Chromobotia macracanthus

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Clown Loach
Clown Loach
Species Chromobotia macracanthus
Difficulty Moderate
Min. Tank Size 283.906 liters
283,905.883 mL

75 US Gallons (283.9L)

Size 30.48 cm

6-12 " (15.2-30.5cm)

pH 6.0 - 7.5
Temp. -251.15 °C
-420.07 °F
39.6 °R

-243.15 °C
-405.67 °F
54 °R

Water Hardness

5-12

Stocking Ratio 2:3 M:F
Availability Common
Diet

Omnivore
Pellet Foods
Flake Foods
Live Foods
Other (See article)

Life Span

20-50 years

Contents

[edit] Alternative names

Tiger Botia, Clown Loach

[edit] Other Scientific Names

Chromobotia macracanthus, Botia macrocanthus

[edit] Size

It is often said that this fish may grow up to 30cm (12") in length. The more usual size in an aquarium is only 15cm (6").

[edit] Sexing

Females may be fatter. A mature clown (5-6" in length) may be sexed by looking at the Caudal fin. The upper and lower fin tips on the male are slightly bent inwards, making the fin look a little clawlike.

[edit] Tank compatibility

Peaceful. Some reports of 10 year old clowns eating small fish.

[edit] Diet

Cat fish pellets, earthworms, par-boiled vegetables(e.g. cucumber, courgette, lettuce and some will eat things like broccolli, sprouts or peas) , any flake that sank, even small snails when it gets over 7.5cm (3") in length. They are often sold as a solution to a snail infestation, however they will not always clear a tank and shouldn't be relied upon to do so.

[edit] Feeding regime

It's a bottom feeder, so quick sinking food is a must.

[edit] Environment Specifics

Provide plenty of hiding places, where several can hide together. Clowns, like most loaches, need to be kept in groups of 5 or more. Since they come from a river environment in the wild, they appreciate some current within the tank.

[edit] Behaviour

This fish will fool the new aquarists into thinking it is dead at some point. This active fish loves to hide in small cracks in rocks in the wild and so lacking these in an aquarium tends to play dead. It will just rest in whatever angle it happens to find itself in. So its fairly common to see it lying on its side, on its head, etc. even with other members of its shoal.
This fish like to use its pectoral fins to move about the substrate, almost like its walking.
This is a schooling fish and like the company of its own kind. It prefers a large hiding place where several of them can all hide together in a group.
To ensure you see them during the day, have in your tank a school of Tetras or similar small schooling fish. This makes the Clowns feel more secure and more likely to venture out during the day.
The Clown Loach will make clicking sounds when they are feeding on a favourite food.
Young clowns love to squeeze into tight areas and also love water flow, beware of powerhead outlets, there have been young clowns that "disappear" only to be found dead during a filter cleaning.

[edit] Identification

The Clown Loach in fact has very similar colouration to the Tiger Barb, in that the base colour is a vivid orange over laid by several, usually 3, unbroken thick vertical bands.

[edit] Special Considerations

  • This fish is scaleless; therefore, it is sensitive to chemicals added to the water. Quite often chemical treatments must be reduced in quantity as to not stress the loach.
  • The Clown Loach is also more prone to skin damage due to bad water quality and to protozoans attacks such as White Spot.

[edit] Breeding

There has been several unconfirmed reports of clown loaches breeding. But it appears that this fish only becomes sexual mature after many years and the fish is at least 6-7" in length.
One report claims in the wild the river water level would drop during a heat wave and there would be lots of dead fish in the water which the clowns eat eagerly. When the rains return the fattened clowns breed.
Breeding reports : *PFK magazine.
Latest breeding report: *Eggs pictures - PFK magazine

[edit] Pictures

Clown loach and a Dwarf Oto

Young Clown Loach

[edit] Videos


[edit] Links

Facts about Chromobotia macracanthus
Availability Common
Common name Clown Loach
Diet Omnivore  +
Difficulty Moderate
Family Cobitidae  +
Foods Pellet Food  +, Flake Food  +, Live Food  +, and Other Foods  +
Maximum Size 12 in (30.48 cm)  +
Maximum age 50  +
Maximum hardness 12  +
Maximum pH 7.5  +
Maximum temperature 30 K (-243.15 °C, -405.67 °F, 54 °R)  +
Minimum Tank Size 75 US Gallon (283.906 liters, 283,905.883 mL)  +
Minimum hardness 5  +
Minimum pH 6  +
Minimum temperature 22 K (-251.15 °C, -420.07 °F, 39.6 °R)  +
Scientific name Chromobotia macracanthus
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