Zangoose debuted in ZigZag Zangoose, under the ownership of Nicholai. It battled Ash and his Treecko, but suddenly, Zangoose noticed Jessie's Seviper and started to battle it instead. Ash, his friends, and even Team Rocket did not know what was going on, but it was Zangoose and Seviper's natural rivalry that got the two fighting. They were suddenly knocked into a river and Seviper then used Poison Tail, knocking Zangoose unconscious. Brock nursed Zangoose back to health with herbal medicine and left it to rest. Later, Seviper reappeared and engaged it in battle again. After a long and fierce battle, Zangoose finally knocked out the Fang Snake Pokémon with a Crush Claw.