Zebra Loach - Temperament?

[Stephanie87]

Hi!!

Thinking of purchasing some zebra loach to sort out my snail problem.
Will they be compatible with my other fish? I currently have honey gourami, white tip tetra and platy.
I also have shrimp.....are they likely to eat the shrimp as well as the snails?? x

 

[char la]

Im guessing your talking about Botia striata, theyre fantastic loaches, very peaceful. it really depends on the size of your shrimps whether to trust striata with them. I, myself wouldnt trust them with small shrimps such as cherrys or young amano (Caridina multidentata), but they should be ok with adult amano and rock mountain species (Atyopsis sp.)

 

[onebto]

There are plenty of other ways of dealing with snail problems than buying loaches. Infact getting Loach does not garunte that they are going to sort your snail problem out a friend of mine bought some Clown Loach one because he liked them and two to sort out his snail issue and the Clowns will not touch the snails

Fussy or stupid Clowns

All my loaches Clowns , Zebra's and YoYo's love the snails

.

Saying that though Zebra's are a great Loach and very strikeing to and hopefully they will sort your snail issues out but I think there is a good chance that some of your smaller shrimp may end up as casualtys of the zebras and once the Zebra get a taste who know's

but they will be fine with your other fish as they are very peaceful they may squabble between themselves over a tasty morcel from time to time.

Just remember if you are going to get Zebra loach make sure you have a big enough tank for them get at least 4 of them 6 would be better and learn how to look after them.

One tip they love muscles, Hikari sinking wafers and cucumber

along with lots of other foods they do like and need a variety in there diet. Have plenty of caves for them to hide in the funny thing is the more places you have for them to hide in the more they feel secure and the more time they spend out in the open crazy I know but it works with most loaches

.



Regards onebto.

 

[Carlovel1]

Hi!!

Thinking of purchasing some zebra loach to sort out my snail problem.
Will they be compatible with my other fish? I currently have honey gourami, white tip tetra and platy.
I also have shrimp.....are they likely to eat the shrimp as well as the snails?? x

Hi stephanie.

Just read your tank is 28L. This is too small for any loach. And you seem overstocked too. I'd recommend you get rid of some fish and then add 1 Assassin snail.

 

[onebto]

Ah yes good spot carl, a 28 litre tank is wey to small for 1 zebra loach let alone a group of them as they should be kept.

Regards onebto