Can flowerhorns live with zebra loaches?
Verdict
No
No. Flowerhorns and zebra loaches should not share a tank. No shared temperature. Flowerhorns need 80–89°F, zebra loaches need 73–79°F.
What to watch
- Deal breakerNo shared temperature. Flowerhorns need 80–89°F, zebra loaches need 73–79°F.
- Deal breakerAn adult flowerhorn eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 3.5 inches zebra loaches do.
- Deal breakerFlowerhorns are aggressive and will bully peaceful zebra loaches.
What works
- pH 7–7.5 suits both.
- They use different parts of the tank: flowerhorns the mid, zebra loaches the bottom.
Water side by side
Size to scale
Care at a glance
| Flowerhorn | Zebra loach | |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 80–89 °F | 73–79 °F |
| pH | 7–8 | 6–7.5 |
| Adult size | 12.0 in | 3.5 in |
| Minimum tank | 75 gal | 30 gal |
| Temperament | Aggressive | Peaceful |
| Swims at | Middle | Bottom |
| Group | One per tank | Groups of 5+ |
| Diet | Carnivore | Omnivore |
Better tank mates for zebra loaches
Questions
Can flowerhorns live with zebra loaches?
No. Flowerhorns and zebra loaches should not share a tank. No shared temperature. Flowerhorns need 80–89°F, zebra loaches need 73–79°F.
What temperature suits both flowerhorns and zebra loaches?
None. Flowerhorns need 80–89 °F and zebra loaches need 73–79 °F, so the ranges do not meet.
What size tank do flowerhorns and zebra loaches need together?
At least 75 gal, set by the flowerhorn. Add space for each extra fish.