Do Zebra Laoches Eat Neon Tetras?

[phillippa42]

As I just found my new little zebra loach swimming about with one in its mouth. Now I suppose its possible that the neon dies a natural death and was just been eaten, but it looked OK this morning. The loach is small, the size of a platy. It does seem a bit aggressive though, it was nipping one of the platys yesterday. I thought they were peaceful?

 

[Lateral Line]

The fish most often called a Zebra Loach is Botia striata which is a pretty peaceful fish. I think it is unlikely that the loach killed the Neon. If you only have one though, it will be stressed and can behave atypically. These are gregarious fish and are best kept in groups of at least 3.

 

[ulster exile]

I couldn't even imagine my zebra's mouth being large enough to fit a neon into. Are you sure it's a zebra loach?