Golden Zebra Loach (Botia Histrionica)
The Golden Zebra Loach is a peaceful, friendly, and extremely curious and are well suited for the community tank. They are a nightly species but will forage during the daytime if they are provided with several spots for them to hide as well as a heavy cover.
These species Have five full, sporadically shaped bars on the body that contain a small round spot at the lateral line and another on the ridge of the back. Their dorsal fins have one broken black band with some black at the base. The ventral, pectoral and anal fins each have two black bands with a black tip on each section. The fishes patterns can vary considerably depending on the geological area that they are collected.
Photos
Quick Facts | |
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Scientific Name | Botia Histrionica |
Other Names | Gold Zebra Loach, Asian Loach, Silver Striped Loach, Burmese Zebra Loach |
Classification | Actinopterygii |
Order | Cypriniformes |
Family | Cobitidae |
Genus | Botia |
Origins | China, Myanmar, Thailand |
Temperament | Peaceful |
Aquarium Level | Bottom |
Difficulty | Beginner - Intermediate |
Shoaling | No |
Best kept as | Groups 5+ |
Diet | Omnivore |
Reproduction | Egg-Layer |
Lifespan | up to 6 years |
Water Parameters | |
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Water Type | Freshwater |
PH | 6.4 - 7.6 |
GH | 5 - 10 |
Temperature | |
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76 - 84℉ 24.4 - 28.9℃ |
Feeding
In the home aquarium, the Golden Zebra Loach will readily accept most good quality dried foods such as granules, flakes and sinking pellets. These modern food products have been developed to provide all adequate nutrition to maintain your fish's health and dietary requirements.
Providing additional foodstuffs such as live, frozen, and freeze-dried meals such as bloodworm, daphnia, and tubifex once or twice a week will provide additional benefits to your fish's health and well-being but is not a must for this fish.
It should be noted that bloodworms should only be given as an occasional treat and should not be used as the staple diet as they are difficult for fish to digest and can potentially cause blockages.
This fish is an omnivore in the wild, meaning it will consume some vegetable matter. Although most modern fish foods take this into account and include them in their products, you can still supplement your fish's diet with blanched vegetables such as spinach, broccoli, and zucchini. Ensure you do not overfeed your fish and remove any leftovers the following day.
Sexual Dimorphism
It is relatively easy to differentiate the males from the females. Sexually mature females typically have a fuller body and a more rounded snout. In contrast, males have a more elongated nose with recognizably fleshier lips.