Clown Loach
Chromobotia macracanthus
Family: Botiidae • Origin: Southeast Asia
Clown Loaches are bold orange and black striped fish with huge personalities. But they grow to 12 inches and live 20+ years — serious commitment.
Min Tank
75 gal
Max Size
12"
Temperature
77-86°F
pH
6-7.5
Lifespan
20 years
School Size
5+
Swim Level
bottom
Hardness
5-12 dGH
peacefulintermediateomnivoreschooling
Care Tips
- • Grows to 12 inches — needs 75+ gallons
- • Lives 20+ years — lifelong commitment
- • Will eat ALL snails
- • Keep in groups of 5+
- • Prone to ich — treat at first sign
Feeding: Sinking pellets, wafers, frozen bloodworms, snails (favorite food).
Compatibility Notes: Will eat all snails and small shrimp. Grows very large. Needs a huge tank long-term.
Tank Setup & Water Parameters
Tank Requirements
- Minimum Tank Size
- 75 gallons
- Recommended Tank Size
- 125 gallons
- Swimming Level
- bottom
- Minimum School Size
- 5+ fish
Water Parameters
- Temperature
- 77–86°F
- pH Range
- 6–7.5
- Hardness (dGH)
- 5–12
- Water Type
- freshwater
Behavior & Temperament
- Temperament
- peaceful
- Aggression Level
- 1/5
- Schooling
- Yes
- Territorial
- No
- Fin Nipper
- No
- Predatory
- No
- Diet Type
- omnivore
- Growth Rate
- slow
Will eat all snails and small shrimp. Grows very large. Needs a huge tank long-term.
Breeding
- Breeding Type
- egg layer
- Breeding Difficulty
- very difficult
- Lifespan
- 20 years
Ideal For
75 gallonlarge community
Compatible Tank Mates
View all →
Neon Tetra
Paracheirodon innesi
70-81°FpH 6-710+ gal
peacefulschooling 6+1.5"
Cardinal Tetra
Paracheirodon axelrodi
73-81°FpH 4.5-6.510+ gal
peacefulschooling 6+2"
Ember Tetra
Hyphessobrycon amandae
73-84°FpH 5.5-75+ gal
peacefulschooling 8+0.8"
Rummy Nose Tetra
Hemigrammus rhodostomus
75-84°FpH 5.5-720+ gal
peacefulschooling 6+2.5"
Black Neon Tetra
Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi
73-81°FpH 5.5-7.510+ gal
peacefulschooling 6+1.6"
Serpae Tetra
Hyphessobrycon eques
72-82°FpH 6-7.520+ gal
semi-aggressiveschooling 6+1.75"
Similar Species
Dojo Loach
Misgurnus anguillicaudatus
50-77°FpH 6.5-875+ gal
peacefulschooling 3+10"
Weather Loach
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50-77°FpH 6.5-875+ gal
peacefulschooling 3+10"
Hillstream Loach
Sewellia lineolata
65-75°FpH 6.5-7.520+ gal
peacefulschooling 3+3"
Sun Catfish
Horabagrus brachysoma
72-79°FpH 6-7.575+ gal
peaceful12"