Ideally, the tank water should be turned over at least ten to 15 times per hour. For that reason, you should never introduce this species into an immature biological filter setup. The most important thing to note about the Zebra Loach is that these fish require well-oxygenated, pristine water. Striata Botia has been known to jump out of a tank, so be sure to use a cover slide and a tightly fitting lid on your aquarium. Remember to allow at least one gallon of water per inch of fish. For that reason, you will need a tank size of at least 30 gallons to house a collection of these fish, larger if you are thinking of adding more specimens to your collection. The Zebra Loach should be kept in groups of at least five fish. Care of the Zebra LoachĪlthough widely considered to be suitable for beginner hobbyists, the Zebra Loach does need to be cared for correctly if it is to achieve its long lifespan in the tank environment. The fish prefer to frequent the dimly lit, shaded areas beneath the forest canopy. The substrate in these areas is usually made up of fine gravel, sand, and leaf litter with a scattering of boulders and exposed areas of bedrock. The fish’s preferred habitat is slow-flowing waters, depending on the season. Botia striata are also found in Bangladesh in northern India, where they inhabit rivers and slow-moving streams.īecause of dwindling numbers in the wild population, the Zebra Loach appears on the IUCN red list as an endangered species. Sadly, the fish has a very limited range these days and is found in only four locations, since deforestation and pollution have caused the destruction of much of the species’ habitat. Origins and habitatīotia striata were first described in 1920 by Narayan Rao, who discovered the species living in Mysore in the Western Ghats mountain range in southern India. Zebra Loach Botia striata have a life expectancy of between eight and 15 years, growing to about four inches in length when mature. Juvenile and young fish often have a red nose, which fades as they mature. However, a female in breeding condition will be slightly rounder in shape than a male. The striata Botia has four pairs of barbels around its mouth that are used for detecting items of food on and in the substrate.ĭetermining the different sexes is almost impossible. The fish’s tail and fins are translucent with bands of brown spots along the tail. The Zebra’s bands have an inside white band that can be branched or straight. Striata, when translated, means striped, and the fish is so named because of its pattern of around nine, broad vertical bands of dark bluish-green that are set against a yellowish-green colored body. The Zebra Loach’s scientific name is Botia striata, and they belong to the Cobitidae family. The Zebra Loach is also known by the common names: In this guide, we introduce the Zebra Loach and provide you with all the information that you’ll need to ensure that your new pet thrives. These peaceful fish can live in smaller aquariums above 30 gallons, although they are intolerant of fluctuations in the tank water parameters. The Zebra Loach is an attractive, lively freshwater tropical fish that’s an excellent choice for a beginner hobbyist.
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