It flows in a roughly SSW direction all along its course and joins the right bank of the Ishim near Timashevka.

The Zhabay freezes towards the end of October and stays under ice until the second half of April.

[2][1] The main tributaries of the Zhabay are the 92 km (57 mi) long Zylandy, the Idabol and the Sarymsakty.

[3][4][1] Together with the Kamysakty, Kalkutan, Terisakkan, Akkanburlyk and Imanburlyk, the Zhabay is part of the Ishim Water Management Basin.

[5] Among the fish species living in the river, the crucian carp, tench, perch, ide, snowtrout, pike, bream and roach deserve mention.