Clown Loach (Chromobotia macracanthus)
The Clown Loach is quite popular and well-known in the aquarium hobby due to its personality and bold markings. The fish's body is long and symmetrical, has an arched dorsal surface and a flat ventral surface. Its head is quite large, and its mouth faces downward with big lips. Four pairs of barbels they are whitish-orange to reddish-orange, with three thick, black, triangular, vertical bands, One of the bands cover the head and eyes like a mask, one across the dorsal fin towards the anal fin and the other is between the two.
Clown Loaches are a playful, active fish with plenty of character and can live alongside medium-sized robust community fish. They are hardy so relatively easy to keep.
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Quick Facts | |
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Scientific Name | Chromobotia macracanthus |
Other Names | Tiger botia |
Classification | Actinopterygii |
Order | Cypriniformes |
Family | Botiidae |
Genus | Chromobotia |
Origins | Indonesia |
Temperament | Peaceful |
Aquarium Level | Bottom |
Difficulty | Beginner - Intermediate |
Shoaling | Yes |
Best kept as | Groups 5+ |
Diet | Omnivore |
Reproduction | Egg-Layer |
Lifespan | up to 10 years |
Water Parameters | |
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Water Type | Freshwater |
PH | 6 - 6.5 |
GH | 4 - 12 |
KH | 1 - 10 |
TDS | 50 - 175 |
Temperature | |
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75 - 81℉ 23.9 - 27.2℃ |
Feeding
In the home aquarium, the Clown Loach will readily accept most good quality dried foods such as granules, flakes and sinking pellets. These modern food products have been developed to provide all adequate nutrition to maintain your fish's health and dietary requirements.
Providing additional foodstuffs such as live, frozen, and freeze-dried meals such as bloodworm, daphnia, and tubifex once or twice a week will provide additional benefits to your fish's health and well-being but is not a must for this fish.
It should be noted that bloodworms should only be given as an occasional treat and should not be used as the staple diet as they are difficult for fish to digest and can potentially cause blockages.
This fish is an omnivore in the wild, meaning it will consume some vegetable matter. Although most modern fish foods take this into account and include them in their products, you can still supplement your fish's diet with blanched vegetables such as spinach, broccoli, and zucchini. Ensure you do not overfeed your fish and remove any leftovers the following day.
Sexual Dimorphism
It is quite challenging to define a male from a female Clown loach.
The female will be slightly smaller and more slender then the male and the male's tail will generally hook inwards like a claw rather than pointing straight out from the body like females.