In this blog, I am going to talk about the clown loach fish—where they come from, how big they can grow, their temperament, and what to expect from a clown loach.
- Where are clown loaches from?
- Appearance
- Eating Habits
- How big do clown loaches grow?
- Lifespan
- The clown loach and community tanks
- Tankmates
- Recap
The Clown Loach: An Ultimate Guide to a Beautiful Freshwater Fish
As aquarists, many of us seek out those fish that we find to be unique, alluring, and a perfect fit for our own personal fish tanks. And, there is so much interesting aquatic life available for aquarists to enjoy—such a wide selection of beautiful freshwater fish that sometimes it’s hard to select what fish are best. So, in this guide, we’ll take a close look at clown loaches. They may be the perfect fish for your aquarium and enjoyment.
The Clown Loach at a Glance
- Type: Freshwater
- Fishkeeper Level: Beginner to advanced
- Tank Size: 75 gallons or more
- Eating Habits: Omnivores to be fed small meals (life food, pellets, flakes)
- Size: Can grow to 12+ inches
- Lifespan: 10+ years
- Temperament: Friendly, social, playful
Where is the Clown Loach From?
The clown loach (Chromobotia macracantha), also known as the “Tiger Botia,” is from the Indonesian islands of Borneo and Sumatra. In these areas, they live in streams where for many years they have been gathered for fishkeeping enthusiasts. But still, the clown loach remains plentiful in these areas and are not hard to come by.
Clown Loach Fish Appearance
This is a long and lean looking fish. It’s yellow and bright orange in color but does not have a clown nose (bad joke). This dazzling and exquisite fish also has two black “V” stripes going down the sides of its body. And, it has another stripe that can be seen in its eye. The clown loach is often referred to as the “scaleless fish.” Actually, though, these fish do have scales embedded in their skin.
What Do They Eat?
These fish are omnivores, so they eat both plants and animals. However, some of the older fish can get to be a little picky with their eating habits. I guess that just comes with old age.
Typically, though, clown loaches can be fed a variety of food types, such as vegetable flakes, tablets, shrimp, bloodworms, etc. But, be sure not to overfeed them and to feed them small portions a few times a day.
Like with any type of overfeeding, the excess food can rot in the tank and cause issues with algae, etc.
How Big Do They Get?
Clown loaches can grow to be pretty big fish. Yep, these bad boys can grow to be 12 inches long. For this reason, they need bigger tanks. Many professionals recommend tanks that are at least 75 gallons or more in size. So in other words, don’t get a clown loach and cram it into a smaller tank. These fish need room to grow and live healthy and happy lives.
How Long Do Clown Loaches Live?
If you plan on keeping clown loaches in your fish tank, understand these fish can live for 10+ years. When you think about it, that’s a pretty long time for a fish.
Are Clowns Good for Community Tanks?
These fish have great temperaments and are wonderful fish for community fish tanks. They are peaceful, social, and pretty playful fish. They do live best, however, when in groups. Otherwise, they can be a bit on the shy side. This often leads to them hiding out away from the action.
Tank Mates for the Clown Loach
If you plan on keeping this fish in a community tank, you won’t have much problem finding good tank mates. This is a fish that works well with most any fish. Two of my favorite fish, Tiger Barbs, and neon Tetras will work well with loaches.
Recap on the Clown Loach
In this blog, I discussed clown loaches in detail—where they come from, what they look like, and their eating habits. I also discussed how this amazing fish can grow to be 12 inches or more and the importance of keeping it in a tank that is at least 75 gallons. Additionally, in this blog, I talked about how long these fish live and why they are such great picks for community tanks.
What are some of your favorite freshwater fish and why?
