Genus · Loaches

Sinibotia

Sinibotia is a genus with 5 species in this atlas, catalogued in the Loaches section, recorded from China. Adult sizes run from 3.5 in to 6.5 in. Every species below links to a full researched profile.

Species in atlas
5
Adult sizes
3.5–6.5 in
IUCN assessed
5 of 5
Recorded from
China

About the genus

Sinibotia is a genus of small striped and banded loaches in the family Botiidae, native to freshwater rivers and streams in China. Like other botiid loaches, they are bottom-dwelling fish with a small retractable spine beneath each eye, used defensively, and they favor flowing, well-oxygenated water over sand, gravel, or rock. The atlas covers five species, ranging from roughly 3.5–6.5 in as adults, and all are social animals that do best kept in groups rather than alone.

Two species carry particularly strong hobby recognition: the golden zebra loach (Sinibotia robusta) and the zebra loach (Sinibotia zebra), both sold for their bold yellow-and-black banding, alongside the eyebrow loach (S. superciliaris) and Reeves' loach (S. reevesae). Loach keepers generally treat them as active, inquisitive fish that need strong filtration and stable water quality, reflecting their riverine origin. Conservation data is thin across the genus: the atlas lists three Not Evaluated species and two Data Deficient, so the wild status of most Sinibotia remains poorly documented.

IUCN Red List: Data Deficient · 2 Not Evaluated · 3

The 5 species

Every Sinibotia recorded in this atlas. Each card links to a full researched profile — distribution, water parameters, and aquarium care, cited to primary sources.

(Yang & Chen, 1992)

4 in SL · NE

(Chang, 1944)

Reeves' Loach

3.5 in SL · NE

(Wu, 1939)

Golden Zebra Loach, Kansu Loach

4 in SL · NE

(Günther, 1892)

Eyebrow loach, Chinese botiid loach

6.5 in TL · DD

(Wu, 1939)

Zebra loach, Chinese zebra loach

5.5 in SL · DD

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How to cite

Aquarist Atlas (2026). Genus Sinibotia. Aquarist Atlas. https://www.aquaristatlas.com/sinibotia/

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