Zebra loach
Botia striata
- Tank length
- 90 cm35 in
- Group
- 5+
- Temperature
- 23–26 °C73–79 °F
- pH
- 6–8
- Adult size
- 6.5 cm2.6 in
- Lifespan
- 8–15 yrs
One of the milder botiid loaches; a group of five or more in a tank with caves keeps it relaxed.One of the milder botiid loaches; a group of five or more in a tank with caves keeps it relaxed.
Tank sizes
Good tankmates
Avoid with
- Irian Jaya rainbowfish
No shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
- African knifefish
African knifefish may eat Zebra loachAfrican knifefish may eat Zebra loach
- African pike
African pike may eat Zebra loachAfrican pike may eat Zebra loach
- Alligator gar
Alligator gar may eat Zebra loachAlligator gar may eat Zebra loach
- Altum angelfish
No shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
- Antenna ray
Antenna ray may eat Zebra loachAntenna ray may eat Zebra loach
- Arapaima
Arapaima may eat Zebra loachArapaima may eat Zebra loach
- Asian arowana
Asian arowana may eat Zebra loachAsian arowana may eat Zebra loach
- Asian upside-down catfish
Asian upside down catfish may eat Zebra loachAsian upside down catfish may eat Zebra loach
- Australian pearl arowana
Australian pearl arowana may eat Zebra loachAustralian pearl arowana may eat Zebra loach
- Barred bichir
Barred bichir may eat Zebra loachBarred bichir may eat Zebra loach
- Black bullhead
Black bullhead may eat Zebra loachBlack bullhead may eat Zebra loach
Data used by the planner
| Temperature | 23–26 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04; agrees with FishBase (fishbase.se), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
|---|---|---|
| pH | 6–8 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04; agrees with FishBase (fishbase.se), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
| Hardness (dGH) | 5–15 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04; agrees with FishBase (fishbase.se), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
| Origin | Western Ghats, India | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Beginner friendly | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Care level | moderate | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Activity | active | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Swimming level | bottom | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Temperament | peaceful | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Nips fins | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Long fins | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Territorial | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Lives in groups | Yes | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Minimum group | 5 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Diet | omnivore | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Lifespan (years) | 8–15 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Months to adult size | 15 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Safe with plants | Yes | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Minimum tank length | 90 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |