Chinese golden zebra loach

Care at a glance

Overview

The Chinese golden zebra loach is an active, nosy bottom fish for a cool, subtropical tank. It is a fair choice once you have kept fish for a while.

Caring for the Chinese golden zebra loach

Keep Chinese golden zebra loaches in a group of four or more, in 37 gal (140 L) or larger. Give them smooth stones and rockwork to weave through as they patrol the floor.

An unheated or lightly heated tank suits them, at 64 to 77°F (18 to 25°C) and a pH of 6.5 to 7.5. Sustained tropical warmth wears this loach down. Give it some current and high oxygen.

Feed sinking foods and frozen fare, and it will take snails as well. The Chinese golden zebra loach is mostly peaceful, but choose its tank mates with care.

Good to know

Sinibotia pulchra belongs to the Chinese branch of the botiid family, and it is also sold as the golden zebra loach or Botia pulchra. Gold and olive bars alternate down its body. Like its relatives it carries the suborbital spine that botiids can raise when alarmed.

In the wild

The Chinese golden zebra loach comes from streams in Guangxi, China, and northern Vietnam. The water there runs clear and cooler than tropical norms.

Common questions

Related species

• 

  Sichuan golden loach

  Sinibotia reevesae

  4.3 in (11 cm) · 37 gal (140 L)

  4.3 in (11 cm)37 gal (140 L)64–77°F (18–25°C)

• 

  Yangtze golden loach

  Sinibotia superciliaris

  6.5 in (16.4 cm) · 53 gal (200 L)

  6.5 in (16.4 cm)53 gal (200 L)61–75°F (16–24°C)

• 

  Chinese tiger loach

  Sinibotia robusta

  7.1 in (18 cm) · 53 gal (200 L)

  7.1 in (18 cm)53 gal (200 L)64–79°F (18–26°C)

• 

  Spottail loach

  Yasuhikotakia caudipunctata

  4.3 in (11 cm) · 37 gal (140 L)

  4.3 in (11 cm)37 gal (140 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)

• 

  Zebra loach

  Botia striata

  3.5 in (9 cm) · 37 gal (140 L)

  3.5 in (9 cm)37 gal (140 L)70–79°F (21–26°C)

• 

  Skunk loach

  Yasuhikotakia morleti

  3.3 in (8.5 cm) · 37 gal (140 L)

  3.3 in (8.5 cm)37 gal (140 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)