Clown Loach
Chromobotia macracanthus
Also known as: Tiger botia, Clown botia
Quick Facts
- Adult size: 20-30 cm (8-12 inches)
- Minimum tank size: 300 litres (80 gallons)
- Lifespan: 15–25 years
- Temperament: peaceful
- Swimming level: bottom-and-middle
- Diet: omnivore
- Minimum group size: 5
- Difficulty: intermediate
Water Parameters
- Temperature: 25–30°C
- pH: 6–7.5
- Hardness (GH): 36–179 ppm (2–10 dGH)
Values above are general hardness (GH). For carbonate hardness (KH), the buffer that keeps pH stable, see the water parameters guide.
Care Summary
The most popular large loach in the trade, sold as an irresistible 6cm juvenile that gives little hint of the 25 to 30cm adult it slowly becomes over many years. Clown loaches are intelligent, playful, and genuinely long-lived, routinely passing fifteen years and sometimes far more, which makes them a multi-decade commitment rather than a community add-on. They are deeply social and must be kept in groups; they communicate with audible clicks, rest in undignified piles, and sometimes lie on their sides in a way that alarms new keepers but is normal. The honest catch is size: a proper group of adults needs a tank measured in hundreds of litres, not tens. Outstanding fish for keepers who can house them properly, and a slow welfare problem for those who cannot.
Tankmates
Peaceful but big, boisterous, and intensely social: clown loaches must be kept in a group of at least five, ideally six or more, or they languish, hide, and sicken. A lone clown loach is a stressed one. They are active, warm-water fish that suit a large community of robust, similarly-active tankmates; tiger barbs are a classic pairing, as are larger barbs, rainbowfish, and congo tetras. They are renowned snail-eaters, so they double as pest control but cannot be trusted with ornamental snails or dwarf shrimp. Scaleless and notably prone to ich, they react badly to copper and often need half-dose medication.
Compatible with
- Tiger Barb
- Gold Barb
- Congo Tetra
- Bristlenose Pleco
- Boeseman's Rainbowfish
- Pearl Gourami
- Angelfish
- Silver Dollar
- Denison Barb
- Yoyo Loach
Avoid keeping with
Common Problems
- outgrowing the tank (reaches 25-30cm)
- stress and illness when kept in groups smaller than 5
- high susceptibility to ich
- sensitivity to copper and full-dose medications
Sources: seriouslyfish.com, fishbase.org · Last updated: 2026-06-20