Tank mates for zebra loaches

We checked zebra loaches against all 149 other species in our database for water temperature, pH, size, fin nipping, predation and aggression.

Good tank mates for zebra loaches include neon tetra, panda corydoras, bronze corydoras, zebra danio, african dwarf frog and celestial pearl danio. Avoid cherry shrimp, common goldfish and nerite snail: zebra loach eats small shrimp like cherry shrimp.

Zebra loaches: 23–26°C (73–79°F), pH 6–7.5, adult size 9 cm (3.5 in), minimum tank 29 gallons (110 L). Full zebra loach care guide.

Check a full stocking plan

Good Compatible tank mates (76)

Shared water conditions and no known conflict. Still add fish slowly and watch them.

Caution Possible, with care (48)

These can work in the right setup, but there is a real risk. Read the reason first.

  • Angelfish · 29+ gal
    • Zebra loach sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of angelfish are an easy target.
  • Betta fish · 5+ gal
    • Zebra loach sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of bettas are an easy target.
  • Bristlenose pleco · 20+ gal
    • Bristlenose pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase zebra loaches, which use the same area.
  • Common pleco · 150+ gal
    • Common pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase zebra loaches, which use the same area.
  • Dwarf gourami · 15+ gal
    • Zebra loach sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of dwarf gouramis are an easy target.
  • Fancy goldfish · 20+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 23–23°C).
    • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
    • Zebra loach sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of fancy goldfish are an easy target.
  • Guppy · 10+ gal
    • Zebra loach sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of guppies are an easy target.
  • Tiger barb · 29+ gal
    • Tiger barb nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like zebra loaches.
  • Amano shrimp · 10+ gal
    • Zebra loach hunts shrimp. Larger amano shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
  • Blood parrot cichlid · 55+ gal
    • Blood parrot cichlid is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller zebra loaches.
  • Boesemani rainbowfish · 29+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 26–26°C).
  • Clown loach · 180+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–26°C).
  • Dojo loach · 75+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 23–23°C).
    • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
  • Electric blue acara · 40+ gal
    • Electric blue acara defends its patch of the bottom and may chase zebra loaches, which use the same area.
  • Firemouth cichlid · 29+ gal
    • Firemouth cichlid defends its patch of the bottom and may chase zebra loaches, which use the same area.
  • Ghost shrimp · 10+ gal
    • Zebra loach hunts shrimp. Larger ghost shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
  • Hillstream loach · 20+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 23–24°C).
    • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
  • Honey gourami · 10+ gal
    • Zebra loach sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of honey gouramis are an easy target.
  • Kribensis · 29+ gal
    • Kribensis defends its patch of the bottom and may chase zebra loaches, which use the same area.
  • Molly · 29+ gal
    • One prefers soft water and the other hard water (GH 2–10 vs 15–30 dGH).
  • Pearl gourami · 29+ gal
    • Zebra loach sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of pearl gouramis are an easy target.
  • Rainbow shark · 75+ gal
    • Rainbow shark defends its patch of the bottom and may chase zebra loaches, which use the same area.
  • Red-tail shark · 75+ gal
    • Red-tail shark defends its patch of the bottom and may chase zebra loaches, which use the same area.
  • Rosy barb · 29+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 23–24°C).
    • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
  • Senegal bichir · 90+ gal
    • Senegal bichir may eat zebra loaches, especially young or small ones.
    • Senegal bichir is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller zebra loaches.
  • Three spot gourami · 29+ gal
    • Zebra loach sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of three spot gouramis are an easy target.
  • African butterfly fish · 29+ gal
    • Zebra loach sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of african butterfly fish are an easy target.
  • Agassiz's dwarf cichlid · 20+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–26°C).
    • Agassiz's dwarf cichlid defends its patch of the bottom and may chase zebra loaches, which use the same area.
  • Bamboo shrimp · 20+ gal
    • Zebra loach hunts shrimp. Larger bamboo shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
  • Black ghost knifefish · 125+ gal
    • Black ghost knifefish may eat zebra loaches, especially young or small ones.
  • Bolivian ram · 29+ gal
    • Bolivian ram defends its patch of the bottom and may chase zebra loaches, which use the same area.
  • Buenos Aires tetra · 29+ gal
    • Buenos Aires tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like zebra loaches.
  • Cockatoo cichlid · 20+ gal
    • Cockatoo cichlid defends its patch of the bottom and may chase zebra loaches, which use the same area.
  • Congo tetra · 40+ gal
    • Zebra loach sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of Congo tetras are an easy target.
  • Dwarf orange crayfish · 10+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 23–24°C).
    • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
    • Zebra loach may attack small crustaceans like dwarf orange crayfish, especially after they molt.
  • Gold barb · 29+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 23–24°C).
    • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
  • Kissing gourami · 75+ gal
    • Kissing gourami is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller zebra loaches.
  • Paradise fish · 20+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 23–24°C).
    • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
  • Rubber lip pleco · 29+ gal
    • Rubber lip pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase zebra loaches, which use the same area.
  • Severum · 55+ gal
    • Severum is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller zebra loaches.
  • Thai micro crab · 5+ gal
    • Zebra loach may attack small crustaceans like Thai micro crabs, especially after they molt.
  • Threadfin rainbowfish · 20+ gal
    • Zebra loach sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of threadfin rainbowfish are an easy target.
  • Vampire shrimp · 20+ gal
    • Zebra loach hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
  • Zebra pleco · 20+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 26–26°C).
    • Zebra pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase zebra loaches, which use the same area.
  • Glowlight danio · 20+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 23–24°C).
  • Moonlight gourami · 29+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–26°C).
    • Zebra loach sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of moonlight gouramis are an easy target.
  • Thick-lipped gourami · 20+ gal
    • Zebra loach sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of thick-lipped gouramis are an easy target.
  • Variatus platy · 15+ gal
    • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.

Avoid Bad tank mates (25)

  • Cherry shrimp: Zebra loach eats small shrimp like cherry shrimp.
  • Common goldfish: They need different temperatures: Zebra loach 23–26°C (73–79°F), common goldfish 15–22°C (59–72°F).
  • Nerite snail: Zebra loach eats snails, including nerite snails.
  • Oscar: Oscar can eat zebra loaches: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Assassin snail: Zebra loach eats snails, including assassin snails.
  • Chinese algae eater: Chinese algae eater is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful zebra loaches.
  • Convict cichlid: Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful zebra loaches.
  • Discus: They need different temperatures: Zebra loach 23–26°C (73–79°F), discus 28–30°C (82–86°F).
  • Electric yellow cichlid: Electric yellow cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Zebra loaches don't belong in that setup.
  • German blue ram: They need different temperatures: Zebra loach 23–26°C (73–79°F), german blue ram 27–30°C (81–86°F).
  • Jack Dempsey: Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful zebra loaches.
  • Malaysian trumpet snail: Zebra loach eats snails, including Malaysian trumpet snails.
  • Mystery snail: Zebra loach eats snails, including mystery snails.
  • Pea puffer: Pea puffer is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful zebra loaches. Pea puffer is best kept in a species-only tank.
  • Peacock cichlid: Peacock cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Zebra loaches don't belong in that setup.
  • Ramshorn snail: Zebra loach eats snails, including ramshorn snails.
  • Red zebra cichlid: Red zebra cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful zebra loaches. Red zebra cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Zebra loaches don't belong in that setup.
  • White cloud mountain minnow: They need different temperatures: Zebra loach 23–26°C (73–79°F), white cloud mountain minnow 16–22°C (61–72°F).
  • Crystal red shrimp: Zebra loach eats small shrimp like crystal red shrimp.
  • Demasoni cichlid: Demasoni cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful zebra loaches. Demasoni cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Zebra loaches don't belong in that setup.
  • Frontosa: Frontosa can eat zebra loaches: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Frontosa is a Lake Tanganyika cichlid. It needs a Lake Tanganyika tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 8–9), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Zebra loaches don't belong in that setup.
  • Green terror: Green terror is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful zebra loaches.
  • Jewel cichlid: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful zebra loaches.
  • Rabbit snail: Zebra loach eats snails, including rabbit snails.
  • Shell dweller cichlid: Shell dweller cichlid is a Lake Tanganyika cichlid. It needs a Lake Tanganyika tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–9), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Zebra loaches don't belong in that setup.

Frequently asked questions

What fish can live with zebra loaches?

Good tank mates for zebra loaches include neon tetra, panda corydoras, bronze corydoras, zebra danio, african dwarf frog and celestial pearl danio. They need similar water and won't fight with or eat zebra loaches.

Can zebra loaches live with angelfish?

Sometimes, with care. Zebra loach sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of angelfish are an easy target.

Can zebra loaches live with bettas?

Sometimes, with care. Zebra loach sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of bettas are an easy target.

Can zebra loaches live with bristlenose plecos?

Sometimes, with care. Bristlenose pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase zebra loaches, which use the same area.

Can zebra loaches live with bronze corydoras?

Yes. They share similar water needs (23–26°C (73–79°F)) and peaceful temperaments.

How we decide: we compare each pair's comfortable temperature, pH and hardness ranges, adult sizes, mouth size (who can eat whom), fin nipping, aggression and territory. Read the full method. Data last reviewed 2026-10-13.