Chinese Golden Zebra LoachBotia Robusta, Kansu LoachFamily: Cobitidae Sinibotia robustaPhoto © Animal-World: Courtesy Ken ChildsLatest Reader Comment - See More I have 3 of these fish in my 33 gallon and are my favourite fish. They are very shy mainly due to their nocturnal habits but will eventually get used to you coming... (more) Colin Bragg The Botia Robusta has been given a truly fitting name, the Chinese Golden Zebra Loach!Chinese Golden Zebra Loach Contents The Chinese Golden Zebra Loach Sinibotia robusta is a lively darling, and fun to watch. This loach is quite the elegant looker with its rich golden body and contrasting bold black bands. It was previously just simple known as Botia Robusta, which was also its earlier scientific name. But as things get sorted out in the taxonomy and aquarium world, handsome fish like this one also get sorted out. It is also known as the Kansu Loach, as one of its places of origin is the Gansu (Kansu) Province in China. True to its name, the Chinese Golden Zebra Loach has a yellowish or golden background color with black bar markings. This makes for a striking appearance and is found on the Botia Robusta both as a juvenile and as an adult. The horizontal striping across the head and through the eyes are followed by dark vertical bands along the rest of the body and through the dorsal and tail fin. The dark bands also tend to fork into two narrower strips at about the center and as they wrap under the belly. The pectoral fins are a translucent yellow. Though generally a good community fish with other loaches and tank mates, the Botia Robusta are quite active and can get aggressive. They have been reported to occasionally nip the fins of their tank mates when feeling agitated. They can be kept in small groups of their own species (three or more), but they are also a more independent loach and can be kept singly as well. Because they are naturally nocturnal, they will be active at dusk and in the evening. They also enjoy snacking on snails, so are good for snail control. The Chinese Golden Zebra Loach is one of the loaches that can be acclimated to a brackish type aquarium. The water can be medium to hard and they can handle a fairly broad temperature range. Like all loaches the Botia Robusta will appreciate lots of hiding and resting places in caves, rocks, and roots. They also like a planted aquarium but with open space for swimming. For Information on keeping freshwater fish, see: |
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Since they are omnivorous, the Botia Robusta will generally eat all kinds of live foods, sinking pelleted and tablet foods, flakes, and algae. They like frozen foods as well. To keep a good balance give them a high quality flake or tablet food everyday. Feed mosquito larvae and brine shrimp (either live or frozen), tubifex, daphnia, and some vegetable foods such as algae wafers. They will also eat snails, so are good for snail control.
This fish prefers a larger sized aquarium (30 gallons or so) with plants and places for retreat such as rocks, caves, and roots. Plants are also appreciated. Provide a soft substrate such as a fine gravel or sand. They do best in a medium hard water with frequent water changes of about 10% a week. This is one of the loaches that can also be acclimated to a brackish aquarium.
The Chinese Golden Zebra loach Sinibotia robusta (previously Botia Robusta) is found in Asia; China and Vietnam.
These fish reach up to about 5 - 7 " ( 13 - 18 cm) though they are usually on the smaller side in the aquarium.
Though they are generally a peaceful community fish, they are quite active and can get aggressive. They have been known to nip the fins of their tank mates when aggravated. They can be kept with three or more of their own species but as they are a more independent loach, they can also be kept singly.
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Water Region: Top, Middle, Bottom:
These fish are mostly bottom dwellers, but will occasionally swim in the middle of the aquarium.
Hardness: medium hard of 6 - 22° dH
Ph: 7.0 - 7.8
Temp: In the wild, a subtropical 65 - 75° F (18 - 24° C)
Have been kept in the aquarium at 77 - 83° F (25 - 28° C)
The Botia Robusta have not been bred in the aquarium and they are not yet bred commercially.
The Botia Robusta is occasionally available.
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