Can yellow labs live with zebra loaches?

Verdict

Yes, with care

Yes, with care. Yellow labs and zebra loaches can share a tank, but watch one thing. Different water: yellow labs want pH 7.8–8.6, zebra loaches want pH 6–7.5.

Electric yellow cichlid75–82°F · pH 7.8–8.6

Zebra loach73–79°F · pH 6–7.5

What to watch

Watch outDifferent water: yellow labs want pH 7.8–8.6, zebra loaches want pH 6–7.5.

What works

Both are fine at 75–79°F.

Water side by side

The green band is the temperature range both can live in.

No pH suits both. One would live in the wrong water all the time.

Size to scale

Adult length in an aquarium. A fish can swallow anything that fits in its mouth, roughly a third to half its own length for predators.

Care at a glance

	Electric yellow cichlid	Zebra loach
Temperature	75–82 °F	73–79 °F
pH	7.8–8.6	6–7.5
Adult size	4.0 in	3.5 in
Minimum tank	40 gal	30 gal
Temperament	Semi-aggressive	Peaceful
Swims at	All levels	Bottom
Group	Groups of 4+	Groups of 5+
Diet	Omnivore	Omnivore

Better tank mates for yellow labs

All electric yellow cichlid tank mates

Better tank mates for zebra loaches

All zebra loach tank mates

Questions

Can yellow labs live with zebra loaches?

Yes, with care. Yellow labs and zebra loaches can share a tank, but watch one thing. Different water: yellow labs want pH 7.8–8.6, zebra loaches want pH 6–7.5.

What temperature suits both yellow labs and zebra loaches?

75–79 °F. Yellow labs need 75–82 °F, zebra loaches need 73–79 °F.

What size tank do yellow labs and zebra loaches need together?

At least 40 gal, set by the electric yellow cichlid. Add space for each extra fish.