Chinese Gold Zebra Loach (Sinibotia robusta)

When fully mature, the Chinese Gold Zebra Loach is can be a stunning species, boasting alternating vertical stripes of black and gold all along its body that give it a uniquely bumblebee-like pattern. Traces of this beauty can be found in the small specimens most commonly seen for sale, but it’s only when established and well-fed in an aquarium that this fish truly shines. The wide stripes of its youth eventually double in number and the colors intensify greatly, resulting in a truly spectacular bottomdweller.

Sinibotia is a small genus whose half-dozen species are mostly confined to Southern China. These were formerly included within Botia up until that group was split apart into separate genera. In general, Sinibotia are more elongated than the typical Botia, but this is untrue for the aptly named S. robusta, which is, you guessed it, a bit more robust in its proportions.

You’ll find S. robusta in a number of the tributaries of China’s Pearl (Zhu Jiang) River, where it thrives in the clean, swift waters of upland streams. Unfortunately, this is one of the more industrialized portions of the country, making such habitats fewer in number than they would have been a century ago.

Compared to others in the botiid family, Sinibotia are noticeably reclusive, tending to hide the day away behind aquarium decorations. Their elongated bodies are no doubt an adaptation for this lifestyle, allowing them to scurry about among the cobble that litters their streambeds. This could make for a particularly interesting and unorthodox biotope to recreate, perhaps combined with a balitorid hillstream loach. There are a number of barbs and minnows that would also occur in these Chinese streams, but these are seldom available to aquarists. Plenty of good alternatives from elsewhere in Asia will suffice, such as Devario and Barilius.

As with most loaches, Sinibotia are highly carnivorous on small invertebrates and are easily fed in captivity. These are also highly gregarious fishes and will appreciate the company of their own kind.