FishChecker

The Zebra Loach (Botia striata) is a delightful and active freshwater fish, highly prized for its captivating appearance and lively personality. Originating from India, these torpedo-shaped loaches typically reach a modest size of 3-4 inches (7-10 cm), making them suitable for a variety of community aquariums. Their most striking feature is their distinctive pattern of narrow, vertical, dark and light stripes that alternate along their body, resembling a zebra's coat, which can vary from a deep brown to an olive-gold. These stripes often extend into their fins, adding to their intricate beauty. Zebra Loaches are known for their playful and curious nature, often darting around the tank, exploring decor, and sometimes resting in unusual positions. They are highly social fish and thrive best in groups of five or more, where their schooling behavior can be observed, and their shyness is reduced. They prefer well-filtered, oxygen-rich water with a slight current and appreciate a tank densely planted with plenty of hiding spots among rocks, caves, and driftwood. As bottom-dwellers, they are excellent at sifting through substrate, helping to keep it clean, and are known for their appetite for small snails, making them a natural pest control solution. A varied diet of high-quality sinking pellets, flakes, and frozen or live foods such as bloodworms and brine shrimp will keep them healthy and vibrant.

Eats snails.