Zebra loach

The zebra loach is a small freshwater bottom-dweller in the family Botiidae, endemic to fast-flowing forest streams of the Western Ghats in southern India. Its body is patterned with numerous alternating dark and light vertical bands, extending across the fins. It is a peaceful, social loach that must be kept in a group of at least five or six to feel secure and behave naturally. It prefers a well-oxygenated tank with gentle to moderate current, a soft substrate, and plenty of rocks, driftwood, and caves for shelter. It is a helpful natural predator of pest snails and forages actively along the bottom. It accepts sinking pellets, frozen bloodworms, and other small invertebrate foods. Being more peaceful and smaller than many botiid loaches, it makes a good community bottom-dweller for intermediate keepers who can maintain a stable, clean environment.