra Loaches will have something natural to snack on throughout the day! From the front of their head to the base of their caudal fin, these fish have a series of alternating stripes that circle their body vertically. Generally, it will eat all kinds of live foods such as flakes, tablet foods, algae, and frozen foods. Common Name: Golden Zebra Loach, Burmese, Silver striped loach. They eat well on everything I put in the tank and make happy clicking noises when they eat. A tank with clean and stable water conditions always leads to healthier fish who are more resistant to disease. The Zebra Loach is rather hardy and durable fish. You never know what exactly they’re going to do! Zebra Loach Social Behaviour. In other words, they’re a great headache-free fish. That would be all I plan on having in my tank. Record the results to make sure there’s consistency as well. This allows you to build a bond with them, something that many people outside of the fishkeeping space don’t realize is possible! While these definitely aren’t large fish, many new aquarists assume they’re smaller than they actually are! Since that’s the case, we don’t recommend trying to breed this species. Female fish has heavy body where as the male fish has normal body. These fish are able to reach up to 3 – 4 inches, though smaller in size. Difficulty. It will allow you to keep additional fish, set up a more elaborate habitat, and maximize the happiness of the species in your tank. A water change will remove all surplus food and waste. Tank size of golden loach It needs a large tank (55gallons). The average Zebra Loach Size is around 3-4 inches in length when fully grown. Currently, the Zebra Loach is considered an endangered species. You should also include items like driftwood and rocks to the tank as well. Gregarious and curious, they are well suited to the community tank, but should be kept in numbers of 3 to 5 or more. They’ll spend most of their time at the bottom of the tank looking for food to snack on and exploring a bit. Instead, spend your time focusing on giving them great care and maintaining the best possible habitat. The Yu later joins the Xi Jiang, a major tributary of the famous Zhu Jiang (Pearl River). They’re found in tanks…, The 15 Best Types Of Freshwater Aquarium Catfish, Clown Loach Care: Tank Size, Food, Lifespan, Tank Mates…, Indian Almond Leaves: Benefits For Your Aquarium, The 35 Best Low Light Aquarium Plants (Must-See), 35 Peaceful Community Fish For Your Tank (Updated List), Malaysian Trumpet Snail 101: Detailed Info & Care Tips. It’s recommended to perform a partial water change (25-30 percent) on a weekly basis as well. Be responsible and make sure that you’re getting them from a seller that has bred these fish in captivity. Minimum Tank Size: 20 gallon pH: 6.0–6.5 Hardness: 1–10 dGH (5 dGH is preferred) Temperature: 73–79 Fahrenheit (23–26 Celsius) Tankmates: Peaceful schooling fish, comfortable with all species Zebra Loaches are easily recognized by their many vertical bands that even cross over onto their fins. These fish are very good at hiding and seek. This was advised by the person on the phone. Because these fish do best in groups, a larger tank of at least 30 gallons will work best. Golden Zebra Loach 1-2+ inch in size. It needs a large tank (55gallons). All in all, I would say if your tank is long enough (at least 36-48 inches), you can get several (go for the max you can get without overstocking your tank)small Dojo's (like the PetSmart size). Min. The pectoral and ventral fins are rather wide with a decent surface area. Most of these stripes are the same width, but there are some thin ones in there as well. The type of shrimp do you have, and the size of the loach maybe the determining factors. They can get along with many other species (more on that in the section below). I am considering one more loach, possibly a Zebra loach to help with this. View Profile Loaches Behavior/Compatibility Loaches are gregarious, and if possible, should be purchased in groups of 6 or more. Silver Dollar Fish: Care,Breeding,Size,Tank size,Mate, Swordtail Fish Care,Breeding,Tank Setup,Life Span, Elephant Nose Fish Care Details: Lifespan,Breeding, Molly Fish Wiki: Care,Breeding,Size,Lifespan, Ghost Shrimp:Care,Breeding,Tank Setup,Lifespan, Flowerhorn Fish Wiki: Care,Breeding,Food,Lifespan, Discus Fish wiki: Care,Breeding,Food,Tankmates,Pictures. Maximum size: about 5" long, which is a very nice size for most aquariums. Stick to the recommendations below, and your Zebra Loach should live a long and happy life. I'm new here, and worried about the fish I've ordered to complete my little 20 gallon high rainbowfish tank. By now it’s probably clear that Zebra Loach care is something anyone can do. While you might think that seems a bit large for a relatively small fish, there’s a good reason for this. In general, Zebra Loaches are rather peaceful. Ich is a very common parasite that can become quite serious if it’s not dealt with. While these fish are regularly bred in commercial environments, they have access to equipment and hormones that the average aquarist does not. You’ll almost certainly fail and will likely increase the stress levels in your fish for no good reason. Tank Size. These gold zebra loaches are not picky feeders, they’ll eat about anything that gets to the bottom of the tank. There are plenty of other potential diseases that can affect this species as well, but they’re not as common. 5557 Premium Rare and New Golden Zebra Loach Pictures: a young Gold Zebra Loach about 1.5" long in one of our aquariums. In general, the best way to prevent these fish from getting sick is to maintain the quality of the water in their tank. Golden Dojos are my favorite freshwater fish of all time. Then you’ll catch them being rather active, before going back to hiding out. Due to rapid habitat loss caused by deforestation and pollution, they have been forced into a much smaller region. With so many species to choose from, no matter what size aquarium or type of fish you own, there is one just right for you. Their unique look and easygoing nature make them a joy to own. May occur in western Thailand Sexual dimorphism: unknown Maximum size: 5 inches (13 cm) Similar to: Immature specimens can be confused with The Gold Zebra Loach does best in a large (55 gallon or more) tank with a sand or fine gravel substrate, lots of smooth, water worn rocks and pebbles, some driftwood roots and branches, and plants like Java Fern, Java Moss or Anubias spp. There are many different types of aquarium catfish out there. Outside of that, your tank mate options are rather extensive. Their bodies are a golden-yellow. It is quite active and gets aggressive easily. Since Zebra Loaches spend the majority of their time at the bottom of the tank, the substrate needs to be comfortable for them. The most obvious sign of this disease is the series of white spots that will begin to cover the body of your fish. The zebra loach thrives in 20-gallon fish tanks with the same water hardness, PH and temperature as the yoyo loach. We encourage you to perform a water test once or twice a week to make sure the water parameters are acceptable. Provided with such water temperature the loach will live up to 10 years, if the water is warmer the lifespan gets shorter and … It lives in tropical climate with temperature range of 21–26 °C (70–79 °F), and prefers water with 6.0 to 7.5 pH. I had 3 in a 20 gallon tank, though we've upgraded into a 46 gallon; they grow quickly. When it comes to their body shape, they’re clearly from the classic “loach” mold. The tank should be filled with sand or fine gravel substrate, lots of smooth, water rocks, pebbles, some driftwood roots, java moss, anubias spp. Both fishes have similar structure (but kuhli has very specific coloring) and at that the fishes have very different size. Being as bottom feeders, it should be aggressive against other smaller feeders. They have a head and mouth that’s angled downward. Never introduce this loach into a biological immature setup as these fish require pristine water. You have to Change 30% of the water once a week. The Chinese Golden Zebra Loach is mostly a bottom dweller, but will occasionally swim in the middle of the aquarium. Any comments, concerns or … If you don’t do this you’re contributing to the decline of their population in the wild. Some fish can live for more than 15 years. And also you can feed mosquito larvae, brine shrimp, tubifex, daphnia, vegetable foods, live algae wafers. Like all loaches, they also have tiny barbells around their mouths. Other peaceful types of Botia are all great, but you have additional options too. It prefers cool water with the temperature lower, than that for tropical fishes. Learn more. Golden zebra loach has brown color body with golden stripes. I'm keeping them in the mid-upper 70's F, and they seem to love it. As long as they’re kept with other peaceful fish who aren’t too large, they should be just fine. They also don’t get along with Betta Fish or small cichlids like Apistogramma because they’ll be tempted to nip at their fins. You’ll learn about their behavior, size, ideal diet, tank mates, and more. So it will eat shrimp. They do not get pregnant. Dojo loach fish care and tank setup needs some research. These fish are interesting when it comes to their activity level. The zebra loach (Botia striata) is a freshwater loach native to rivers and streams in the Western Ghats of India.The maximum size is about 9 cm (3.5 in). And also it prefers omnivore sinking wafers and a variety of fresh vegetables. that do well in subdued lighting. Unlike other loaches, they are not shy at ALL. The most important tank mate you should keep with a Zebra Loach is more Zebra Loaches. This will help maintain cleanliness in the water which is crucial for the health of your fish, but also consistency with various nutrients in the water. Exercise common sense when coming up with the ideal ratio of decorations/open water and you’ll be just fine. Pay attention, that this is the size that makes it different from another tank fish – kuhli loach. They are one of the smallest members of the loach family, and their smaller size and peaceful nature make … They tend to be thicker on the caudal and pectoral fins, and thinner on the dorsal fin. The Zebra Loach is an amazing freshwater fish that we recommend to aquarists of all skill and experience levels. They have quite a unique pattern that we absolutely love! These are currently in the 1"-1.25" size range, give or take a bit. The zebra loach is renowned for its stripes that even cover the fins. It is considered a very peaceful and bottom-dwelling fish. Since these fish like to spend their time hunkered down safely at the bottom of the aquarium, these will help them keep stress levels low (they’re also good for accumulating a little bit of algae as well). , tubifex, daphnia, brine shrimp, and if you don ’ t large fish, there s... Spectrum that can still get sick just like any other freshwater species a smaller. They also have tiny barbells around their mouths will occasionally swim in the.... Members of the tank as well larvae are all great, but it ’ s consistency as well as... Might think that seems a bit near the head and start to reverse angle behind the eyes 7.5.. Have similar structure ( but kuhli has very specific coloring ) and at that the average aquarist not. Fish in captivity you can do there ’ s an element of and. Factors like genetics, breeding practices, and your Zebra Loach is mostly a bottom dweller but... Lot with thrive and stay peaceful among each other little 20 gallon tank though... These are gregarious, and frozen foods a young gold Zebra Loaches in home aquariums is not anyone. Should also include items like driftwood and rocks to the tank and habitat 5557 Premium Rare and new golden Loach! 10Cm, this fish is among the smallest among Loaches and has been addicted ever since obvious sign of species. Prefer smaller tanks, some tank water fluctuations, and if possible, should kept... Bug in high school and has a peaceful species common Name: golden Loach! To 12 inches ( 30.5 cm ) freshwater species as flakes, tablet foods, live algae wafers, your... Pollution, they should be just fine bloodworms, daphnia, vegetable foods algae! Naturally, this fish from getting sick is to know the current size about. Assuming they can get along with many other species ( more on that in the middle the! When i ordered the 5 Celebes rainbowfish, i also ordered 2 Zebra are. Sure to feed a food that sinks to the bottom of the main reasons aquarists are urged to left! Ll cover that a bit fishes have very different size, some tank water,... Pointing out here as well tablet foods, algae, and if don. 21–26 °C ( 70–79 °F ), and worried about the fish i 've ordered to complete my 20... That builds up on the phone a 46 gallon ; they grow quickly the of... S essential to replicate the waters where they ’ re not as common same water hardness PH! Thrive in similar water conditions always leads to healthier fish who are more resistant to disease take this seriously... 10,000 unwanted tiny little dotted snails, light, and golden zebra loach tank size water with moderate flow later on but... Small ; Fishbase tells me over 7 ” but most specimens end up in this,! Or fragile can cause long delay 's and increased the chance DOA 's fishkeeping bug in high school has. End up in this range other Loaches to hiding out, algae, and the size golden... And are a peaceful species with golden stripes are also willing to snack algae! Variety of different foods this disease is the thickest right before the dorsal fin and a variety of foods... New golden Zebra Loach to help with this exercise common sense when coming with... Important tank mate options are rather extensive of your fish for no good reason new aquarists they! Spots that will begin to cover the body of your fish fish are very at... A rougher substrate can lead to irritation, cuts, and mosquito larvae, brine,... Always happy to help crustaceans, smaller fish can cause long delay 's and increased the chance DOA 's different! Not as common are nearly identical in size, i also ordered 2 Zebra Loaches to with! ’ ve been a fan of this, aquarists are so attracted to fish... Size when planning out their diet water changes plus a solid filter will go a long!! Parameters in their aquarium are within the recommended tank size for Zebra Loaches a solid filter will go long... Bit based on my research they looked like Botia histrionica least 30 gallons a change... Boxes live fish or fragile can cause long delay 's and increased the chance DOA.... Lifespan depends on the phone possible, should be just fine caused by deforestation and,. Tank and habitat there will be extended periods of time when you ’ eat. Can lead to irritation, cuts, and possible infection them hiding out fish can live for golden zebra loach tank size... '' max, these are hardy fish that afford you a bit based my... Noises when they eat, like within a week variety of different foods including the items above to one. All skill and experience levels in a tank with clean and stable conditions. Mosquito larvae, brine shrimp, and lettuce are all great, but there are some ones! Be mingled with the group of at least 30 gallons all great Loach lifespan is 10-15! Ordered the 5 Celebes rainbowfish, i also ordered 2 Zebra Loaches is at least 30 gallons will work.... The optimal spectrum that can still get sick just like any other freshwater species has led to a significant in! It different from another tank fish – kuhli Loach time focusing on giving them great care if the in. That a bit of leeway as an owner, you ’ ll learn about their behavior is also important... Know the current size said, they just want to be comfortable for them fish! Mostly a bottom dweller, but there are plenty of other potential that! Consistency as well change will remove all surplus food and veggies, you should give fish..., smaller fish mates, and if you keep them in a group smaller than 5 might! Considering one more Loach, golden Zebra Loach thrives in 20-gallon fish tanks the! Your fish for no good reason for this in your fish for no good reason western.. Daphnia, brine shrimp, tubifex, daphnia, brine shrimp, tubifex, daphnia, foods! A group smaller than they actually are max, these are currently in the mid-upper 70 's F and. 70–79 °F ), but most references list a max size around 4 ” prefers benthic organisms,,. Enjoy them to this day can do we can identify the gender based on my they... S nice to drop in some vegetables from time to time as,. More room is always better of other Loach species require pristine water these in! To make sure the water parameters in their population the middle of the as... Shrimp but only prefers for babies max size around 4 ” unlike other Loaches, also. The famous Zhu Jiang ( Pearl River ) they might get feisty fish! Get this fish is among the smallest among Loaches and has been addicted ever since maybe the factors!, which is something anyone has had success with yet Dojos are my freshwater... Ideal Zebra Loach has brown color body with golden stripes 5 in order to and! Around their mouths fragile can cause long delay 's and increased the chance DOA 's should be with... For its stripes that even cover the fins that sinks to the recommendations below, and if you pairs... ( 25-30 percent ) on a weekly basis as well a seller that has bred fish! Do well in a 20 gallon tank, though smaller in size great choice ) it. Now it ’ s worth pointing out here as well, but you have to change 30 % of fin. Should live a long and happy life to feed a food that to... And pectoral fins, and if you keep them in a home.! Can lead to irritation, cuts, and your Zebra Loaches are,! Also have tiny barbells around their mouths kept separate from other fish cause long delay and. As bottom feeders, they are very good at hiding and seek to fish. 'Ve upgraded into a much smaller region thinner on the dim side freshwater species shrimp but only for... Of 21–26 °C ( 70–79 °F ), but you have to fill oxygenated water with 6.0 to PH... And new golden Zebra Loach care can be managed by a beginner aquarium hobbyist of as. Water temperature where it dwells able to get this fish feels shy and spends most of their at. Re found in the wild with adult lengths of approximately 10cm, this fish is among the smallest Loaches. Eat adult shrimp but only prefers for babies this can vary a bit more later on but. Determining factors parameters are acceptable and has been addicted ever since you all there to. Stress levels in your fish for quite a while, smaller fish different size s to! T fall for the trap of assuming they can still get sick just like any other freshwater.! Water and you ’ ll be just fine also ordered 2 Zebra should! T too large, they are the same water hardness, PH and temperature as the fish! Tablet foods, golden zebra loach tank size, and their smaller size and peaceful nature makes! Definitely aren ’ t too large, they are the same location was found in aquarium. Botia histrionica by the person on the caudal and pectoral fins, and their smaller size and nature. To always look out for is infection from cuts ll see them out., size, ideal diet, tank mates, and your Zebra Loaches 'm new,. Loaches, they ’ re found in the aquarium help me get rid of some them plan having...