Clown loach care guide
Also called: Clown botia, Tiger botia
The clown loach is an orange-and-black striped loach from Indonesia, loved for its playful group antics. Shops sell it small, but adults reach about 10 in (25 cm), so a group of five needs a 6 ft (180 cm), roughly 180-gallon (681 L) tank.
Clown loaches need a tank of at least 180 gallons (681 L), a group of 5 or more, and water at 25–30°C (77–86°F) with a pH of 6–7. They grow to about 25 cm (9.8 in) and are peaceful.
Plan a tank with clown loachesSee all tank mates
Clown loach quick facts
| Scientific name | Chromobotia macracanthus |
|---|---|
| Family | Botiidae |
| Origin | Sumatra and Borneo, Indonesia (shop fish are wild-caught or hormone-bred on farms) |
| Adult size | 25 cm (9.8 in) |
| Minimum tank | 180 gallons (681 L), at least 180 cm (71 in) long |
| Temperature | 25–30°C (77–86°F) |
| pH | 6–7 |
| Hardness (GH) | 4–12 dGH |
| Group size | 5 or more (shoaling fish) |
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Swims at | Bottom |
| Diet | Omnivore |
| Care level | Moderate |
| Lifespan | 15–25 years |
| Safe with shrimp? | No, eats shrimp |
| Safe with plants? | Mostly (nibbles soft plants) |
- Known jumper: keep a tight-fitting lid.
- Needs sand or smooth, fine gravel to protect its barbels and belly.
Tank setup
A group of five adults needs a tank about 6 ft (180 cm) long and 2 ft (60 cm) front to back, roughly 180 gallons (681 L). Young fish can start in a 4 ft (120 cm) tank, but they keep growing for years, so plan the upgrade before they pass about 6 in (15 cm). Use sand or smooth fine gravel, plenty of wood and rock caves, strong filtration with some current, and a tight lid.
How many clown loaches in a tank?
Clown loaches need a very large tank: at least 180 gallons (681 L).
| Tank | Clown loaches (alone) |
|---|---|
| 3 gallon | Too small |
| 5 gallon | Too small |
| 10 gallon | Too small |
| 15 gallon | Too small |
| 20 gallon | Too small |
| 20 gallon long | Too small |
| 29 gallon | Too small |
| 40 gallon | Too small |
| 55 gallon | Too small |
| 75 gallon | Too small |
| 125 gallon | Too small |
What you need for clown loaches
Sized for a 180 gallon tank, the smallest common size that suits a group of 5 clown loaches. For a different tank or a mix of fish, use the stocking calculator for a list sized to your plan.
Tank and equipment
- 180 gallon aquarium (tank or kit) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Bigger tanks are more stable and easier for beginners. How to choose
- Aquarium stand for 180 gallons (opens Amazon in a new tab)The water alone weighs about 1501 lb (681 kg), before glass, gravel and rock. How to choose
- 3 adjustable heaters, 300 W each (opens Amazon in a new tab)Holds about 82 °F (27.5 °C) in a room at 65 °F (18 °C). Two heaters keep the tank warm if one fails. How to choose
- Aquarium thermometer (opens Amazon in a new tab)Check it daily: heaters can fail stuck on or off. How to choose
- Canister filter rated 1080–1800 GPH (opens Amazon in a new tab)Heavily stocked or messy fish: 6–10 times the tank volume per hour. How to choose
- About 180 lb of aquarium sand (opens Amazon in a new tab)Enough for a layer about 1.5 in (4 cm) deep. Soft sand protects the barbels of corydoras, loaches and other diggers. How to choose
- Water conditioner (dechlorinator) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Removes chlorine and chloramine from tap water. Seachem Prime is a popular, concentrated choice. How to choose
- Liquid test kit (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Liquid kits are more accurate than strips. The API Freshwater Master Test Kit is the common choice. How to choose
- Gravel vacuum (siphon) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Cleans the gravel and does the water change in one go. How to choose
- LED aquarium light, about 92 in long (opens Amazon in a new tab)Match the light to the tank length. Basic LEDs grow easy plants. How to choose
Food and extras for clown loaches
- Sinking pellets or wafers (opens Amazon in a new tab)Bottom feeders need food that reaches the floor.
- Caves and hides (opens Amazon in a new tab)Gives shy and territorial fish their own space.
- Tight-fitting lid for a 180 gallon tank (opens Amazon in a new tab)Clown loach can jump out of an open tank.
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Water parameters
Keep them warm at 25–30°C (77–86°F), with pH 6.0–7.0 and soft to moderately hard water. They need spotless, well-oxygenated water, so add them only to a mature, fully cycled tank. Change 30–50% of the water every week. Newly imported fish are often thin, stressed and prone to ich (white spot), so quarantine them and feed them well before adding them to your main tank.
Best tank mates for clown loaches
These popular species share clown loaches' water needs and temperament. See the full list of 20 good matches.
Tiger barb
7 cm (2.8 in) · 22–27°C (72–81°F)
Oscar
30 cm (11.8 in) · 23–27°C (73–81°F)
Kuhli loach
9 cm (3.5 in) · 24–27°C (75–81°F)
Sterbai corydoras
6.5 cm (2.6 in) · 23–28°C (73–82°F)
Boesemani rainbowfish
10 cm (3.9 in) · 26–29°C (79–84°F)
Blood parrot cichlid
20 cm (7.9 in) · 24–27°C (75–81°F)
Discus
15 cm (5.9 in) · 28–30°C (82–86°F)
Silver dollar
15 cm (5.9 in) · 24–28°C (75–82°F)
Avoid keeping clown loaches with
- Cherry shrimp: Clown loach eats small shrimp like cherry shrimp.
- Common goldfish: They need different temperatures: Clown loach 25–30°C (77–86°F), common goldfish 15–22°C (59–72°F).
- Fancy goldfish: They need different temperatures: Clown loach 25–30°C (77–86°F), fancy goldfish 18–23°C (64–73°F).
- Nerite snail: Clown loach eats snails, including nerite snails.
- Assassin snail: Clown loach eats snails, including assassin snails.
- Chinese algae eater: Chinese algae eater is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful clown loaches.
Feeding
Mostly meat-eaters that also take some plant food. Feed sinking pellets or wafers daily, plus frozen bloodworms, brine shrimp and mosquito larvae. Offer blanched zucchini, cucumber or peas now and then. They eat snails eagerly but should not be your only plan for a big snail outbreak.
Behavior
Clown loaches are peaceful but need a group of at least five. Alone or in pairs they hide, stress and can turn snappy with similar-shaped fish. They dig, click, chase each other and often rest on their sides, which is normal. Pick peaceful, active mid-sized tankmates such as rainbowfish, larger tetras and barbs, and avoid long-finned fish, dwarf shrimp and pet snails.
Breeding
Clown loaches are not known to spawn in home aquariums. In the wild they migrate into flooded areas to breed, and farms produce them with hormone injections. Females are usually larger and rounder than males, and the group leader is often a big female.
Tips from experienced keepers
- Plan for adults of 8–12 in (20–30 cm). Only buy clowns if you can give them a 6 ft (180 cm) tank within a few years.
- Keep at least five. A bigger group makes them bolder and calmer.
- Lying on their side or upside down is normal resting behavior, not a sign of illness.
- Catch them with a container, not a net. The sharp spines under their eyes snag in netting.
- Never add them to a new tank. Wait until it has run stably for a few months.
Frequently asked questions
How big do clown loaches get?
In aquariums they usually reach 8–12 inches (20–30 cm), and wild fish can grow even larger. Growth is slow but keeps going for many years, so small shop fish are easy to underestimate.
How many clown loaches should be kept together?
At least five, and more if your tank allows. Kept alone or in pairs, they become shy, stressed and sometimes aggressive.
Do clown loaches eat snails?
Yes, they eat small snails eagerly and help keep pest snails down. They will also eat pet snails, and they can't be relied on to clear a heavy infestation alone.
Sources
We checked these references when writing this page. Values are for healthy long-term keeping, not survival limits. Last reviewed 2026-10-13. See our editorial policy.