Clown loach
Chromobotia macracanthus
Photo: Gpasques · CC0
- Adult size
- 25 cm10 in
- Group
- 6+
- Tank length
- 180 cmabout 6 ft (71 in)
- Lifespan
- 8–20 yrs
- Temperature
- 24–30 °C75–86 °F
- pH
- 6–8
- Hardness
- 5–15 dGH
- Diet
- omnivore
A social group needs a large long-term aquarium, not a small starter tank.A social group needs a large long-term aquarium, not a small starter tank.
Tank sizes
Good tankmates
Avoid with
- Alligator gar
Alligator gar may eat Clown loachAlligator gar may eat Clown loach
- Arapaima
Arapaima may eat Clown loachArapaima may eat Clown loach
- Channel catfish
No shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
Common goldfishNo shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
- Cuban gar
Cuban gar may eat Clown loachCuban gar may eat Clown loach
- Dourada
Dourada may eat Clown loachDourada may eat Clown loach
Fancy goldfishNo shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
- Hogchoker
No shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
Iridescent sharkIridescent shark may eat Clown loachIridescent shark may eat Clown loach
- Longear sunfish
No shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
- Longnose gar
Longnose gar may eat Clown loachLongnose gar may eat Clown loach
- Paroon shark
Paroon shark may eat Clown loachParoon shark may eat Clown loach
Sources
| temperature | 24–30 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04; agrees with FishBase (fishbase.se), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium |
|---|---|---|
| ph | 6–8 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · low |
| gh | 5–15 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04; agrees with FishBase (fishbase.se), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium |
| origin | Tropical freshwater; regional origin needs review | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| notes | A social group needs a large long-term aquarium, not a small starter tank. | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| beginner friendly | false | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| care level | advanced | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| color palette | #9EAA99, #465858 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| activity | active | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| swim zone | bottom | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| temperament | peaceful | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| fin nipper | false | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| long finned | false | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| territorial | false | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| schooling | true | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| schooling min | 6 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| diet | omnivore | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| lifespan years | 8–20 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| growth to adult months | 24 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| length weight | {"a":0.006,"b":3} | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| planted safe | false | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| min tank length | 180 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| body shape | loach | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |