Zebra Loaches swimming upside down.

**twiztidtunes** · 07-26-2013, 07:31 AM

I have had 2 Zebra loaches for about 2 months and they behaved normally. a few weeks ago my fiancee brought home some cories and an upside down catfish. I knew something was up when I saw her put the extra airstone/pump in here purse. She has "recued" fish in the past from coworkers.

Well my zebra loaches swim upside down with the UDC. I thought I was seeing things at first but I was just wondering is anyone has heard or seen this kind of thing.

**Gesp56** · 07-26-2013, 09:01 AM

Could you perhaps get pictures?? That's very odd behavior indeed.

**twiztidtunes** · 07-26-2013, 09:02 AM

yeah I'll try to get some I may have to re-position some stuff so I can get a good shot

**steeler1** · 07-27-2013, 08:15 PM

I've seen Clown loach's do the same thing.

**Ms. Namazu** · 07-28-2013, 02:24 AM

My Dojo loach will sometimes do a twirl over in the water while swimming. Kind of like a dolphin spin. If you see him actually just floating upside down that's all bad. That means digestive problems and gasses building up in the stomach. If it doesn't look like hes doing this thing off and on during healthy normal swimming you may need to feed him something to clear out his digestive. I have heard frozen peas cooked and cooled. Squeeze the pea center out of the skin into the tank and don't give the skin. I have never tried it. It is said to be a laxative and make him poop and thereby freeing up the gasses to be released from stomach.

**Fishkeeper** · 08-09-2013, 02:46 AM

Could be they're just imitating the UDC... Loaches are intelligent, and I've often watched the ones at my LFS imitating other things, including one trying to puff up like the male betta one tank over and two of them attempting to cling to the glass like plecos.

**Loller** · 08-13-2013, 07:53 PM

If this is just the only thing abnormal about the zebras, they should be fine. For example, if they are all eating like they usually do, and they aren't always swimming like this, it could just be something they have imitated from the UDC.

My estimate is that since you don't have a large enough school of Zebra Loaches, they decided to swim with the UDC. Zebra Loaches should have a school of at least 5, but if they are getting along with the UDC and swimming with it, I must say, that's very interesting.

**twiztidtunes** · 08-13-2013, 08:34 PM

Originally Posted by Loller

If this is just the only thing abnormal about the zebras, they should be fine. For example, if they are all eating like they usually do, and they aren't always swimming like this, it could just be something they have imitated from the UDC.

My estimate is that since you don't have a large enough school of Zebra Loaches, they decided to swim with the UDC. Zebra Loaches should have a school of at least 5, but if they are getting along with the UDC and swimming with it, I must say, that's very interesting.

Yeah they hang with the UDC all the time and now he/she swims right side up part of the time. Every time I grab a camera they swim right lol. I have been waiting on the store to get more zebras in but they are currently back ordered. They eat good they play I'm sure they are fine but it just struck me odd that they were doing it.

**Loller** · 08-15-2013, 11:46 PM

I'm curious as to how large your tank is, demension wise. Zebra loaches are deserving of around a 48 long by 12 inch wide tank. Their maximum size is around 4 inches, and most botia loaches deserve a tank with a length at least 10 times their maximum length. When/if they do start to get violent, that will be a hint that they need their own kind to play with. I would purchase 2 or 3 more as soon as possible.

If it is 36 inches long, that is ok, but you should base the whole tank around them if they are to be kept in something of that size.

Good luck with your tank!