Burmese Loach / Golden Zebra Loach
Botia histrionica
The 'Golden Zebra Loach'. A magnificent Botia from Myanmar, with perfect Y-bands and high black/white contrast when young that fades to gold in adulthood. A highly gregarious snail exterminator.
Temperatura da água
22 - 28 °C
Valor de pH
6.5 - 7.5
Tipo de água
Água doce
Nível do tanque
Parte inferior e intermediária
Tamanho adulto
13 cm
Volume mínimo do tanque
>= 180 L
Grupo mínimo
>= 1
GH
2 - 12 dGH
KH
1 - 6 dKH
TDS
40 - 240 ppm
Condutividade
63 - 375 uS/cm
Descrição da espécie
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Endemic to the river systems between India, Myanmar and China (Salween and Irrawaddy basins). Populates hilly rivers with fast currents and irregular bottoms composed of pebbles, boulders and isolated sandy stretches.
Taxonomy and Morphology: Golden Zebra Loach (Botia histrionica). The scientific name recalls its "theatrical" or histrionic coat. It is often confused with the juvenile Botia macracantha due to the light base color and the pattern of large vertical dark Ys along the body.
Social Behavior: Vibrant, curious and playful, but strictly gregarious. A school (at least 5-6 specimens) prevents stress and allows the spectacular hierarchical "dances". It is considered one of the most docile Botias ever towards other species.
Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Beautiful network or black/dark brown "Y" stripes on a golden, white or pale yellow background. Females are noticeably stockier, with a pronounced belly. Adult males may develop a slight elongation on the snout.
Cuidado, criação e companheiros de tanque
Aquarium Setup: Minimum 100 cm (40 inches). Requires a layout inspired by a hilly river (River-tank) with excellent current guaranteed by movement pumps, very high oxygenation, smooth rocks stacked to form tunnels and fine sand.
Diet and Feeding: Skillful controller of snail populations. Eats everything: grabs bottom tablets, flakes, frozen brine shrimp and bloodworms. Does not disdain nibbling on plant-based tablets or tender leaves, although it is not strictly herbivorous.
Water Quality: Requires extremely clean water. Due to the lack of true scales and its continuous scratching on the bottom, an accumulation of bacteria in the substrate can cause severe stomach ulcers.
Compatibility and Cohabitation: Excellent. Perfect to cohabit with fast Danios, Devarios and Rasboras that occupy the upper and central part of the aquarium. It is advisable not to pair it with extremely shy or slow fish, which could get nervous due to its frenetic activity.
Aquarium Breeding: Not documented with certainty in the domestic amateur field. The very few reports cite accidental spawnings on smooth rocks in very old and undisturbed tanks, but the fry are often preyed upon.
Risks and Diseases: Like the whole genus, it is prone to skin parasite infections (Ich) at the slightest thermal shock or worsening of the water. If stressed, they can hide in the narrowest meanders of the filter, risking dying stuck there.
Origem e distribuição geográfica
Endemic to the river systems between India, Myanmar and China (Salween and Irrawaddy basins). Populates hilly rivers with fast currents and irregular bottoms composed of pebbles, boulders and isolated sandy stretches.
Origem
América do NorteSul e Sudeste AsiáticoLeste Asiático
Perfil de peixe
- Temperamento
- Semi-aggressive
- Botia histrionica is a peaceful and active species, making it a great addition to many community aquariums. They exhibit a fascinating social structure with a hierarchy formed within their own school through playful interactions. Although generally non-aggressive, they can sometimes display minor territorial behaviors or food-guarding if the tank is too small or if they are kept in insufficient numbers. They are not aggressive towards other species, but their high energy levels might stress very slow-moving or timid tank mates.
- Dieta
- Omnivore
- This species is omnivorous with a strong preference for protein-rich foods and carnivorous items. In the wild, they consume insect larvae, small crustaceans, and benthic organisms, as well as some plant matter. In the aquarium, they should be offered a varied diet consisting of high-quality sinking pellets, tablets, and frozen foods like bloodworms, brine shrimp, and daphnia. They are also known to actively hunt and consume small pest snails, making them excellent natural controllers of snail populations.
- Expectativa de vida
- 5-10 years
- Tamanho adulto
- 13 cm
- Proporção sexual
- Group
- These loaches are highly social shoaling fish and must be kept in groups rather than in pairs or individually. A minimum group of 5 to 6 individuals is highly recommended to establish a healthy social hierarchy and reduce territorial behavior. In larger aquariums, keeping a school of 10 or more individuals is even better as it distributes any minor squabbles and allows them to exhibit their natural schooling behavior. Keeping them isolated or in too small a group can result in extreme stress, shyness, and eventual decline.
- Frequência de alimentação
- Twice daily
- To support their active lifestyle and high energy levels, it is recommended to feed Botia histrionica two to three times a day. They should be fed small portions that they can consume within a few minutes to prevent excess food from decaying and spoiling the water. Since they are primarily bottom feeders, it is important to ensure that sinking foods actually reach the bottom before they are eaten by faster mid-water fish. Offering a mix of morning pellet feedings and evening frozen food treats works well to maintain their health.
- Carga biológica
- Medium
- Botia histrionica has a medium biological waste production due to its active nature and hearty appetite. Because these loaches are scaleless and highly sensitive to poor water quality, high levels of ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates can quickly lead to health issues or stress. To manage their bioload effectively, a high-quality filtration system is required along with regular 20% to 30% weekly water changes. A well-established aquarium filter with mechanical, biological, and chemical media will ensure that organic waste is processed efficiently.
- Fluxo
- Stagnant
- In nature, Botia histrionica inhabits clear, fast-flowing mountain streams and river headwaters that are highly oxygenated. In the home aquarium, they prefer moderate to strong water currents, which can be created using powerheads, wavemakers, or filter outlets. This flow stimulates their natural swimming behavior and helps maintain high oxygen levels, which is crucial for their well-being. A high-turnover filtration system is ideal as it provides the desired current while keeping the water pristine and clear.
- Risco de salto
- Yes
- This species presents a high risk of jumping out of the aquarium, particularly when they are startled, stressed, or active during the night. They are agile swimmers capable of sudden bursts of speed that can easily carry them out of an open-top tank. Consequently, it is absolutely essential to equip the aquarium with a tight-fitting cover or lid with no large gaps around pipes or cables. Floating plants can also help to diffuse light and provide a natural overhead cover, which reduces their overall startle response and jumping behavior.
- Reprodução
- Oviparous
- Breeding Botia histrionica in a standard home aquarium is exceptionally difficult and rarely occurs naturally. In their natural habitat, spawning is triggered by seasonal environmental changes, such as the onset of the rainy season and flooding. Almost all specimens available in the aquarium trade are bred commercially using hormone injections to induce spawning in specialized hatcheries. Home hobbyists can focus on providing pristine, well-oxygenated water and a conditioning diet of live and frozen foods, though successful natural spawning remains a rarity.
- Compatibilidade e companheiros de tanque
- Peaceful
- Botia histrionica is highly compatible with a wide range of active, peaceful fish that inhabit the middle and upper levels of the tank. Excellent tank mates include active cyprinids such as danios, rasboras, and medium-sized barbs, as well as peaceful community cichlids, gouramis, and other loaches. They should not be kept with slow-moving or long-finned species like angelfish or guppies, as the active loaches may occasionally nip at their fins. Additionally, they are not compatible with small ornamental shrimp or snails, as these are considered a natural food source.
- Nível do tanque
- Middle/Bottom
- Botia histrionica is primarily a bottom-dwelling species that spends most of its time foraging along the substrate. However, they are active, energetic swimmers and will frequently explore the middle levels of the aquarium, especially during feeding times or when playing in groups. They require a soft, sandy substrate to prevent damage to their delicate barbels as they sift through the sand looking for food. The tank setup should provide a combination of open swimming spaces and low-lying hiding spots to support their multi-level activity.
Modelos e parâmetros científicos
FishBase
Acesso aos dados científicos oficiais da espécie
FishBase v25.04Dados sincronizados em: 15/06/2026
- Nível trófico
- 3,2 ± 0,4 se
- Unicidade filogenética (PD50)
- 0.502
- Relação bayesiana comprimento-peso
- a = 0.01047, b = 2.97
- VulnerabilidadeVulnerabilidade baixa (10 / 100)
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